The Washington herald., 1914-10-13
DAILY SHORT STORY.


pose. and in about three days Miss Ruth
found herself saying to herself:
Il feel bad for that poor old woman
That cat has got to go. and it will be
very lonesome around that house. I'll
see IL I can't buy her another some
where
And Mr. Osborne Chalmers found him
self saying to himself: Darn that old
cat. but why should 1 keep thinking Of
her! 1 never gave q cat two thoughts
before. Reckon II was because 1 met a
good-looking girl at the same time I met
the old cat II the critter has another
fit she'll turn up her toes for good. II I
knew where I could find a young cat
believe IAEould carry II to her"
Providence even went one better than
that. 1t put the idea into Miss Ruth's
head to take another country walk and
had had another fit and died Of 1t she
would surely promise another cat. Ac-
cordingly. she walked.
Il believe I'll just take a walk out
there" said Mr.. Chalmers. Seems too
bad for that old cat to die.Swhen per
haps a word from me would save her
life to be a joy to the old woman for
years yet. Besides, if the cat is dead It
will be rather up to me to supply another
And that young lady that was there the
other day"
Miss Ruth arrived at the cottage The
cat sat on the porch. She hadn't had
another fit. but she looked as II she were
going to have one at the first convenient
opportunity"
Yes. she looks bad" agreed Mrs
Baker. ''and l am going TO ask a great
favor of you. You see, I am lame, and
can't walk far. and l want the old cat
taken away and dropped on the road
somewhere. If she is carried a mile I
don't believe she can find her way back
again"
But how'll I carry her?' asked Ruth.
'I didn't know that you'd ever come
back. but I've thought it all out. Wen
put her in a paper flour sack that I have
saved. When you get about a mile away
empty her out. say Shoe" and that will
be the last OF her. She'll find a home
somewhere"
Miss Ruth agreed to so the errand, and
after a time started back with the cap
tive. The cat made no great objections
to being sacked up. II is possible that
she rather longed for q change of en-
vironment.
A cat in a flour sack meows and snarlS
and spits. She claws and bites and walls.
She wobbles the sack to and fro and
back and forth.
Miss Ruth was hurrying along with
that sacked cat when she saw a young
man approaching. 1t was Osborne Chal-
mers. When he saw the wobbling sack
held out at arms length he suspected its
contents and hastened his steps He was
too late, however. What is to be will be.
1t was foreordained that that cat was to
claw her way out. and out she came. The
feline could have made a peaceful and
honorable retreat into the roadside
bushes, but she did nothing OF the kind.
She clawed of Miss Ruth's hat and
scratched her face-she clawed and
scratched the face OF Mr.. Chalmers when
he went to the rescue. Then she inflicted
two or three bites and went her way.
The humanitarians were sadly in need
Of repairs, and they made for the Widow
Bakers.
The widow stood on her porch with a
glad smile on her face. So did her old
cati
I'm so glad to see youl" exclaimed the
woman as the clawed and scratched and
bitten couple entered the gate. The cat
has got over her fits and Is playing
around as she used to when she was a
kitten. It must have been the fright that
did it,
When the wounds of the victims had
been dressed the widow rent them on
their way with:
II did think the whole world was hard
hearted, but this incident has shown me
to the contrary. You are passing by
here when you found my cat in a fit.
You come to the rescue. You come back
the second time to find her ready to have
another fit, and you carry her on and
give her such a scare that her health is
completely restored. and she Is good for
another ten years Of life. May a widows
blessing attend your
Miss Ruth and Mr.. Chalmers walked
away together.