Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-11-25
THE TALE OF A CAT.

She reminded me of fluffy yellow
kitten. A tint in her hair, properly called
golden, made me think involuntarily of
pussys fur; | longed to stroke it, but
pair of snappy green eyes under the
rated pompadour made me refrain. We
were not boon companions and L
although we had every appearance of
being so. Her room was conveniently
near mine. We opened doors stimuli
taneously; | could not step into the en-
try without encouraging her. Then we
would stroll down the hall together, with
arms tenderly entwined. Her fingers
were long and tapering. and as if to hui
NOR my whim, she let her nails grow
long
She was not kitten by nature, but a
full grown cat. She knew her p's and
as better than her average neighbor did.
She knew them better than | did. She
taught me.
Were you ever conscious, dear reader,
of a subtle dislike which some one had
for YOU? You could not guess the reason
perhaps there was no reason-only the
dislike was there. 1t was not an ex-
pressed dislike. That person of all 9TH
ers was most obviously yC-T friend. She
was so friendly, in fact, that you grew
suspicious, and pin your heart secrets
under lock and key lest she might ruth
essly betray them. Then you would be-
gin tC doubt your own Judgment; you
would abuse yourself fer your distrust,
and would shower fGvors upc1 her to
atone for the injustice YOU he'd done her
in secret. mus it would 60 ca regu-
lar seesaw, with Kind f 'now | trust
her. now / dor t" ? commandment.
[ had got oeyord the see-saw stage
with my kitten. / knew positively that
could net trust her. "Fol warned is
forearmed," thsy say. Not always so, /
affirm. Have you listened to kitten
purr? Pray, who thinks &C the claws
wher kitten Purrs? Yet we all Krow
that cats have claws.
My lady cat was agreeable. She had
q tiny, winsome voice that waXed eX
tremcly m1lodious at times. She could
fascinate and hold my attention at any
time she wished. She parried with me,
and | in turn purried with her. thinking
myself clever on the aside, but losing
ground at every step.
In time her attentions began to grow
obnoxious; they wee too pronounced to
be tolerated. Her vCite begar 10 lose its
melody. her eyes began to snap green
fire. She is going to sprirg | thought,
but no, her manner would as suddenly
change: she would lower her pale yellow
lashes and breathe soft promises in my
ear By this time | had learned some
slight reason for her cordially concealed
dislike of me. | had inadvertently n
CURED her Jealousy. | was warned, vet
inch by inch she ingratiated herself into
my confidence. One by ere my heart
secrets parted my company and went
into hers, and one by enc they came back
to me in garblod form, as she had told
them to the mob"
My friends began to hold alocf; the
stories were not pretty in the dress size
gave them. / tossed my head in angry
haughtiness. l would net stoop to offer
explanations, | declared. My door was
Stunned; the only tap l heard upon the
panel was hers. She came each day,
dear, gentle purring creature, to inquire
after my health ard to assure me of her
undying love.
There is an end to all things is there
not? She came one day for the last
time Her tap upon my door was gentle
SO gentle | scarcely heard tit seemed
a whisper She entered softly-she was
dressed in black. She touched her dress
lightly and uttered a quiet little sob.
Il am going home" she said.
My heart gave a throb ot great delight.
Fer good?" | asked
She nodded her heed and touched her
dress again, with the air Of a friend
who would make the other understand.
nodded my head in turn and tried to
catch the CLEAN of her green eyes through
her tears.
You win 60 to see me OFF," she asked.
| nodded my read vehemeatly this
time. 1t was ever s.. My bands and
mine alone tucked her il. The carriage.
Her long, thin arms twined lovingly
about my neck; her lips met mine.
You are SO good she purred.
As the carriage mmbled off. heck of
color attracted my eve | looked down.
\ small yellow kitten ran across my
path. Seized by 4 sudden impulse that
kindled in my being the fire Of passion.
| grasped the little creature by the back
of is furry neck, and sped after the
carriage. / laughed there was some
thing uncanny il the laugh | ,a.r-aYl
flung the kitten full " the face of the
horse. Ny small Ccnspirator spread its
claws and buried them dep in the horses
name. The frenziad animal rcaI2d with
fine effort ard shook himself free from
the little pest-the sw1yed from side to
side fer moment and p'ln red leck'esslv
forward. | sped along the rcd ir swift
pursuit. | heard the crash Ct breaking
timber. a ,tihel ely ari thon--tcpped
abruptly. At my feet les a sm n yellow
kitten. 1t was dee l. | dared not look
beyord Mabel Haughton Brown in San
Francisco News Letter.