The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-05-19
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The Onice~Cat
By TEMPLE BAILEY
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Literary Press

lociated Literary Press
thanked him. 4Now She can keel
| her white fur. It is hard for her
poor thing. when there are so many
| ashes"
The screen made such an effective
hiding place that no one but the
Judge and Miss Staley knew Of the
good fortune that had come to thu
! Office cat It furnished them, too
with a little secret and delightful in
terest, and brought into the Judges
somewhat staid bachelor life fresh
| ness which was q relief from the
stale excitements of late suppers and
showgirls which seemed to satisfy
his clubfellows.
Reverence for women had been In
! stilled into the judge. by his mother
but he had found few who had justi
fed it. 1t was q real Joy to discover
the depths Of Miss Staley's nature
Thus all went well until one cold
morning, when Miss Staley came in
for dictation. The judge saw that
her usual self-possession had for
saken her. He gave her three letters
before she broke down, and then she
wrung her hands and said, wistfully
like child: "Oh, I've lost my cat"
How" the judge sat up. you
don't mean"
Yes, l do. l haven't seen her fol
two days. The janitor has had it in
for me ever since told him that il
heard him beating his boy again
would report him to the police"
WELL" the judge stated. The will
find out that T."
The janitor, after much compul
sion, admitted that he had car
the cat to the edge of the city.
Il will get you another cat" was
the way the judge tried to comfort
Miss staley.
But Miss Staley shook her head
"Oh, no, you mustn't. I think the
reason liked this one was because
she was alone, and nobody seemed tc
care for her. and since I came here
among strangers-1 know how II
feels"
Then, lest she should seem to claim
his sympathy. she turned it OF with
little laugh. But I have enough
to eat"
"As If that suff1ced." the Judge
soliloquized, when she had left him
why what she needs is-love-"
The suddenness of the revelation
brought him up with a jerk. "Oh
look here" he admonished himself
you mustn't think of such a thing
you know"
But he did think of it, and the out
come was an invitation to Miss Staley
to go with him that afternoon in his
car to hunt for the office cat. Under
stress of circumstances, Miss Sta
ley consented. They did not find the
cat, but the Judge found out where
Miss Staley lived.
During a second search, the judge
discovered that Miss Staley's name
was Margaret. and on the third triI
he had the Joy of buying her bunch
of violets.
The fourth day Miss Staley de-
clined to go with him. Il am busy
and I am afraid it's of no use to
look further" she said.
The Judge wasted the next day in
meditation, and having come to 4
decision, he went back late to his
office to look over a case that was
coming up the next day. Thus II
happened that, at midnight, he heard
in the hall an unmistakable NEW.
He was out of his room like shot
to find before Miss Staley's closed
portal a shivering, foot-sore creature
who dragged herself to him over the
stone floor.
"Why, Pussykin, Pussykin," he said.
and petted her and carried her back
to his office, and made her comforta'
BILE beside his radiator. Then he
telephoned to the corner lunchroom
for bottle of milk and box OF
fried oysters, and they had their late
supper together, happily.
The rapture of Miss Staley the next
morning was his reward. But he was
not content to let it end there. We've
got to plan it out" he said, firmly,
and shut the door of Miss Staley's
sanctum and sat down and faced her,
while the regenerated Pussykin
purred at their feet. THAT cat can't
stay here-it isn't really businesslike.
you know"
Il know" Miss Staley's tone was
deprecating. But l live in a board
ing house, and"
Il DON'T" said the Judge.
"You mean," her glance met his.
that you want herr"
Il want both Of you," the Judge
clared, bluntly; my house 10
empty, and my heart Is empty-Mar.
garet."
When they planned their wedding
journey the judge suggested England
III general. and Cheshire in particu.
lar
Because of the cheese?" was Miss
Staley's demand.
Because of the CATS" was the
whimsical response.