The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-02-08
THE BLACK CAT.

For the most wild yet homely narrative which | am
about to pen, neither expect nor solicit belief Mad
indeed would | be to expect it. in case where nv
very senses reject their own evidence Yet mad am |
not and very surely do not dream. But tomorrow
die, and today would unburden my soul. My immedi-
ate purpose to place before the world plainly sue
cncty, and without comment, series of mere house
hold events. In their consequences these events have
te1rlfled---have toruredhave destroyed me- Yet will
not attempt to eXpound them. To me- they have pre-
sened little but Horror many they will seem less ter
rlbe than barOques Hereafter perhaps some intellect
may be found which will reduce my phantism to the
commonplace; some intellect calm than my own,
which will perceive in the circumstances detail with ave.
nothing more than ordinary succession of very nat
ural causes and effects.
From my infancy noted for the docility and hu-
manlty OF my disposition NJ tenderness of heart was
even CONSPICUOUS to make me the Jest of nv COM
panions was especially fond of animals, and was in
Iduged by my parents with a great variety of pets
With these spent most of my time, and never SO
happy when feeding and caressing them This pecu
larty OF character grew with my growth, and in my
manhood derived firm it of my principal sources
of pleasure. To those who have cherished an affection
flor faithful and sagacious dog need hardly be at
the trouble OF explaining the nature the intensity of
1.-THE qualification thus derivabe. There is something in
the unsesh and sef-sacrfcing love of brute which
goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent
occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer f.
Idelity of mere Man.
I'll married early and was happy to find in my wife
Ia disposition not uncongenia with my Observing
my partiay for domestic pets she lost opportunity
oirs goldfish fiIe dog, rabbits small monkey and
la cat.
This latter remarkably large and beautiful ami
mal entirely black, and SagacouS to astonishing de-
gree In speaking of his intelligence, my wife, who at
heart was not title tnctured with superstition made
frequent ausion to the ancient popular notion which
garded all black cats witches in disguise Not that
she serious up,n this pont-and mention the
matter at all for better reason than that it happens
ust now, to be remembered
Puto---this was the cats namewas my favorite pet
land playmate | alone fed him. and he attended me
wherever went about the house 1t even with diff
:ulty that could prevent him from following through
lCha streets.
Our friendship lasted in this manner for several years,
urng which my genera Temperament and character,
through the nstrumenay OF the Flend, lntemperance,
lad bush to confess t experienced radical alteration
Tor the grew, day by day. moody, more ir
liable, regardless OF the feelings of others. suf
fered myself to Incorporate language to my wife AT
ength even offered her personal violence. My pets OF
course made to feel the change in my disposition
II only neglected them but ilused them For Pluto,
however sti retained sufficient regard to restrain me
rom mareating him. as made no scrupe OF maltreat-
ing the rabbits the monkey, the dog, when by
ident through affection, they came in my way. But
my disease grew upon for what disease is like alcohol
land at length Pluto, who now becoming old,
land consequently what peevish Pluto began to
experience the effects of my iltemper.
One night returning home, mi ch intoxicated, from one
of my hauns about town. fanced that the cat avoided
my presence seized him. when in his fright at my vlo-
ence he inflicted ss hit wound upon my hand with his
teeth. The fury Of demon instantly possessed me- 1
KNEW mySelI no longer MY IL
once to take its fight from my body and more than
6endish malovence gin nurtured thrilled every fibre Of
my frame. took from my wastcoat pocket pen-knfe
opened it. grasped the beast by the throat and de-
berately cut one of its eyes from the socket. bush
burn, shudder, when pen the damnable atrocity
When reason returned with the momngwhen ! had
slept off the fumes of the nights debauch experienced
sentiment half Of horror half Of remorse for the crime
of which had been guilty; but it as at best, feeble
and equvoca feeling and the soul renamed untouched
again plunged into excess and soon drowned IN VINE all
memory of the deed.
In the meantime the cat slowly recovered. The socket
# the lost eye presented, it is tue frghttu appear
nce but he no longer appeared to suffer any Ean he
went about the house usual but might be expected
Ia in extreme annrOach had so much Oh