Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-01-31


very cold and PussyiSin had never
slept out Of doors. There had always
been a basket in a warm oofriar 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 were dead and Miss Mary's
sister-inzlaw ruled In the household.
It was a reign Of terror to Miss
Mary and Pussytin. Marths J@-
kins did not like cats, and she an
nounced at once that there should be
no cushions in her hearthstona COR
ner. For several months Miss Mary
had smnggled PussYkiu into her
bedroom, only to be discovered at
last, and to hear MaFths's strdent
voice announcing that "the place for
a cat was out of doors," and that out
of doors Pussynn must go.
It was then that Miss Mary had
fled with the cat in her arms, seek
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, Pussylun," she
said, what am l going to do with
you?"
Az she stood in the door with her
bright hair blowing about her round,
troubled face a man came tramping
through the snow and stopped In the
roadway in front Of her.
"Why, Nathan Crisseyp Miss
Mary exclaimed; "when did you get
home"
'Iast night" he responded, "andi
1 have been busy ever since, opening
my new house and settling things"
Miss Mary held out her hand.
''You look perfectly splendid" she
said, "and l am SO glad you are
back"
He was big fellow, broad shout
dered and handsome, in his corduroy
coat and soft hat. When he had
gone to seek his fortune he had been
a raw country boy, one of the poor
whites of the neighborhood in which
Miss Mary's family were the aristo-
Gratis.
at seems good to be back" he
said, holding on to Miss Mary's hand
a little longer than was necessary.
Then he laughed a little. You're
the best thing I've seen since l came.
Did you know was going to be your
next door neighbour"
"Why, no, I didn't. Have you
bought the Butler place."
He nodded. eyes, am going to
fix it over. | always liked it, and
when l was a boy l dreamed that l
would go away and make my fortune
and come back here to make my
home, and now my dream has come
true. But l mustn't keep you stand
ing here" he added, quickly, ats
too cold"
"I'd ask you to come up to the
house." Miss Mary said, flushing;
"but can't. Martha is cleaning, and
everything is topsy-turvy. 1t doesn't
seem like home any more, since
mother and father" Her lips
trernbled.
"Tmow," he said, sympathetically.
when l heard that you were left
alone, l hurried back. 1 wanted to
tell you that if there was anything
l could do for you you must let me
DO it."
A sudden hope sprang up in Miss
Mary's breast. "Ohp she cried, "if
you would only take Pussykin. Mar
tina has turned her out and won't
let her sleep in the house any more
II you could find corner for her."
~ will find more than a corner"
he said as he took the big gray cat |
hom her. "She shall sit on cush- |
ION and eat cream to the end Of her
lays. She will be a precious treas
are because she's yours"
"At first she won't like it," Miss
Mary said, "to be separated from
me, but l'll try to see her every
lay; she'll run over here"
lie wanted to tell her that she