Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-30

Nancy Sne called, III N touS "
suppressed frenzy-"oh, Nancy cam
you manage some way to keep sister Becky down
stairs for few minutes? Poor little Dicl
Swiveller's havin another fit"
Nancy, on her knees scrubbng the verands
steps, dropped her brush precipitately and sprang
up.
Land sake! it's too late, maam she's done
started upstairs this minute"
ooh. Nancy what ever shall do" moaned
Miss Jane, imporingly.
'.Chuck i'm in the closet, quick suggested
Nancy.
'-Oh, but he's havin' such an awful fit, frothin
at the mouth an clawin' straws out o the mat
TIM Oh, dassn't touch 'im!"
"Throw quilt over i'm an roll i'm up, then
he can't scratch you" urged Nancy.
But there was no available quilt at hand, and
Miss Jane glanced distractedly from the strug-
Cling little creature the floor to the snowy
spread on her bed. The sound of stately step
at the head of the stairs reused her to action
She dragged the immaculate spread to the floor,
rolled the unfortunate little animal in it, and was
Just closing the closet door on both with frantic
haste, when the door of her opened, and
Miss Rebecca Bates looked in, with eyes that
saw everything even the wee corner OF white
bedspread visible beneath the closet door
.eWhats the matter, Jane" she demanded.
''M-matter?" stammered Miss Jane.
Eyes, matter What is the matter with your!
'N-nothing, sister Becky.
-fYou look furried !"
.I-Pve ben talkin' to Nancy, through the
winder."
..Obl You better be careful. Jane AT your
time O. life it amt safe to indulge in such ex-
citin' pastimes; it might bring on heart-failin',
er nervous prostration-"
Poor Miss Jane knew that ironical tone too
well to venture reply She tremblngly turned
to the window and began arranging the disturbed
curtains
whats became o. your bedspread, JaneE
81 took it off; it needs washn'," stammered
Miss Jane and Immediately whispered to her
conscience at does need washin-by this time" !"
Needs washin', ?' went on the measured
merciless voice of Miss Rebecca "Sine when We
you took to keepin' your wash in your closet"
''Clo-closet"
''Take care Jane If you don't stop tryin' to
say big words, I'm afeard you'll choke. You've
really got to be more careful. At your time O.
life"
A faint little wailing "meow" came just then
from the depths of the closet, reaching the ears
of both spinsters simultaneously with distinctly
different results. Miss Jane grew red then pale,
and the hands that draped and re-draped the
curtains trembed visibly. Miss Rebecca simply
paused in her speech and glared at her sister
for the space of two seconds, then she strobe for
ward and laid her large, firm hand on the closet
door. The next instant little white kitten
staggered weakly out into daylight, trailing
corner of the spread after him and aiming straight
for Miss Jane. She caught him up in her arms
and burst into tears.
"Poor kitty! Poor little Dick Swiveller!" she
sobbed.
Miss Rebecca took on the air of an outraged
sovereign.
'FHas that cat been havin' ft?" she sternly
questioned
A nod of the head and fresh burst of tears
was Miss James sole reply.
''Is it the first fit he's had?'
'N-no''
"Jane Bates%
There was genuine CONSERVATION, mingled with
stern reproval in Miss Rebecca's voice and at
titude Miss Jane covered and shrank, but clung
to the kitten.
"Jane," said Miss Rebecca, drawing her head
up to it's highest altitude, "you are the first
Bates who, to my knowledge, ever broke prom
ise. er stopped to sneakin' trickery to hide
fault What We you got to say fer yourself?"
."Nothn', sister Becky, only-ony-" Miss
James thin little voice broke and fell to squeak
ing whisper-"only he's so little an helpless, an
so unfortunate, c-couldn't help it."
Hiss Rebecca's lips curled scornlully.
"Well you'll help it now. No Bates is goin'
to break her word for the sake of a cat, if l
know it. You'll kill that cat now with your own
hands, accordin' to your promise"
"Oh, sister Becky, l can't! l can't!' walled
poor Miss Jane.
''You can, and you shall You rec'lect as well