The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-27
THE EVENING STORY
The Bachelor and the Cat.
(By Stuart B. Stone.)

The fluffy-haired, hazel-eyed young |
lady was speaking of the play at the |
Belleville opera house.
1T is the prettiest bit of sentiment. |
There's the Quaintest pair of lovers. |
and they &c through fire, water, per- |
secution ana plague, but it works out !
beautifully in the end
Thereupon bashfuI Captain Grant, |
as the head of the table, shifted polite
disapproval
The CHEEKY young bank clerk. who
sat next to the hazel-eyed girl. told of
the "best-selling'' romance he was
reading. 1t was 1.-THE Loves of Lady
Perilla," and Captain Grant frowned
at the title.
Then the young man leaned over
and talked in low tones to the fluffy
haired girl The girl colored, in de-
licious bewilderment; the young mans
Carter winked at Mrs. Newman Apple
by across the table. Captain Grant saw
the by-play of hearts. and growled in
to his plate of Boston beans. After
that. in a 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 "sized up the new
comer-some with a tinge of envy of
the splendid, shining hair, others with
listless 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 little ripple of amused
wonder went around the tables. Blush
ing wildly, the captain arose and
strutted hurriedly 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 charm
ingly, admitting the shrewdness Of the
forecast. From one labored conf
dence in day. this man who had
shifted at the prospect of young hearts
conffding attained to a running COM
ment of anecdote and observation.
Miss Inola was gracious, so, after a
bit, noticing the captain and the lady
in discussion. Mrs. Carter smiled at
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 faded tigress. She was
endowed with a cavernous yawn and a
lulling. musical purr. and she had a
way of curling UP on the precious
skirts of women to dream fitful
things of the chase of the hard-press-
ed mouse.
The giantess of a cat was as a pic
ture of gold to Miss Inola; but the
captain 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
grimly.
Miss Inola, loving Zenobia dearly,
could not help but hold it against him
ing for sympathy, thrust her plump
sides against the trouser-leg of the
captain, leaving soft, yellow hairs for
remembrance. 1t affected him like the
clammy contact of a serpent.
what do you see in that cat p" he
More than I see in you" Miss Inola
flared back.
That settled it. The captain retired
to his den and tried vainly to interest
himself in three volumes of the history
of the Soudan; and Miss 1nola, petting
and pampering the giantess Zenobia,
almost wished that she might die. For
a month Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Apple
by had only the young bank clerk and
the haze1-eyed girl for winking 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.
''The Moorish bandit is gruff, grim
and Injured to hardship" read the cap
tain. and nodded, knowing they were
| miles and miles away.
'She is the only woman I could ever
care q straw for" murmured the cap
| tain, alert and signing, for Madam of
| the Lilacs was only across the narrow
| hall.
A fulfilled, 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 nine. Some one cried,
family. far-away. The cry was repeat
| ed, nearer.
"F'irei Fret
The captain bounded to the door.
arrayed like a rajah for glory. Miss
| Inola almost telescoped him.
where is it?" she demanded.
The window disclosed a fierce blaze
quite near. 1.-THE Golden Rule ware
house, answered the captain; and
| they both descended hurriedly.
A crowd had gathered. shouting
gesticulating yet not venturing near
| the burning warehouse.
why don't they put it out?" asked
Captain Grant
| "Powder stored there-barrels and
| barrels of it." volunteered some one.
Mrs. Appleby approached Miss In.
ola. ''Your cat, Zenobia, just went in
| there
Miss Inola moaned: poor, little
Zenobia. She'll be blown into the
mooni"
Captain Grant started to speak and
| checked himself Then, coloring yfo-
| iently, 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.
william" she called him for the first
time. you are good and brave and
true"
| The captain proudly raised his head
lgirded his flowery, high-colored gown
about him and waded into the zone OF
| giimmering light
Hey, there! Danger, Powder.