The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-01-22

cldIuSu, IL is LOO pad. l almost Tor
got you, you poor old crook-necked fell
low! l think l feel more for you than
| 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 com
panions of these two speeches. com
rades of hers, and surely no human
inmates could have been more decor
Gus. 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 landlady 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 one-sided conversation did she hold.
Tonight, however, she had no words
for them. Herself alone, and the past,
occupied her thoughts.
HWell, PUSHES" 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
sent, 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
themselves out behind the Lady
FRANKLIN again and went to sleep, all
interest in Miss Triffet's movements
having entirely vanished for the time
being.
Back and forth she went with lag
g1ng steps, preparing her own light
supper and washing her solitary tea
cup, saucer and plate.
All done, and her arrangement for
the evening completed, she sat down
and gave herself up to reflection.
What host of memories had the
idle question of Mile Wendall called
up, question forgotten by the Querist,
almost as soon as asked! "St. Johns
at Easter!" How well she remem-
bered that day long ago, when in all
the flush of warm young love she had
walked to church with John Gray, her
chosen one out of all the world What
noble man he had seemed, so tall
and protecting-so handsome and ten
der, and how hfRpy she had beenl AS
she listened to the service every word
seemed addressed to her personally,
and of all the people in that congre-
cation, from no heart did more joyous,
sincere paeans arise than from that
of Ellice Triffet.
Then had followed all those beauti-
ful spring and summer months. that
passed almost like a dream, when all
the world seemed made for happiness,
and the air itself seemed 10 breathe of
love. There, under the stars, they had
sat, and she had listened with shining
eyes while John had sung to her the
songs OF love he had learned in foreign
CHIMES, accompanying himself with a
soft stunning upon the guitar. How
well she remembered the lessons ne
had given; what amusement they had
had over her awkwardness; the mo-
ment Of triumph when she could really
sing the pretty little Spanish ditty all
through, and accompany herself, with
out a mistake! How ne had praised
her and then had laughingly crowned
her with wreath of woodbine that
grew overhead.
Then had come that awful time, that
even now, after an interval of ten
years she could not think of without
paling to the lip, and growing sick and
faint-the awful time when the news
came that John Gray had been killed
In railway accident and SO horribly
mangled that his dearest friend would
not know him! So stunned was she
by the blow, that when a few weeks
later the crash came, and her father
died of despair, she hailed her changed
fortunes with pleasure, and threw her
self into the work of the business
world as her salvation.
The spell was strong upon her to-
night, and underneath all her refiec-
ton, was running the strain of the
little Spanish ditty learned SO long ago,