Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-16

and the Kitten down on rug, ana
then the bishop sat down. too. at their
invitation. and they laughed with one
accord at the enthusiastic manner III
which the kitten crawied bodily INTO
that saucer of milk and Tapped ana
choked and Tapped and strangled again
as though il would never have enough.
THE poor little thing was hungry.
very hungry" said its benefactOr pity
ingly.
While the kitten drank the bishop
was looking around the poor. neat lit
tie room. with it's bare floor shining
white and its pitiful little ,adorninGs.
And from the room his eyes wandered
to the girl. who was down on her
knees by the fire wipiDg the milk from
the Kittens paws and making 1t ut Tor
decent society. She was lovely grI.
with large, tender brown eyes, ana
her hair was filed with gold in the
freight. and there was dimple in
the midst of the bloom on her left
cheek.
When had the bishop of Winchester
ever noticed the bloom on woman's
cheek before or the dimple in the
midst of it!
Really. this is very pleasant" he
said. warming under the genial iniu-
ence of the neat little room and the
lovely girl and the fine young man
with the intellectual face. IL am glad
that / found the kitten. for it has been
the cause of my making some pleasant
friends. You must give me your name,
for have no disposition to lose friends
so pleasantly found"
Something had been weighing on the
mind of the young man ever since his
guest had come into the room. Now
he arose and stood before the bishop.
his eyes kindling.
MY name is Cooper" he said. with
an intrepidity which the bishop could
not but recognize even in the midst or
his amazement. Il am a student Of
theology. l lack a year of finishing
my course. \ month ago l married.
and today you sent me word that since
l had put my nose to the grindstone 1
could keep it there
There was silence in the room for
some moments. Then the bishop arose
md began to button his overcoat.
Il am glad | came in" be said gen.
tly. looking at the young man. And
so you have been married a month:
Have courage. my boy. We all have
our griudstOnes. and our noses are
kept pretty constantly at them in the
course of the years. but no matter so
they don't grind away any of our hearts.
And this is the little wife who was
more aud better than a career! Well.
perhaps she is. She reminds me OF a
girl knew long ago. You won't mind
my taking the little kitten home with
me. will your
And the two young people stood
amazed while he put the kitten inside
his overcoat and then shook hands
with them warmly before he departed.
The next morning when the secre-
tary entered the study he paused and
leaned against the door a moment and
passed his hands across his eyes.
Could that be the bishop of Winches-
ter sitting in his, accustomed place.
with white kitten climbing over him
and biting his ears and humping dts
head against his chin?
"Oh you're here. Daniel.' said the
bishop. catching sight of him. 'Sit
down there for Il moment and take this
for Mr. Quintard."
And the secretary steadied his reel
ing faculties while the bishop die
tated:
Dear QuintaTd-I have reconsdered my
decision in regard to young Cooper.
have some evidence that goes to show
that he will make useful man. and you
may assure him from me that he will be
allowed to continue his course: also please
ascertain If he IS at all cTamped in his
circumstances, and if consider me
your banker and help him he needs it
without letting him know to whom he is
indebted. You can manage this. 1 know.
Il must be dreaming" said the sec
rotary to himself. but as he looked
again to convince himself there was
the bishop of Winchester smiling at
the kitten. which was clawing at the
leaves of one of the abstract books on
the table and turning somersaults
down the open pages.