The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-03
CAPTAIN EPHRAIM'S CAT
BY DORIS BROWN.


lined. Contrary to Woodell tradition.
Myra Pitt continued for many years to
be a maid, but she refused to grow
old.
Trim little CRAFTY muttered the
captain. as his neighbor approached.
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?"
mot world"
I've got to say this" went on Myra
firmly; Its a sort of a 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"
IOu Gill any lOo AOho Va
CATS" ventured the captain warily.
81 hate em!"
The captain grew red with anger.
You're the fust old maid ever saw
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 COMPOUNDED glad you didn't"
he roared.
Myra smiled provokingly over her
shoulder as she turned away.
At that moment two barefooted lads
came scuffling along the dusty road.
"Oh. Cap'n Eph! jest heard a cat
in Miss Pitts smokehouse, sounded
like your Tibby!"
Il reckon we better be setting sail
for your smokehouse. Myra," said Cap
tain Ephraim, mildly.
There was a 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 weatherbeaten
smokehouse near the orchard.
"Mr-r-r-e-e-eow!"
There was no mistaking Tibby's pc
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.
"Mr-r-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 thu
captains blue cloth shoulder.
Captain Ephraim's hand stroked hel
silky coat, but his bright blue eye!
were staring into the open door of thu
smokehouse.
On the clean, bare floor were set ,
y tempting array of blue and white chin,
, saucers. One contained cream, another
one chicken livers. still another thu
white breast of chicken, another on,
of water. A soft, silken pillow showed
y where libby had rested her well-fet
body.
p Surely libby had Jared we'll.
Captain Ephraim's blue eyes turne,
I in puzzled inquiry on Myra's downcas
4 face.
n What made you do 1t, Myra?" b.
g asked sternly.
9 How do you know" she lifte'
her hand, saw the discriminating rov
g Of saucers in the smokehouse, an,
l. hid her face in her hands.
libby snarled as her master uncere
Q moniously shook her to the ground
8 His hands gently grasped Myra's fir
gers and pulled them away from he
:, wet eyes.
u "How did l know" he chuckle
softly. why, jest happened to Sc
" libby cruising over this way-and
It saw you steer her into the smoke
o house and knew she was there; bu
o I couldn't understand what you wante
IS Of her. wasn't afraid you'd harr
t. her-leastways. l was pretty sure 20
70 wouldn't. | says to myself, II sh
harms poor libby, I'll be confounde
D. glad she wouldn't marry me. II sh
n don't harm her. why. I'll Jest keep o
h being sorry she won't have me an
" make me the unloneliest man In Woo(
ell!"
le "Oh-oh!" sobbed Myra Pitt.
- why did you lock up my libby an
y then treat her like the queen Of catsl
10 insisted Captain Ephraim.
~ "Oh. because-because l was iealou
Of her, there!" confessed Myra. "Sh
~ used to come to meet you every Nigh
and wanted to be doing 1t mysel
as Ephraim-yes, I did! Don't ask N
&c why l didn't accept you Ave years az
~ Il don't know why. Only. now-oul,
ie now"
ee Only. now, you dol" finished Ca,
Dc TIN Ephraim so very acceptably ths
OF N 'ra's brown head dropped on b
IS comfortably broad shoulder and r
n manned there.
After that. it was Tibby's turn [
be jealous.