The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-08-14
Observation-Disclosures.
MOUSE AND THE RING
ssssssssss.ssssssssssssess
BY MONA MAEHL.

she announced this terce and unal.
terable decision
My dear said her mother, gently,
his mother is my oldest and dearest
friend and she would gladly do as
much for one OF you girls.
But he isn't a girl" stormed Cor
nelil. And man shouldn't thrust
himself upon comparative strangers.
You'll just have TO write and tell her
that he can't come. l won't have him.
| hate men-and despise boarders,"
she concluded, vehemently,
Her mother sighed Then she said
little guiltily, I'm afraid you'll have
to submit TO 1t, my dear, for I've al
ready told his mother that he might
come"
Whereupon Cornelia whirled away
like a tornado to her room and wept
there.
In the course OF a few weeks young
Fred Lambert arrived and took up his
abode with the Trents. Cornela, true
to the spirit if not the letter of her
vow, ignored the young man as far as
her early and thorough training in the
school OF courtesy would permit.
At the table she responded to his
friendly advances with most chilling
hauteur When he Joined the family
circle in the evening she promptly
made some excuse for leaving it. Mar
jorie, the younger sister, and Fred soon
became the best Of friends. Fred, be.
ing happy, genial person, was great
ly troubled by Cornelia treatment Of
him.
/ wonder why your sister dislikes
me so?' he asked Marjorie one day
i don't think she dislikes you"
Marjorie hastened to assure him IT'S
just-well, she didn't want you to
come, and now she won't give in be.
cause she's the most obstinate thing"
Fred whistled So that's it, is it?"
he said
If 1t hadn't been for Tom perhaps
Cornelia never would have given in,
But Tom elected several days later TO
catch his annual mouse. Being a fat
and overfed feline, he rarely conde-
scended to enter the hunting field for
himself, and when he did it was a
tragical event in the family Cornelia
would rather have had the house
sWarming with mice than witness
Toms treatment Of one when he had
caught 1t,
On this occasion Cornelia was alone
at home when the ominous humping
and squeakng that were sure indica
tions OF Toms achievement reached
her ears. She rushed down the stairs
and into the living room just in time
to see Tom release his victim, allow
it to wabble away few feet and then
pounce upon it once more. Tears Of
indignation rolled down Cornelia 8
cheeks as she swooped upon Tom.
She was just about to clasp her hands
about his sleek body when he slid out
from under her fingers and with q
petulant swish of his tail in Cornelias
direction padded away with the unfor-
tunate mouse in his mouth
Cornelia followed, swooped again
and again was foiled. Tom trotted up
the stairs and sought refuge under
Cornelia's bed. Cornelia pursued him
with broom handle and rushed him
out. Still clutchng his treasure in
his teeth, Tom leaped down the stairs,
with Cornelia close at his heels Once
moro in the living room, he released
his prey again, gave it farewell slap
with his paw and, unable longer to en-
dure the nervous strain. gave yowl
and went into fit,
This was the final blow to Cornelia.
Tom in a fit was sight from which
she would flee in abject terror. With
a shrek she flew to the front door and
almost fell into the arms Of the
boarder,
Like drowning person, she
clutched him "O.o-oh she sobbed.
please, please Toms got tit and
mouse and l don't dare touch him,
and its over in the corner and l
know its suffering, because he treats
them perfectly dreadfully and ! can't
bear ii another minute. Oh, please
put him out and catch it and drown
It,
Without a word Fred walked into