The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-13
The Naughtiness
OF Molly Muff

by l.. II.
Molly Mum is beautiful gray kit
ten with thick. long fur and big.
bushy tail, which she waves around,
sometimes as banner OF defiance
and sometimes as terror TO small
dogs she Is the prettiest cat I ever
knew. and also the most seif-willed.
She has been petted so much that
she thinks she must always have her
own way. whether that agrees with
her mistress or not.
Her mistress is Rose Maitland; and
Rose once said to me plaintively:
Really. / don't know whether l own
Molly Mum or Molly Muf owns me.
I don't mind Molly's walking all over
my bed, IL only her paws are clean:
but she will not let me touch her
basket. even to shake up her cushion,
without giving cross little 'mteou'
over It, / never say anything II she
jumps up In mammals lap or leases
papa for her BAH instead of me; but
If try to pet Helen's dog when she
brings 1t here Molly Muff growls az
e she would fly out of her skin. and
worries over il for long time"
Molly Auff's last performance, how
~-.e~. sstrna ssed anything she has ever
done before, A month ago Rose had
a bad cold. which she called the grip,
ana ffFfD8ES Il WIS Astf tstiiiiy IL Aui-
filled ane condition of that disagree
able trouble. for II was after she grew
better TINT she felt the worst and
finally Papa and Mamma Maitland
decitfed to take her away for fort
night, and see what a change and a
bit Of fun would do for her. Mrs.
paXts. ielea,s mother. said she would
be very happy to have Molly stay with
her while they were away: and, since
YayA M To-
were the best of friends whenever
Molly wasn't Jealous of Roses atten-
tons to him. the invitation was ac-
eepted The Maitlands planned to
stay week in New York. and then
go on TO WASHINGTON.
Papa Maitland undertook TO take
Molly Nuff over to the Dav!ses. The
wilful little thing seemed to know
perfectly we'll what was going on;
and she hid in Roses closet. so that
there was long delay before she
could he found. She objected the
covered basket; and all the way over
she clawed and scratched, mewing
pitifuliy. as If she were in utter mis-
cry The journey was accomplished.
however. Molly was shut up for the
night. and. as the Maitlands were to
start early the next morning, the mat
ter seemed to be settled.
FTettN hptiy tHJOScu &OOu sup
per Of chicken and cream, evidently
making the best OF the situation, but
perhaps also watching her opportuni-
ty. She looked up resentfnlly when
she heard the cook say that Il was
"a sin and shame entirely to be af-
ter giv.n' such an insignificant little
haste the best Of the land but she
resumed her supper complacently ~
Bridget added. but she has that
takin' way with her, ye can't deny her
snothin'."
The next morning. when Bridget
opened the kitchen door. she was
greeted affectionateiy. even effus!veiy.
by Molly Muff, who had slept all night
on the soft cushion In Bridget's rock
ing chair. Not ten minutes later.
however, when Bridget went to the
outside door to take the milk In, y
tiny gray ball OF fur and nun seemed
to push itself between her feet: and
all her dazed eyes could see. as she
looked after it. was the crntur goin'
IKE streak of lightnin,' and give
We my word" as Molly Mum sped to-
ward home. An me a-belavin' livery
word she said
Nobody can tell Just what Molly
Muff did after that. None OF the
Ma.tlands saw her as they put the
few last things In the. trunk and then
went down to their early breakfast.
The maid brought their umbrellas.
Mr.. Maitland's hat box, the bunch OF
'yiolets that Rose wished to take with
her, and Mrs. Maitland's small hand
bag, placing them In the hall until the
me n should come with the carriage.
Not long after that they started.
and half an hour later they were
scmfortably settled In the parlor car.
n Az