The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-09

Hobus, peering around the post, pre-
pairing to meet the rejected applicant
with facetious grin, was startled by
the sudden deathly pallor of his skin.
and quickly drew back into his hiding
place. The young an slowly left the
yard and started in the direction
whence he had come, walking weakly,
staggering a little, and keeping near
the houses, against which he frequently
leaned to steady his lettering steps. AT
the corner he paused, looked dazedly
around, clapped his hand to his side.
and then sank in a heap on the side
walk.
In an instant there was crowd
around him. which Hobus Joined, nov
ering on the outskirts of il with NOR
bid curiosity A doctor came hastily
from his office nearby, knelt over the
huddled body, and presently announced
that IL was death, due to weak heart
and starvation. Hobus waited until
the ambulance arrived and closed its
doors on its CHASTITY burden, and rat
tied away Then he returned to his
former position by the tree, and stood
cycling the old house opposite with a
queer passion struggling for expression
in his weak face.
In a moment up the sidewalk came a
little girl with cat in her arms, and,
turning into Miss WetchelPs doorway.
rang the old-fashioned bell, expectancy
in her bright eyes, the flush of enthusi-
asm in her round cheeks. Miss Wetch-
ell opened the door, the tramp looking
on I'm curiosity.
"Oh, Miss Wetchell" cried the child.
here is a kitty-and she is lost-and
found her-and-and--do you-do you
want her? Mamma said you belonged
to the-the-oh. something that takes
care of kitties."
'Oh, the dear little thing" observed
Miss Wetchell, loudly, with a cast of
her eye up to the windows opposite, as
if addressing them. Come right in,
darling. and ! will give the poor thing
some milk. And l think that is very
nice of you to bring the poor, little
kittie here. l will give you a piece of
nice candy for it. Come"
1T was one of those idiosyncrasies of
character which only the profoundest
philosophy can explain, that while she
hoped and believed that the neighbors
would become cognizant of her good
ness to cats, and would applaud it,
thinking 1t was abstract goodness. she
at the same time never thought of their
becoming aware of her harsh treatment
of men, and resenting il. though the
evidence she gave of the latter was at
least four times stronger than that Of
the former. She always looked at the
surrounding windows with self-con-
scious benevolence when she took in a
cat, but when she drove human being
away from her house in a voice of stri-
dent power she never dreamed of any
body's hearing if, except the person she
addressed.
The door closed behind the two as
the child accepted the invitation with
the delight of her years and innocence
A great man has said that so subtle
are the springs of conduct there is fer
every person. even the lowest. some one
action at least in the external world
that will infuse him with courage and
all the passions which the highest can
feel. HObus, the moment he saw that
transaction. became another man. He
Strengthened up. his flesh seemed SUD
denly to grow less flabby, his eye
frightened, and look of intelligence
flashed into it, though it had long been
devoid of that excellence. And, this
time without smoothing his beard, or
coughing, or arranging his hat, he
started across the street to the big
house. entered the yard, and put a dirty
hand to the bell. When Miss Wetchcll
appeared he pushed in, took the little
girl, who had, childlike, followed her
hostess at the sound of the bell. by the
arms, gently lifted her TO the outside
and closed the door.
Now, sizZle yer' he said to the be-
wildered Miss Wetchell, "arter you've
fed the cat give me something TO eatw
He grasped her arm as he spoke and
shook her, scowling and masterful
"Sizzle ye!' he reiterated 1t was the
first time in his life that he ever could
have been called masterful
The horror Of her situation nearly
overcome Miss Wetchell. She was alone
In that great house with an ugly
tramp. To call out would be foolish
ness Nobody could hear. And even IL
anybody could hear she would be muir
dered before the help could arrive. But
Miss Wetchell was not one to remain
overwhelmed. She knew exactly what
to do in the circumstances, once she
had time to collect herself. A thousand
times had she practiced her perspicaci-
ty on the neighbors in exigencies which.
though they never any of them had
been as urgent as this, were still of
strategic Importance. She had a prin-
ciple and she would employ 1t now. 1t
was oilyness- Therefore, "Ohr' she ex-
claimed, as If 10 a dear friend, come
right in. Now. what would you like
for breakfast? Lay off your hat. Here,
and cream? l like them.
But you can have just what you want"
She hustled away through the sit
ting room to the kitchen, where the
table was kept continually set. Hobus
her closely.
Anybody else in the house sides
you?" he asked
"Oh. yes" she answered, with en-
phasis. There's a family upstairs I
expect Mr.. Wockwell down every min
ute"
lie laughed boisterously. Her man
ner convinced him. They two were
alone. He sat in a chair, put his feet
on the table. produced a cigarette and
said:
Give us a light, old girlr'
She brought it to him obedientIy.
with an exaggerated show of condo
scending hospitality.
DO you enjoy smoking?" she asked.
in desperately friendly manner, work
ing about the range.
He threw his head back and laughed,
blowing blue clouds. But ne said moth
ing except Hurry up. I'm hungry
and then, "SiZzle yerr'
"T'll give you some nice ham and
eggs" she volunteered, with a broad
show of happiness. should you like
that?" She paused with a fork in her