Okolona messenger., 1911-04-20


very cold and Pussykin had never
slept out of doors. There had always
been a basket in a warm corner by
the fireplace, and when the snow and
sleet had beaten against the windows
the little cat and Miss Mary and the
old father and mother had basked in
calm content, but now the father and
mother we're dead and Miss Mary's |
sister-in-law ruled in the household.
1t was a reign of terror to Miss
Mary and PussyIin. Martha Jen-
kins did not like cats, and she an
nounced at once that there should be
no cushions in her hearthstone cor
ner. For several months Miss Mary
had smuggled Pussykin into her
bedroom, only to be discovered at
last, and to hear Martha's strident
voice announcing that "the place for
a cat was out of DOORS" and that out
< Of doors Pussykin must 60,
} 1t was then that Miss Mary had
a fled with the cat in her arms, seek
r ing for some place Of shelter. The
shed where the horses were kept Of
fered little cheer Miss Mary could
not imagine the petted little animal
comfortable in such a place.
"Oh, Pussykin, Pusaylzin," she
said, "what am I going to do with
e you?"
IS As she stood in the door with her
Il bright hair blowing about her round,
IS troubled face a man came tramping
lie through the snow and stopped in the
IS roadway in front of her.
ID 'Why, Nathan Crisseyp' Miss
as Mary exclaimed; "when did you get
te home?"
n. 'Last night" he responded, "and
&c I have been busy ever since, opening
my new house and settling things"
Miss Mary held out her hand.
''You look perfectly splendid" she
y said, "and l am SO glad you arc
&c back"
ca He was a big fellow, broad shoul-
n derpd and handsome. in his corduroy
y, coat and soft hat. When he hac
en- gone to seek his fortune he had beer
liz raw country boy one Of the poo
whites of the neighborhood in which
Miss Mary's family were the aristo
Gratis,
"Tt seems good to be back" h
IN. said, holding on to Miss Mary's han
.o a little longer than was necessary
10 Then he laughed a little. "You'r
J. the best thing I've seen since came
u, ''' Did You know was going to be you
''S' next door neighbour"
"Why, no, I didn't Have yo
VT" bought the Butler place."
He nodded. eyes, l am going
'ne fix it over. | always liked it, an
re S when l was a boy dreamed that
Who would go away and make my fortur
and come back here to make II
home, and now my dream has con
true, But I mustn't keep you stan
ing here" he added, quickly, "if
,u, too cold"
,,ion "I'd ask you to come up to f
.ir;. house." Miss Mary said, fushin
"but I can't. Martha is cleaning, a
everything is topsy-turyy. 1t does
= seem like home any more, sir
l1'o' mother and father" Her Ii
10 trembled.
ouId "T know" he said, sympathetical
ouId ''When | heard that you were i
alone, | hurried back. | wanted
the tell you that if there was anythi
man l could do for You YOU must let
rlain do it."
" A sudden hope sprang up in N
Marys breast. "Ohw she cried,
you would only take Pussykin. NJ
tina has turned her out and VIC
VIA let her sleep in the house any mo
AD if you could find corner for hC
"I will find more than a cornt
. v he said as he took the big gray
go from her. "She shall sit on a CT
ion and eat cream to the end Of
: '"''' days. She will be precious tr
lslnal ure because she's yours"
Is, "At first she won't like it,"
nit 10 Mary said, "to be separated f
eposit me, but I'll try to see her e'
Of SO day; she'll run over here"
applv He wanted to tell her that
Ohio need not be separated, that he
Ma. bought the Butler place with
hope that she might reign as its
vfess, but he did not feel that
was the time to tell her. He was
A. A