The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-05-09


with her cat in her arms. It was
very cold and Pussykin had never
slept out of doors. There hal . 'ys
been has! |. in warm corner by
the fireplace, and when the snow ans
elcet had beaten against the winss-'sss
the little cat and Miss M"ry and the
old father and mother ned basksa i:
calm content, but now the father ard
mother were dead and Miss Marv's
sister.in-law ruled in the household.
It was a reign Of terror to Miss
Mary and Pussykin. Martha Jen-
Ains did not like cats, and she OF
nounced at once that there should be
no cushions in her hcarthstone cor
Eer. For SC .eral months Miss Mary
had smuggled Pussykin into her
bedroom, only to be discovered ct
last, and to hear Martha's stridect
voice announcing that "the place for
a ct was out Of DOORS" and that out
Of doors Pu'ykin must %.
It was then that Miss Mary had
fled with the cat in her arms, seek
ing for some place Of shelter. The
ahcd where the horses were kept Of
fercd little cheer. Miss Mary could
not imagine the petted little animal
comfortable in such a place.
ooh, Pussykin, Pussykin," she
said. what am going to do with
you?"
Az she stood in the door with her
bright hair blowing about her rourl,
troubled face man came tram2.,g
through the snow and stopped in the
roadway in front of her.
"Why, Nathan Crissey!" Miss
Mary exclaimed "whcn did you get
homer
Last night he responavii, 's'rd
! have been busy ever since, opening
my new house and settling things
Miss Mary held out her hand
"l'ou look perfectly Splendid" she
said, "and ! am 20 glad you an
back"
He was big fellow, broad shool
dered and handsome, in his corduroy
coat and soft hat. When he hat
gone to seek his fortune he had beer
: raw country boy, one Of the poo
whites Of the ncighborhood in which
Miss Mary's family were The aristo
Gratis.
ut seems good to be back" h
said. holding on to Miss Mary's hant
= little longer than was necessary
Then he laughed a little. "You'r
the best thing I've seen since I came
Did you know I was going to be you
next door neighbor"
'NWhy, no, l didn't. Have yo'
bought the Butler placer"
He nodded. eyes, am going t
Ak it over. always liked it, ant
when was boy dreamed that
would 20 away and make my FORUM
and come back here to make m
home. and now my dream has com
true. But l mustn't keep YOU stand
Ing here" he added. quickly, "it'
too cold"
I'D ask You to come up to tn
house." Mi.s Mary said, flushing
s'but l can't Martha is cleaning, an
everything is topsy-turvy. 1t doesn
seem like home any more, sine
mother and father" Her liz
tre,nbled.
II know" he said, sympatheticall
when l heard that you were le
alone, / hurried back. wanted
tell you that if there was anythia
I could do for you you must let n
do it,"
A sudden hope sprang up in Mi
Aary's breast. "Ohw she cried. q
you would only take Pussykin. Ma
tina has turned her out and Won
let her sleep in the house any NOR
il you could find corner for her
II will find more than a corner
he said as he took the big gray c
from her. rShe shall sit on Gus
ion and eat cream to the end Of h
days. She will be precious tres
pre because she's yours"
cat first she won't like it, Nj
Mary said, ito be separated FRI
me, but I'll try to see her eve
day; she'll run over here"
He wanted to tell her that
need not be separated, that he Il
bought the Butler place with
hope that she might reign as it's m
49,. L.,& ~ Al ~ kn~1 ILL 4