The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1909-12-17

better hurry on, for 1t Is mighty near
time for the copper on this beat to git
around
The bishop drew his splendid figure
erect and walked on. "AlI men are
becoming pessimists." he said to him
self and the kitten.
Perhaps 1t was this gloomy thought
that made the kitten open its mouth
and surpuss all its previous efforts in
the way of soul stirring walls. The
bishop set his lips in hard line.
I'm going to lind something for this
kitten TO eat" he said. half aloud. and
when the bishop said things in that
way il was as well for circumstances
to yield.
A tiny cottage stood at street cor
ner-such a tiny cottage that it seemed
to have been crowded into the corner
as an afterthought when the place was
already full. There was a light in the
front room. and as the bishop had
grown desperate he walked up the
small stoop and rang the bell.
young man opened the door. There
was an electric light few feet away.
and the bishop saw by it that the
young man had n pale face and that
his hair was tumbled as though by
restless fingers. While he was noting
these things he was telling about the
kitten
II have applied to several people"
he added. but they seem to look upon
me as dangerous and suspicious char
acter. hope you will be more gener-
Gus i'm your judgment"
The young man had started at the
sound Of his voice. but he opened the
door wider.
Come in he said. Il think we
will be able To find the kitten some
thing to eat"
a slender slip of a girl arose from
her seat near the fire and went into
the other room. She came back pres
emily with saucer Of milk and set it
and the kitten down on rug, and
then the bishop sat down. too. at their
invitation, and they laughed with one
accord at the enthusiastic manner In
which the kitten crawled bodily into
that saucer of milk and Tapped and
choked and Tapped and straDgled again
as though 1t would never have enough.
1.-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 its 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 wiping the milk from
the Kittens paws and making it fit for
decent society. She was lovely girl.
with large, tender brown eyes, and
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 infiu
ence OF the neat little room and the
lovely girl and the fine young man
with the intellectual face. 81 am glad
that | found the kitten. for 1t 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 ana stood before the bishop,
his eyes kindling.
my name Is Cooper" he said with
an intrepidty which the bishop could
not but recognize even in the midst OF
his amaZement. Il am student OF
theology | lack a year of finishing
my course. month ago | married.
and today you sent me word that since
had put my nose to the grindstone |
could keep it there.
There was silence in the room for
some moments. Then the bishop arose
and began TO button his overcoat.
Il am glad | came in" he said gen
tly. looking ut the young man. And
so you have been married a month?
Have courage. my boy. We all have
our grindstoneS. and our noses are
kept pretty constantly nj them in the
course of the years. bnt no matter so
they don't grind away any of our hearts.
And Tins is the little wife who was
more Hud better than Il 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 YOU"
And the two young people stood
amazed while he put the kitten inside
his oyprcoat 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 moment and
passed his hands across his eyes.
Could that be the bishop of Winches-
ter sitting in his accustomed place,
with q white kitten climbing over him
and biting his ears and humping its
head against his chin?
ooh you're here Daniel" said the