The Mississippi Union advocate and Southern farm and home., 1909-01-13


visit with my daughter Grisette
awaited me on the doorstep when /
returned. La, la, she sat there lick
ing her paws with the air of one who
was always welcome Once again she
lost herself. All, but attendez. mes
sieurs, she really found herself again.
Of that you may be sure It Is Inn
possible really to lose Grisette, She
4 who eats more OF my food than a man.
who expects always the bonnes bouch-
es OF my table, Oui, oui, messieurs.
this time 1t is impossible that Grisette
comes back. / will no longer furnish
her with comforts. If she were a dog
now-but az beast of a cat, non, it is
impossible"
Jack Tilton and had run across
Mere Barbizon on one Of our painting
trips through Normandy in early May.
and now it was late June, and we still
! fingered under her clean, but other
wise uninviting roof, held to the place
by the fascination that this particular
part OF Normandy always has and al
ways will have for painter folk.
Nor were we partial to Grisette, the
huge gray cat, that had-so she
averred-become the bane OF Mere
Barbizon's existence. Once she had
Whisked her tail across study Of
coast, which / thought particularly
flne, and which | had some idea of
sending to the salon, and once she had
played havoc with Jacks brushes. No.
we would have no reason to regret
Grisette, but we wanted to see fair
play. Your French peasant has a
heart of flint at times, and Mere Bar
bizon was no exception, as we had
found out on more than one occasion.
Jack, who was lazily cleaning his
brushes, looked over his shoulder at
this point, and said between the teeth
that held his pipe: "See here, Mere
Barbizon. I'll get rid of that fat ras-
cal for you. This very night, after
dark, eh? And 1t shan't cost you a
SOU
"Tiens, Monsieur Teelton, what
would you do with the cat, eh?" asked
the old woman, anxiously.
"Oh, I'd drown her." answered Jack.
: carelessly. "a good big bag, little
coaxing, and Wen have her fast
enough. Then we'll row out to the
nets, you and /, and drop her over
board. Adieu, Grisette! Seer"
Bien!" muttered Mere Barbizon.
II go at once to find the bag"
It was growing dark when Jack,
Ecarefully carrying the bag over his
| shoulder and followed by Mere Bar
! bizon and myself, an amused onlook-
er, marched down to the beach and
j manned little skiff with his motley
! crew. ''Sit there" he called to Mere
: Barbizon, where you can watch to
) see that Grisette plays no more tricks
| on you.
> Silently we pulled out upon the ST.
t lent water, gray now as a doves wing
] and growing grayer with the adyanc.
ing dark. Now and then a sigh broke
I from Mere Barbizon, but whether, at
. the beauty Of the night or as prelirni-
t nary to the sad rite about to be per
], formed, it was impossible to tell Her
K wrinkled chin was huddled in her
8 hands, her eyes were fixed on the
Q bag at her feet. If she had not been
ashamed to show emotion over crea-
= ture. that she herself had condemned
to death / think she would have given
poor Grisette at least farewell pat.
Presently Jack stopped rowing and
pulled in his oars "The time and
the place" he said, solemnly uncover
ing. III you have words to say to the
t-to-be-departed, Mere Barbizon,
say them now"
8 "Tiens! What have to say?' muir
/ INJURED Mere Barbizon. "Has she not
k always had the best? / have no re-
s. prOacheS. /, for one who has eaten