The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-10-11
AND TIE CAT
REMAINED


she was half way on. He gave vent
To some muttered words expressive of
his displeasure to which the old wom-
an paid no attention. She fairly fell
down on her seat, for the eXertion had
been too much for her. In a little
while, when she had recovered her
breath, she glanced about her in a
furtive way Having apparently salts
fled herself that no one was watching
her with a special purpose, she hug
ged up to her breast a disreputable
old muff which had weathered some
winters and gave bold evidence of a
close acquaintance with the moth fam
lily. Indeed, there were only tufts of
fur here and there, but the article
served its purpose. Every one won
1ered, however, why the poor old wom-
an with her thin form and WORKOUT
dress was so attached to it.
Finally the muff answered these
questions of it's own account, for just
before the train had reached the next
station a plaintive Meow was watt
ed on the air to the ears Of the guard
who stood near. The old woman fair
ly shriveled with guilt, for she knew
that no animals were permitted there.
To make matters worse, the first cat
call was followed by a series Of more
emphatic ones-protests regarding the
strangeness of the situation.
This was too much. The passengers
laughed and the guard came angrily
upon the scene of action. All eyes
were directed toward the old wom-
an, and to her he addressed his re-
marks in choice English
Who's got the cat?" he demand
ed. Silence, while all waited de-
velopments.
The cat answered for herself in
heart-rending tones, which, however,
had not the slightest effect on the
man. She stuck out her head and
proved to be old and poor, like her
mistress. Besides, she had only one
eye.
See here, youse," said the gate
man, threateningly, shaking his fist
in the face of the cats protector,
"youse can get out at the next station,
see?"
"Oh, please, Mr. Conductor, don't
make me leave" sobbingly pleaded the
old woman Il know it amt just
right ter bring the cat, but what am
] a-goin' ter do? | amt got no money
ter hire a carriage, and / was afraid TO
send her on the wagon, so there was
nothin' else fer me ter do. You see,
she added appealingly to her listeners,
we're movin' to-day. I've had this
cat ten years, and love her like she
was my own child"
"Hal hal listen to that" exclaimed
the guard sarcastically. Think Of the
wasted Affection"
You know" continued the old wom-
an, not noticing him, IF you had
aat fer ten years, you know what you
would have done
"Youse ken bet | do glibly an
sWered the man. Inter the river fer
hers Now, see here, he said rough
~. "out youse go wild der animal"
But mister" begged the woman,
I've got to. go way down town. | can't
walk"
"Youse has heard my orders. Off
yer go at the next station" Suiting
the action to the word, for the train
was stopping, he held the gate open
for her to pass out. While the old
woman was trying to get to her feet a
kind-faced, well-dressed woman pushed
her back into her seat, and walking
up to the guard, said:
Shell do nothing of the sort, and
will see that she stays on this
car"
Hal" sneered the man, "who are
you, and what have you ter do wild
de case? I'll have youse both ar
rested"
He then told man TO bring an Of
ficer While the train waited the
argument continued, and the old wom-
ans champion listened to some abu-
sive language, when suddenly things
took an interesting turn. good-na-
tured Irishman stepped aggressively
to the front.
What this lady says goes, and if
she says the cat stays, it does, and
If il doesn't, I'm here to see that it
carried out" he asserted with care
less disregard for clearness of express
sion and a threatening display of
fists
What's this old woman and her
cat to youse?" demanded the guard.
"Nothin' at all, answered the Irish
man. but this here lady | do know"
Then with a wink for the lady's bene-
fit alone: "She's Mrs. Patchouli, and
sure it's her husband that's got the
power to make you lose yer job, if
you only knew it, II the cat goes.
you go after it. Understand that"
The guard concluded that there
might be some truth i'm the Irishman's
threat. Besides, the passengers were
complaining about the delay, and no
policeman appeared.
The train started on its way.
Mrs Patchouli' left the car at
Forty-second street, and as she did so
the old woman called out: Heaven re-
ward you. maam for what you've done