The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-12-25
MRS. BAKERS CAT
aw MN "A NoAANe
BY DON LA GRANGE.

She was chfldless widow who had
reached the age of sixty. She had
sufhcient income to keep her out of
the hands Of charity. She had her
little home In the outskirts of the
town, and her companion for the last
ten years had been her cat.
On . certain afternoon Miss Ruth
Brighton. wishing for sight of the
country. took street car for half a
mile and then walked for the same dis
lance to find herself In front of the
Widow Bakers cottage. Just as she
arrived the old woman ran out to the
gate and screamed
'She's dying!" walled Mrs. Baker.
booking down at an outstretched cat.
Maybe it's only fit and we can
save her. Get dish of cold water"
The water was brought and thrown
over the grimalkin. and after long
minute she opened her eyes and re-
turned to the land of the living.
Il am thankful to heavenl" piously
exclaimed Mrs. Baker, as she rolled
her eyes to the sky.
That day Osborne Chalmers had de-
cided to take half holiday and walk
into the country in the afternoon. He
was going to see things that might In
huence him to buy an 80-acre farm
when he saw cottage. an old woman,
. girl and blinking old cat,
"Will you come here?" called the
Widow Baker.
rs It anything serious?" he asked
AS he entered the gate.
my old cat has had a fit! What
would you advise me to do?"
1T seems to me the better way
would be to get rid OF her."
But how am | going to get rid of
herr
"She ought to be carried of and
drowned"
That was all about the cat for
week, as far as the two outsiders were
concerned. They both had their walks
and returned to their homes.
Very few people would permit a
Widows cat to disturb their peace of
mind. but in this case the occasion was
furnished by Providence. 1t put the
idea into Miss Ruths head to take an
other country walk and see how the
old cat got along.
Il believe I'll just take a walk out |
there" said Mr. Chalmers. Seems too |
bad for that old cat to die.
Miss Ruth arrived at the cottage
Inc cat sat on the porch. She hadn't ,
had another fit, but she looked as if |
she were going to have one at the |
nrst convenient opportunity.
Yes, she looks bad" agreed Mrs. |
baker. and am going to ask a great |
favor OF you. You see, am lame, and |
cant walk far and want the old cat |
taken away and dropped on the road
somewhere. II she is carried a mile
! don't believe she can find her way
back again"
But how will carry herr" asked
Ruth.
I don't know that you'd ever come
BACK, but I've thought it all out. Well
put her In paper -four sack that 7
nave saved. When you get about a
nile away empty her out, say Shoot
And that will be the last of her. She'll
ind home somewhere"
MISS Ruth agreed to do the errand.
and after a time started back with the
captive. The cat made no great oh.
'ections to being sacked up. 1t is
possible that she rather longed for a
'hange of environment.
cat In flour sack meows and
'narls and spits. She claws and bites
md walls. She wobbles the sack to
md fro and back and forth.
Miss Ruth was hurrying along with
nat sacked cat when she saw a young
nan approaching. 1t was Osborne
;haimers. When he saw the wob-
'iing sack held out at arms length he
suspected It's contents and fastened {
hs steps. He was too late, however
What is to be will be. 1t was fore
rdained that that cat was to claw her
ray out and out she came. The feline I
ouid have made peaceful and hon. {
rable retreat into the roadside bush. 6
s, put she did nothing of the kind. S
me clawed off Miss Ruth's hat and
crStched her face-she clawed and
cratched the face of Mr.. Chalmers 1
Vhen he went TO the rescue. Then I
he inflicted two or three bites, and S
Fent her way. 7
The humanitarians were sadly in a
eed of repairs, and they made for @
he Widow Bakers. n
The widow stood on her porch with I
glad smile on her face. So did her 8
Id cat a
I'm so glad to see yout" exclaimed c
he woman as, the clawed and fl
and bitten couple entered fl
ne gate. THE cat has got over her Il
is and is playing around as she used G
when she was kitten. 1t must have /,
cen the fright that did it," "
When the wounds of the victims had b
cen dressed the widow sent them ON a
ieir way with: A
L did think the whole world was t.
ard-hearted, but this incident has "