Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1911-02-10
A Home
for
Pussykin
By TEMPLE BAILEY

slept out of doors. There had always
been a basket in warm corner by
the fireplace, and when the snow and
elect had beaten against he 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-in-law ruled in the household.
It was a reign Of terror TO Miss
Mary and Pussykin. Martha Jen-
kins did not like cats. and she an
nounced at once that there should be
no cushions in her hearthsfone cor
ncr. For several months Miss Mary
had Struggled 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
If doors Pussykin must go.
1t was then that Miss Mary had
fed with the cat in Ter arms, seek
Ing for some place Of shelter. The
she'd where the horses were kept Of
fcred little cheer. Miss Mary could
not imagine the petted little animal
comfortable in such a place.
ooh, Pussykin, Pussykin," she
said. "what am I going to do With
you?"
As she stood in The door with her
bright hair blowing about her round.
troubled face a man came tramping
through the snow aid stopped in the
roadway in front Of her.
'Why, Nathan Crissey!" Miss
Mary exclaimed; "when did you get
homer"
''Last night" he responded. "an1
] 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 shoul-
lered 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 ncighborhood in which
Miss Mary's family were the aristo-
Gratis.
1T seems good TO be back he
said, holding on to Miss Mary's hand
q little longer than was necessary
Then he laughed a little. you're
The best thing I've seen since I came.
Did you know | was going to be your
rext door neighbor?''
"Why, no, l didn't. Have you
bought the Butler placer"
He nodded. eyes, ! am going TO
fix it over. I always liked it, and
when was boy dreamed that I
would 90 away and make my fortune
and come back here TO make NJ
home. and now my dream has come
true. But l mustn't keep you stand
ing here" he added; quickly, at s
too cold"
"1'd ask you TO come up to the
house" Miss Mary said, flushing
"but | can't. Martha is cleaning, and
everything is topsy-'urvy. Ii doesn't
seem like home any more, since
mother and father" Her lips
tremhled.
II know" he said, sympathetically.
"When heard tlat you were left
alone, | hurried back. + wanted to
tell you that if there was anything
I could do for you you must let me
DO it,"
A sudden hope sprang up in Miss
Mary's breast. "Oh!" she cried, IF
you would only take Pussykin. Mar
tina has turned her out and Won.
let her sleep in the house any more
if you could find corner for her"
81 will find more than a corner y
he said as he took the big gray cat
from her. "She shall sit on a cush-
ion and eat cream 70 the end Of her
days. She will be a precious treas
ure because she's yours"
CAT first she won't like it," Miss
Mary said, ''to be separated from
me, but I'll try to see her every
day; she'll run over here"
He wanted to tell her that she
need not be separated, that he had
bought the Butler place with tn.
hope that she might reign as its mis-.
tress, but he did not feel thar this
was the time to tell her. He was only
Nathan Crissey after all, and sht
was the daughter of a proud race.