The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
might trust the assurances of this strang-

might trust the assurances of this strang-
You'll do it kind?" he queried so anx-
| iously, thankful to see that Vflet purred
| to him as though he inspired confidence;
| for as a rule she fuffed at new acquaint-
| ances and declined to know them.
Il humbly thank you, sir If you'll Just
! speak soft and call her Vi'let. she'll be
! more tract bic"
! Not daring to look again at his /old
friend, Joe hurried Off as fast as his with
cred legs would carry him, sobbing as he
went. Vi'let struggled TO follow him, but
was prevented and like her poor old mas
ter, she had to yield to the inevitable.
The fisherman waited until Joe had pass
ed out of sight and hearing. and then with
one whirl of his strong young arm he
threw the ferret bag and stones right into
the deep of the river But Vflet was still
safely in his arms, and he looked at his
captive smilingly as he gathered up his
fishing tackle and hurried off to the
manor. Ni'let cried piteously after the
vanished Joe. but she was quite without
fear for her own personal safety. His
touch was kind and gentle, and he called
her Ni'let
Young, warm-hearted, generous, with
all these feelings stirred to the uttermost
by the painful scene he had just witness
ed. Ni'lets jailer made nothing of the dis
lance to the Manor. and stOrmed the pri-
vatc entrance as one who had a perfect
right to do so. Without asking leave of
any he brought his captive right into the
presence OF the young squire himself;
horribly bored and out of temper at his
durance vile on so fine an evening.
Jack, you fortunate, lazy, idle beggar,
I've been enVying you the whole bless
ed What the deuce have you got
there? A cat?''
His friend went over to him. laying a
hand on his shoulder, and looked down at
him with eager eyes which, but for the
absurdity of the thing, the squire could
have sworn had tears in them.
Yes, cat, Tom! the very queen of
cats. Do you know what l have just
seen?-a poor old man trying to drown
his little friend and companion before GO
ing off to the house. He tried so hard,
but he could not do it. oh Tom! to see
such heartbreak in an old face; 1t is bad
enough in the young, only :omehow you
know it will mend again; but this one
so old and so helpless-sTch good face,
too, honest and upright, so patient. too,
for all its pain. Godl to think of a mans
world narrowing down to one faithful lit
tie cat and he trying to drown 1t at last
He made me think of my own dad as he
might be some day until | could scarcely
answer him-there's such sublime pSthos
about helpless old age. Now, Tom, you
must let me rent a cottage-at once! no
delayi-and wen have him out of the
Union before another twenty-four hours.
please Cod Now for the queen of CATS
Where can we keep her secure for the
night? | would not lose her for hun 1red
pounds, and / would not lose the joy
of their meeting tomorrow for twice a
hundred!'
He paused, for his breath caught, and
for few moments the squire looked care
fully out of the window.
sit down, old man-you and your pre-
cious cati We must talk this over you
know; and please remember that l am in
the job as well"
1t was rather late the next day-for
Jack Selhurst and the squire had been
tremendously busy-when the former en-
q nj
There they sat like poor forgotten pawns
which had been swept off the board of
life. and We're waiting to be returned
whence they came. All of them looked
more or less forlorn, and poor old Thorne
sat somewhat apart, quite spent and ex-
hausted with all the emotion of the pre-
vious day. He had not vitality enough