The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-06-08
.he Bachelor
and the Cat.


Copyrighted. 1903. by Associated
Literary Press.

3 Copyrixhted. 1909, by Associated 4 |
Literary Press III
%A&&%<%%*<<St*&f4++<fs++.f+
The fluffy haired, hazel eyed young
lady was speaking Of the play at the |
BeIlevfile Opera House.
1T Is the prettiest bit OF sentiment |
There's the quaintest pair OF lovers,
ana they go through fire, water, perse-
cution and plague, but 1t works out
beautifully in the end"
Thereupon bashful Captain Grant,
at the head of the table, shifted polite
disapproval.
The CHEEKY young bank clerk who
sat next to the hazel eyed girl told OF
the s'best selling, romance he was
reading. It was THE Loves Of Lady
PeriIla," and Captain Grant frowned
at the title.
Then the young man leaned over
and talked In low tones to the fuzzy
haired girl. The girl colored in deli
cious bewilderment. The young mans
merry eyes sobered, and Mrs Ogden
Garter winked at Mrs. Newman Ap-
pIeby across the table. Captain Grant
saw the byplay Of hearts and growied
into his plate Of Boston beans. After
that In faint sweet cloud Of hello
trope, the lilac Lady entered.
She was In the early thirties, rather
tall and thin, with wreath OF glossy
black hair and big, gray eyes scatter
ing sympathy. Touches Of lilac here
and there relieved the black
The boarders 4sized up" the new
cornerstone with a tnge OF envy OF
the splendid, shining hair, others with
ugtless conjecture as to whether she
came from Cape Cod or from Kokomo.
But Captain Grant looked covertly at
the lady and sighed so manifestly
from the heart that a little ripple OF
amused wonder went around the Ia
bles. BIusling wildly, the captain
arose and strutted hurrfedly out
The captain held little part in the
babble Of the table, but next day he
spoke to Miss Inola Marshall, the new
boarder, regarding the probability Of
rain. The lilac lady smiled charming
~, admitting the shrewdness OF the
forecast. From one labored confidence
In a day this man, who had shifted at
the prospect Of young hearts confding
attained to a running comment OF an
ecdote and observation
Miss Inola was gracious; SO, after a
BIT, noticing the captain and the lady
deep In discussion, Mrs. Garter smiled
ut Mrs. Appleby, and the young clerk
had his hazel eyed girl to himself,
with no one to snort because they
talked In the low, earnest tones Of
lovers.
Things went thus beautifully until
the coming of .Zenobia- Zenobia was
plump and sleek and sandy and white
streaked, like a faded tgress. She
was endowed with cavernous yawn
and a lulling, musical pur, and she
had way Of curling up on the pre-
cfous skirts Of women to dream fitful
things Of the chase Of the hard pressed
mouse.
The giantess Of cat was as q pic
ture Of gold to Miss Inola, but the cap
tain detested all Of her kind. When
Zenobia crept softly to the dining
room and some unseeing barbarian
stepped on her ringed tail, so that she
squalled in despair, it was a question
whether the captain did not chuckle
grfmly.
Miss Inola, loving zenobia dearly,
could not help but hold It against him
In her heart Finally Zenobia, signing
for sympathy, thrust her plump sides
against the trousers leg Of the captain,
leaving soft, yellow hairs for remem-
brance. 1t affected him like the clam
my contact Of serpent
what do you see In that catT' he
demanded
"More than see In you" Miss Inola
Jared back.
That settled it. The captain retired
to his den and tried vainly to interest
himself In three volumes Of the his
tory Of the Sudan, and Miss Inola,
petting and pampering the giantess
Zenobia, almost wished that she might |
die. For a month Mrs. Carter and
Mrs. Appieby had only the young bank
clerk and the hazel eyed girl for wink |
ing and smiling exchange.
The last night in the month the cap |
tain lounged disconsolately in his |
smoking gown, dividing his time be-
tween a dissertation on Moroccan |
bandits and the perversities Of women |
In lilac.
1.-THE Moorish bandit Is gruff, grim |
and Injured to hardship" read the cap
tain and nodded, knowing they were |
miles and miles away.
'sShe Is the only woman could ever |
care straw for" murmured the cap |
tain, alert and signing, for Madam Of
the Lilacs was only across the narrow
hall.
j A full fed, lazy cat purred In the |
corridor, descended the steps and |
yowled for companionship in the yard |
below. The captain shut his mouth |
tight and went back to learn Of the |
banditti. The Dutch windmill of a |
clock chimed 9. The cry was repeated |
nearer.
"Firel Firel"
The captain bounded to the door, an
rayed like a rajah for glory. Miss
Inola almost telescoped him.
where Is itf' she demanded.
The window disclosed a fierce blaze |
quite near. 'eThe Golden Rule ware
house." answered the captain, and they
both descended hurriedly.
A crowd had gathered, shouting, ges-
ticulating, yet not venturing near the
burning warehouse.
'sWhy don't they put it outY' asked |
Captain Grant.
Powder stored there-barrels and |
barrels Of it." volunteered some one.
Mrs. Appleby approached Miss Inola.
sYour cat Zenobia just went In there.
Miss Inola moaned: Poor little Ze- |
nobia She'll be blown into the moonp
Captain Grant started to speak and |
checked himself. Then, coloring vio-
lently, he announced: Don't go on in
that way, Miss Inola- I'm going to
rescue Zenobia."
Miss Inola stared. colored on her own
account and extended her hand. "Wn-
LAM" she called him for the first time.
you are good and brave and true"
The captain proudly raised his head,
girded bis howery, high colored gown
about him and waded into the zone of
glimmering light.
Hey, therel Dangerl Powderl
Come back, MANI bawled the specta-
tors. But Captain Grant strobe grimly
on. The last words of the lilac lady
rang In his ears-"You . good and
brave and true"
~-IT