The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-13
The Epe,lins Story
Mn. bakers Oad Cat.
By Do La 0r4nee.)

(By Do LA Gran9e.)
| And who was Ars. sBaker3
| She was childless widow who had
reached the age Of sixty. She had suf-
ncient income to keep her out Of the
hands Of charity. She had her little
home in the outstirts Of the town. and
her companioship for the last ten years
had been her cat.
| It was an old gray cat It was q sol
Unlocking cat. It was . cat which
| had once been q kitten and froltcked a.
kitten do, but that time had long past
and the date had arrived when she must
| ponder over what the future had in
store for her. It was this pondering and
wondering that made her sit around
without ambition and permit the rats
and mice to come and 20 unafraid and
untouched.
| On q certain summer afternoon Miss
Ruth Brighton, wishing for q sight OF
! the trees, birds, lambs, hollyhocks and
toadstools Of the country. took q street
car for half mile. and then wlked for
of the Widow Bakers cottage. Just a.
she arrived the old woman ran out to
the gate end screamed:
Murder! Police! Fire!"
| Who was being murdered? Where was
the fire? Where the police?"
Come in, quick!''
| Many q girl would have taken to her
heels and clipped it along for q mile
without 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.
shes dying!" walled Mrs.. Baker a.
J she wrung her hands.
Maybe it's only a fit and we can
save her. Get dish Of cold water"
| The water was brought and thrown
over the grimalkin. and after a long
minute she opened her eyes and re-
turned to the land Of the living.
Il am thankful to Heaven!" piously
exclaimed Mrs. Baker a. she rolled her
eyes to the sky.
That day Osborne Chalmers had de-
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 hollyhocys and the rest Of
the things that make farmers life 50
Joyful and innocent that he never sells
thirteen eggs for q dozen for fear Of
hurting the feelings Of buyer
Mr.. Chalmers saw a crow. He saw
COW. He saw smartweed and may
weed and burdociks along the high
way. He was just going to sec q lot
! of other things to influence him to
buy an eishty-acre farm and raise
seventy-five acres Of turnips when he
saw cottage, an old woman, q girl
and a blinking old cat.
will you come here?" called the
| Widow Baker as he s1ackened his
pace.
els it anything serious?" he asked
as he entered the gate.
my old cat has had q fit.''
us it possible?' he replied without
cracking 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!'
ut was a fit. I suppose?"
That's it,
aged cats are subject to them, ]
believe"
!, What, will she have another"
Every likely to-"
But what would you advise me to
do?'
1T seems to me the better way
would be to get rid Of her II there
was anything I could do I should
cheerfully do It. but as there is NOT
I will go on
Miss Ruth had kept a shoulder ia
the conversation, and her face wa
sober as she turned to the widow and
said: st have heard that aged cats
are apt to run mad
Lands of mercyi'
You think a good deal Of her. no
doubt, but the safest way IL to get rid
Of her. II she runs mad she may bite
you"
But how am going to get rid OF
herr"
"she ought to be carried on and
drowned"
That was all about the cat for q
week, as far AZ the two outsiders
were concerned. They both had their
walks and returned to their homes
Very few people would permit q
Widows old cat to disturb their peace
Of mind. but in this case the occasion
was furnished by Providence for q
days Miss Ruth found herself saying
to herself:
4 II feel bad for that poor old WON
an. That cat has got to 90, and II
will be very lonesome around that
house. TIL see If can't buy her an
other somewhere"
And Mr.. Osborne Chalmers found
himself saying to himself: Darn
that old cat. but why should I keep
thinking Of her! never gave . cal
two thoughts before. Reckon It was
because I met . good-looking girl al
the same time I met the old cat II
the critter has another ut she'll turn
where could ma . young cat be-
lieve would carry It to her.
i Providence even went one better
than that. It put the idea into lGisn
Ruth's head to take another country
walk and zee how the old cat got
along. If she had had another ut and
died Of It she would surely promise
another cat Accordingly, she walked.
al believe I'll just take . walk out
there" said Mr.. ChAlmers. 'sseema
too bad for that old cat to die, when
perhaps . word from me would savl
for years yet. Besides. II the cat q
dead II will be rather mn In ma n