Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-13

even suggested that if he were lucky
enough to secure Orange Blossom he
| might bring it round in person.
you are very kind. I'm sure aunty
would be pleased
Perhaps l might even call tomorrow
to see if the animal had returned. BY
the way, are not orange blossoms
white?"
Not this Orange Blossom"
Better still, l will come here every
two hours or so, and you will give me
the bulletins
The idea, l hope both you and
have better employments-at least
have. l am leaving to day to spend d
few days with friends. Aunty will be
very lonely. I'm afraid, and perhaps if
you We're to call about Tom-Oh, for
got, she broke off with a charming
air of perpleXity. The truth is she
continued laughing, she has not got
on very Well with Mr.. Lindsay. and
might not understand that you intend
ed to be friendly"
Il see, | quite see Perhaps l had
better not call till you have returned
to hold your aegis over me. You have
no idea what a coward am"
Polly. Polly!" cried a thin voice
from the house.
"Goodby! Aunty always thinks I'll
miss the train" and the young lady
vanished, leaving Tom with a delicious
vision OF pink cheeks, sunny hair. and
dress of coolest pale blue linen which
served him as mental pabulum till his
uncle returned.
M I
which was nearest Miss Kirkwood's a
scullery had been built out to the
boundary of the garden. The hedge
ran up to it, and from that point a wall
passed close to the end of the scullery
and then between the. small front gar
dens. Over the scullery was a gooA
ioft, opening into the first floor of the
house; and this place had always been
Toms particular sanctum 1t was
crammed with the debris of a hundred
pastimes and hobbies, from an old
rocking horse to a damaged camera.
Late that evening he went up to rout
out some law books he had left there
When he started on his travels. The
First thing he observed on entering was
that the little hinged window in the
gable had blown open; the next, that
on the top of Il box there lay in calm
repose huge yellow cat, which could
be none other than the lamented Or
ange Blossom.
Tom swiftly closed both exits. Pussy
meanwhile aWoke. and. having bent its
spine into several graceful curves in
the effort to conquer sleep, it surveyed
its captor with a friendly air and be-
ably a duty to restore him as speedily
as possible to his owner, but an oppor-
tunity for Il call next door was by no
means so attractive to Tom in the alb
sence of Miss Polly.
No; Orange Blossom must make up
his mind to endure Il little captiVity
The walls and door We're thick-had
not all Toms noisy occupations been
banished there in his boyhood? So in
trice pussy was provided with a bowl
of stolen milk, and Tom went down.
stairs with the Fey in his pocket
On the evening of the day when Polly
came home she and her aunt We're en-
joying the mild sweetness of the sum-
mer evening as they strolled in the gar
den
The elder Miss kirkwood was slim
and small, With restless black eyes and
jerky manner. She was one of the
many women who, having missed the
best happiness of life through the over
strained idealism of their youth are
constrained at last to fall back upon
the idealization of a cat, a parrot or a
monkey.
And Miss Cranstoun was lovely in
petunia wolfe and Limerick lace. Good
gracious. aunty! What is it?"
Miss KirkWood had stopped short:
her eyes buged. her mouth was pursed.
her ears seemed to prick up.
Polly l heard my darling mew!"
"Oh, aunty. there are lots of cats
about to new
Il assure you l would know his NEW
among a thousand; there is something
piercing ;fnd yet melodious about it.
Where can it come from? There it is
again."
TON, Tom. Tommy" coaxed Polly,
not without a secret smile at the con-
sequence of her last use of the name.
The meWing was audible enough
now, and, strange to say seemed to
come from overhead.
1T is not possible-can it be his
ghoSt2" breathed Miss KirkWood. gaz-
ing upward in a tremor Her eye fell
on the little window in her neighbor's
gable. and she shrieked.
There he is! oh. the wretch, the
the--words failed her.
Sure enough, a large feline face APP
peared ut one of the panes.
"Why, don't be angry, aunt. don't
think poor pusS is to blame
"Of course not. | mean the infa-
NOUS, inhuman wretch who has shut
him in there to starve to death. He
shall be punished for this outrage if it
costs me c 80. Selma, Selinai"
Out rushed Selma, very google eyed,
her cap strings flying behind her. Her
mistress pointed dramatically at the
window.
Girl do you see that? Go and tell
the miscreant next door that unless
Orange Blossom is released instantly
instantly, he will find himself lodged
in the Cation jail before tomorrow
Off flew Salina like u stone shot from
the catapult of her mistress wrath.
1t was only minute till she returned.
The house is all shut up ma'am."