The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-05
CAPTAIN EpHRAIM'S CAT
BY DORIS BROWN.

Miss Pitts door opened and she
came forth, trim and neat, in a fresh
lilac lawn with black velvet bow at
her round throat Her hair was bright
brown and her skin was pink and un-
lined. Contrary to Woodell tradition.
Myra Pitt continued for many years to
be a maid, but she refused to grow
old.
Trim little craft" muttered the
her black eyes dancing as usual.
Good evening, Myra." he greeted
her. removing the stubby pipe from
between his lips.
Good evening, captain" returned
Myra, pausing. You heard anything
about your cat?"
Not a world"
I've got to say this" went on Myra
firmly; Its sort of reflection on
me-your putting that in the paper
about libby being seen going south
southeast; why, that would mean she
was going right through my gate or
on to my prop'ty."
$50 she was"
Land sake!" gasped Myra, clinging
to the gate. Next thing you'll be say
ing that stole libby"
Hum! You amt any too fond OF
cats" ventured the captain warily.
Il hate 'em!"
The captain grew red with anger.
al I
who didn't set store by cats, he
barked rudely.
I'm the first old maid who didn't
accept the first half-witted old bache-
lor who wanted to marry her!" re-
torted Myra, still more rudely.
Captain Ephraim grew still more
crimson.
I'm confoundod glad you didn't"
he reared.
Myra smiled provokingly over her
shoulder as she turned away.
At that moment two Darefooted lads
came scufiling along the dusty road.
"Oh, Capn Eph! jest heard cat
in Miss Pitts smokehouse, sounded
like your Tibby!"
81 reckon we better be setting sail
for your smokehouse, Myra," said Cap
tain Ephraim, mildly.
There was scared look in Myra
Pitts flashing black eyes.
It'll be on every tongue IN town"
she thought with mental anguish, but
never a word did her lips utter. She
| lifted her brown head and proudly led
the way south-southeast through her
| front gate to the little weather-beaten
smokehouse near the orchard.
"Mr-r-r-e-e-eow!"
There was no installing libby scpe'
culiar wall Of despair.
| Il guess we've sighted SAIL" re.
marked the captain dryly as he
! tramped up the grassy path to the
smokehouse door.
Myra grew paler than before. All
the pink forsook her sweet face and
she looked drawn and old.
'Mrr-r-e-e-eow!" yowled libby from
within.
The latch clicked sharply and the
door swung open. Something yellow
and gray and white, with shining fiery
eyes, leaped out and alighted on the
captains blue cloth shoulder.
Captain Ephraim's hand stroked hel
silky coat, but his bright blue eyes
we're staring into the open door of the
smokehouse.
1 I'm <pln har q
tempting array of blue and white china
saucerS. One contained cream, another
one chicken livers, still another the
white breast of chicken, another ont
of water. A soft, silken pillow showed
where libby had rested her well-fet
body.
Surely libby had Jared well.
Captain Ephraims blue eyes turned
in puzzled inquiry on Myra's downcas
face.
''What made you do it, Myra?" h'
asked sternly.
'tHow do you know" she liftet
her hand, saw the discriminating row
OF saucers in the smokehouse, ant
hid her face in her hands.
libby snarled as her master uncere
moniously shook her to the ground
His hands gently grasped Myra's fin
gers and pulled them away from he
wet eyes.
"How did know" he chucklet
softly. why. jest happened to SCI
libby cruising over this way-and
saw you steer her into the smoke
house and knew she was there; bu
l couldn't understand what you wanted
of her. | wasn't afraid you'd harm
her-leastways. / was pretty sure you
wouldn't. says to myself, If sht
harms poor libby, I'll be COMPOUNDED
glad she wouldn't marry me. If SHE
don't harm her, why, I'll jest keep 81
being sorry she won't have me an(
make me the unloneiiest man in Wood
ELL"
"Oh-oh!' sobbed Myra Pitt
why did you lock up my libby ant
then treat her like the queen of eats? 2
insisted Captain Ephraim.
"Oh, because-because / was jealous
of her, there," confessed Myra. "She
used to come to meet you every night
and wanted to be doing it myself
Ephraim-yes, 1 did! Don't ask me
why l didn't accept you five years age
Il don't know why. Only, now-oniy
now"
'rOnly, now, you dol" finished Cap
tain Ephraim SO very aeceptably thai
Myras brown head dropped on his
: comfortably broad shoulder and re-