The Washington herald., 1907-04-03

Hank Hinman sat on the front porch
and gazed frankly and longingly across
the neat fence TO where Matte Forman
worked in the garden and apparently
gave him no heed. Hinman had yet to
find that a woman may look north or
south and yet be seeing east or west
Matte very much approved of Humans
attitude. The hunched-up shoulders spoke
eloquently OF the good effect Of her train
ing. AS rule. those shoulders were ac-
customed to swagger. and it was the
swagger TO which Matte had objected.
Just because they were engaged she did
not concede his right TO order her about,
and the engagement had been broken.
Now that ne was in this frame of mind
she was quite willing TO make up, but
naturally 10 let the overture come from
her would be tactical error, and it did
not look as though Hank would ever be
enough himself again to make the first
move. She was rather sorry for him and
just a tiny bit contemptuous.
This might have been the end Of the
story had it not been for Miss Marsden's
cat. Hank hated Miss Marsden. her
cat and all else that was hers. Having
failed To acquire a proprietary right TO a
man in her younger days. she was re-
venging herself upon the sex by leading
the woman's right movement in Cars
dale
II was she who had inculcated these
advanced notions in Matte. and Hank
cordially hated her for it. Captain. Hank
dog looked up with wagging tail and
appeal in his soft brown eyes. Hank
nodded
Get her. Cap" he urged but Captain
needed no urging With a yelp OF de
light. he was of down the side Of the
plot Susan (her full name was Susan
b. Anthony looked up 10 find retreat cut
of. There were no trees in the Hinmsn
front yard. and she made for the next
lot She scrambled through the wide-set
pickets and Captain took the fence with
a leap. landing against Matte who was
just planting a bulb. He preciDltated her
into the middle Of the tulip bed. Then
he dashed on in pursuit Of the cat, now
comfortably ensconced in an apple tree.
Hank sprang TO Mates rescue. but
before he could leap the fence she had
scrambled to her feet and was facing
him. her face white with anger, save
for the red spots that glowed on either
cheek
''You set the dog on me-" she de-
clared with a stamp of her foot II
never thought that you could be So
So"
4 didn't defended Hank, before she
could find an adjective commensurate
with the offense.
You did, she contradicted. Il heard
you You said Get her, Cap, and then
he
Nothing of the sort. protested
Hank, hotly "Old Miss Marsden's ia
miiiar spirit came over into my yard
Cap wanted a run. and I told him to
get after her. She ran into your yard
and there she is now. up a tree, just
like her mistress should be"
Caps canine entreaties 10 the cat 10
come down and be annihilated were too
vOciferOus TO be overlooked Matte
took a fresh tack
Anyhow" she shifted, you were cruel
to dumb animals That's bad enough"
She's not dumb animal" insisted
Hank She's a demon IN a cats skin I
think she puts her mistress up to all these
tricks"
What trieks?" demanded Matte trucu-
lently.
These woman's rights things and all
that. I heard her telling you the other
night that il was trait0rous TO the cause
TO stand my bullying. I heard herl I
wasn't bullying. I was telling you for
your own good that jim Sears was not a
ht person for you 10 know
And because you think that she infiu-
enced me you are taking it out on poor
little kitten?'
Kitten" he seoned. She's no more
kitten than is Miss Marsden"
We shall ali be old some day she
reproved. 1T is not Miss Emmys fault
It's her fault that she's meddlesome
old maid,' he persisted. IT'S her fault
that she keeps a cat that's thorn in
the flesh of all her neighbors."
4 love her" announced Matte. Just to
be contrary. Hank whistled and Cap
came to his side. carefully picking out
the walks in his approach.
A love Of cats IS the second stage Of |
spinsterhOod. he said stifly IF that's
the way you are getting 10 feel I guess !
Cap and I had better be going home"
You are perfectly hateful this morn |
ing, she pouted.
That statement is beginning to look
frayed on the edges. he reminded. 1T |
is what you said last night; also day be- /
fore yesterday.
Well; you are" she repeated. Here ] /
was enjoying the nice morning. and you /
race your dog after cat and spoil my
flower beds. Then because am natural |
ly annoyed you tell me I am a confirmed /
old maid"
Only seeond-degree old maid" he re- i
minded The third degree is corkscrew
curis and a pointed chin. There is still /
hope for you"
Il am grateful that you concede any
thing" she said stiffiy
i am nothing if not honest" he re-
.arted.
Not always, she insisted What You
said about Jim Sears, for instance"
He was arrested last night for run /
ring a dog fight last week. That was my
kick. ] knew about it when I smoke
Both dogs were killed
Perhaps YOU We're right" she shud-
Tered. 4 didn't care about Jim Sears.