The Washington herald., 1914-10-13
MRS. BAKERS OLD CAT.
ny DON LA GRANGE.
Copyright, BAL


| And who was Mrs. Baker,
She WIS a childless widow who had
| reached the age of sixty. She had sum-
cient income to keep her out Of the
hands OF charity. She had her little
home in the outskirts OF the town. and
her companionship for the last ten years
bad been her cat
II was An old gray cat. II was sol
4 emn looking cat. II was a cat which had
once been a kitten and frolicked as kit
tens do, but that time had long passed
| and the date had arrived when she must
ponder over what the future had in store
| for her. II was this pondering and won
dering that made her sit around without
ambition and permit the rats and mice 10
come and 90 unafraid and untouched.
On a certain summer afternoon Miss
Ruth Brighton, wishing for sight Of the
/ trees. birds, lambs. hollyhocks and toad
| stools of the country, took street car for
| half a mile and then walked for the same
distance to find herself in front OF the
Widow Bakers cottage. Just as she ar
rived the old woman ran out to the gate
and screamed:
Murder. Police! FIRE."
Who was being murdered? Where was
the fire? Where the police?
Come in, quick!'
MANY a girl would have taken to her
heels and clipped it along for mile with
out stopping for breath, but Ruth
Brighton didn't. She followed the old
lady to the porch. and with her looked
down at the gasping. outstretched cat
she's DYING walled Mrs. Baker, as
she wrUng her hands.
Maybe it's only fit and we can save
her. Get a dish of cold water.
The water was brought and thrown
over the grimalkin. and after long min
ute she opened her eyes and returned 10
the land of the living.
..I am thankful to heaven!' piously eX-
claimed Mrs. Baker, as she rolled her
eyes to the sky.
cided to take a half holiday and a walk
into the country in the afternoon. He
also wanted to see the trees and birds
and lambs and hollyhocks and the rest
of the things that make farmers lie
so ioyful and innocent that he never
sells thirteen eggs for dozen for rear
of hurting the feelings of a buyer.
Mr.. Chalmers saw COW. he sa"
COW. Sc saw smartweed and mayweed
and burdocks along the highway. He
was Just going to see lot OF other
things TO influence him to buy an eighty
acre farm and raise seventy-five acres OF
turnIps when he saw a cottage, an old
woman, a girl and blinking old cat.
viii you come here? called the
Widow Baker as he slackened his pace:
rs it anything serious?" he asked
as he entered the gate.
MY old cat has had ft!'
'Ts it possible!' he replied without
cracking a smile.
"And but for this young lady here,
who told me to throw cold water on
the Gasping creature. she'd have been
dead by this time!N
1T was a fit, suppose"
That's it,
AGED cats are subject to them, be-
lieve."
what. will she have another?'
VERY likely to-"
But what would you advise me to
doT'
1T seems to me the better way would
be to get rid of her.s II there was any
thing / could do should cheerfully do
IL but as there is not 1 will go on"
Miss Ruth had kept shoulder to the
conversation, and her face was sober as
she turned to the window and said: Il
have heard that aged cats are apt to run
mad"
Lands of mercyF'
You think a good deal OF her, no
doubt, but the safest way 70 get rid
Of her. II she runs mad she may bite
you"
But how am going to get rid of
her?'
"she ought to be carried OF and
drowned"
That was all about the cat for a week.
as far as the two outsiders were con-
cerned They both had their walks and
returned to their homes.
Very few people would permit a widows
cid cat to disturb their peace of mind.
but in this case the occasion was fur