The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-02-20
-FOUR BLACK CATS.
7 II r II0IlTTE ~ 0.I u UIu "a
rhey Brought Boundless Pleasure Of An An

They Brought Boundless Pleasure of An
ticipation, but That Was All.
I'VE are more or less superstltious
when it comes to black cats, said a
we'll known young man about town,
"and i was one OF the firmest beliey-
ers in the black cat and good luck
superstition in Washington until a
few days ago. -.- .,..,.,,. ...,..
Il had gotten tired of doing. the
same thing in my department over
and over every day in the year, and,
being a member of one of the learned
professions, l decided to attempt to
secure a transfer to another depart
ment, where my training could be
put to advantage to myself and Incl
dentally to the government. ID l.
L am from a state where the senior
senator is a power in state and ma
tional politics.; man almost unap-
proachable by reason of his promin-
ence, but who is personally one OF
the stanchest of friends to his
friends, and whose recommendation
usually carries, as it is seldom given.
/ happen to be one of his friends.
Next to myself, the person most
interested in my ambition was my
sweetheart. One night about a
month ago, on our return from the
theatre, ON her doorstep sat jet
black cat with a white star on its
breast. The cat followed us into the
house in the most friendly manner,
refused to GO out until it was time for
my departure, and then followed me
to the sidewalk. My best girl, in a
rhapsody of delight, declared that 1t
was ordained by the stars that | was
to get my appointment. ...-.
1.-TWO or three days later, on the
eve of my departure for the great
and wicked city which is my home,
stepped into a restaurant on Eleventh
street for lunch A cat as black
as ink, with white star on its
breast, came in the door, walked right
up to my table, and remained there
until l finished my meal. When |
told my sweetheart about the cats
visit when l saw her that evening
she had another spasm of delight,
saying that defeat for me was i'm
possible. i'.''3
81 left for home about two weeks
ago, and on the very first night of
my arrival as | was leaving the no
tel a big black cat with white star
on it's breast came out of the cafe
and rubbed its arched back against
my shins. I returned at once to the
writing room and wrote my girl about
1t. l received by return mail let
ter of IS closely written pages, ex-
planning that with the third black cat
thus thrust in my pathway my ap-
pointment was inevitable and that she
could hardly contain her joy. n- a
ION the cay before was to- see
the senator l stopped on Broadway
for lunch. was almost paralyzed
with delight when the fourth black
cat came up to my table and purred
about my feet in the most friendly
manner.
Need I tell you that the senator
was kindness and graciousness It
self, and Landed my ambition to get
up in tho line of my chosen profes
sion? Need l say that the indorso
ments of my district leader and con
gressional candidate and those of my
professional friends were literally
thrown at my head? Need l say that
my sweetheart wrote me an 18-page
double lined letter everyday. telling
me that / couldn't lose? Need l add
that everything in the big city
wanted came my way? Is 1t not idle
to tell you that one of the great men
who directs the councils of his party
and who is a power therein, united
with the senator in an endorsement
which. had it been at the beginning
of the administration. ought to have
given be an assistant secretaryship
and personally wished me luck?
And need tell you that the cab
inent officer to whom I presented my
papers frankly told me that having
no places vacant he could not give me
one? That l had my trouble for
my pains. and that the four black
cats threw me down hard? That my
sweetheart's nose and eyes were SO
red from weeping that she couldn't
go to the theatre, and that | have
for disposal the strongest set of en-
dorsements which can be picked up
on Pennsylvania avenue in an hours
walk. "-Washington' Evening Star.