Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-11-13

- NI r.
might do. All she was conscious of
was the quiet reply
Eyes, Miss Wendall-once-many
years ago"
why, Miss Triffet, how big and
black your eyes are!" exclaimed Net
tie Julian, suddenly, a warmhearted,
impulsive hoyden, who, as she de-
clared, "adored the ground Miss Trif-
fet walked on"
Nonsense, Nettie, you make me
blush! You must see very droll things
with those new glasses of yours. The
idea of my pale blue eyes looking big
and black!'"
Look, girls. See if l am not right"
exclaimed Nettie, taking Miss Triffet
by the shoulders and trying to turn
her around.
But Miss Triffet l%aughingly declared
she was not on exhibition, and break
ing away from her captor, went to her
desk and struck the gong for the close
Of the noon hour.
For a few moments she sat as one
In a dream, then, with a smothered ex-
clamation she rose.
mo! No! I cannot, must not think
now. l cannot afford It," she said to
herself, as she threw herself into the
work of the afternoon with feverish
energy. How the hours dragged! 1t
seemed as if time never passed So
slowly But at last five o'clock tolled
slowly out from the great clock across
the street, the gong struck twice and
the work of the day was over.
The same feyerish energy that had
characterized her work of the after
noon, was thrown into her walk as
she wendell her way home. People who
noted this energetic woman striding
up the street looking neither to the
right nor to the left, evidently see
ing nothing, quietly turned aside and
let her have the right of way. Arriv-
ing at a large old fashioned house on
the edge of the city, she opened the
door with her latch-key and assembled
three flights of stairs to the place she
called "home"-"Old Maids Hall'-
as she laughingly termed it.
AS she entered her rooms her two
black cats raised their heads and
greeted her with a gratifed purr, at
once dropping back into their comfort
ably positions behind the Lady Frank
lin,' which did duty for an open crate
In this COSY set of apartments, which
consisted of two large rooms upon the
third floor, overlooking a large yard
full oe great trees.
So absorbed was she in her own
thoughts that she omitted ner custom
airy ceremony of STOPPING to pat them
on the head and give them a word of
endesrment. Throwing herself in her
chair. she had just given herself UP
to reflection when she felt herself
gently pulled by the skirt.
why, poor old Jetty," she ex-
claimed, 1T is too bad. [ almost for
got you, you poor old crook-necked fell
lowl I think l feel more for you thar
l do for Tippie, you poor unfortunate!
We've been companions in misery, Jet
ty, dear, haven't WEI" And she took
the cat in her arms as if he had been
a child. Come on Tippie! There's
room for you, tool"
Living by herself for years, this ST.
lent woman had learned to make CON-
parions of these two speeches. com
raaes of hers, and surely no human
inmates could have been more decor
Qua. Altogether, these three were
well suited to each other. The year
before Jetty had had some terrible af-
lection of the ear, and instead of chlor-
oforming him and putting him out OF
his misery as the Iandiady advised,
Miss Triffet, in place Of going away
as she had Intended, spent her whole
two weeks vacation in attending to
the sufferer and bringing him success
fully through the trying time. Since
then his head had always been turned
on one side. These two dumb but in
telligent animals, formed a very large
element in this lonely woman's happi-
ness. Many a confidence did she re-
pose In their silent breasts. and many
a cne-sided conversation did she hold.
Tonight, however, she had no words
for them. Herself alone, and the past,
occupied her thoughts.
Well, ussies," she said at last,
rousing herself with a shake, and
dropping them gently on the floor, this
won't do; pussies must have their
suppers, no matter what happens.
mustn't they?" A purr and a noise
which she chose to interpret as as
gent, was their reply, as they rubbed
themselves slowly back and forth
against her skirt. Each having de-
voured his saucer Of warm milk, which
was their evening meal, they stretched