Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-04-30
At MISS CADY'SzOO
Violet Lane Found Both Home
and Happiness in It.
BY JOHN TRENT.

Among tne ITitolDus young ioih ia
the village Miss Arabella Cady's select
boarding house was known as THE
Zoo" AS Sally Hecker yiyaciously
explained II to her fellow teachers at
the high school, 1T is a human zoo.
anyway. II there could be such a
thing,
First" said Sally. there ia our
own reverend principal, MIR. Dale-ie
he not perfect bear. big, growly,
grizzly bear? And Doctor Coleman is
a perfect polar bear. so cold and un-
mannerly and restlessl And Miss
Twitchell Is feline-soft and purry
and with sharp claws that scratch,
and biting tongue. And" Sally
giggled. Il heard Mr.. Dale say that
the new boarder, the young man who
works In the drug store, was a puppy,
and everyone knows what a silly
goose Mrs. Jones is. and all the rest
of the house full are Just as funny
and freakish. Oh. no: Miss Lane.
don't go to the Zoo to board"
Violet Lane. the new teacher.
smiled mirthfulIy at sally's descrip-
ton of Miss Cady's boarders.
You are too late. Miss Hecker; I've
engaged board there and | don't care
what you say about the rest OF them.
but do think Miss Arabelia In a per.
feet dear"
A gale OF laughter greeted her re-
mark.
a dear, What did tell you.
girls" cried Sally. ooh. don't mind
our foolishneas, Miss Lane: you are
dear yourself and entirely eligible
to 20 to The Zoo Perhaps you can
do some missionary work among
them an"
Violet smiled and was silent She
could not explain 70 these giddy girls
how pleasant and homellke was the
little chlntx-hung room AZ Miss cadys.
where she had unpaeked her belong
inKs that very morning. How quiet
was the home atmosphere Of the place
and how delicious the wellcooked
food
They could not appreciate what this
position in the vineiand school meant
70 a girl who had worked her way up
from an orphaned and friendless
childhood. who had paid for her own
education and who had never known
what real home was like.
To Violet Lane Miss gady'a Zoo was
. charming colonial home Allied with
delightful people. IL WAS more than
that. II was home.
So. accompanied BIZ tho unwar-
rnnted pity Of her companions. Violet
Lane turned IN at Miss cady's gate:
smiled az they hurried away In af-
feeted fear OF its inmates. and was
stsil smiling as she opened the front
door.
The smile died away as she met the
fierce. dark gaze OF Homer Dale. the
principal OF her school Mr.. Dale. n
tall. dark. misunderstanding man.
growled a greeting. tried 10 smile and
failed utterly. before he desperately
bottled into the slttlng room and hid
himself behind newspaper.
Violet was puzzled I don't believe
he likes me-" abe thought. as she
mounted the stairs At the top she
met little Miss Twlteheli. who had
lived for many years at the Zoo She
had a little. dried-up face and form.
and spoke In raspins little voice.
"oh. its you. Miss Pane--Lane or
Dane. did you say7 oh. Lane, /
really thought you we're little girl;
out La when our school teachers wear
such short skirts and fiounce around
80. how IL body TO know Humphl"
she Is scratehy,@ decided Violet
as she removed ner hat and slipped
OF her gown preparatory to dress
Ing for supper. "But | don't care
q real home has cats and dogs. and
sometimes, I suppose. tame bear,
and | may as we'll make friends with
them; make pets OF them. perhaps"
She sat down at the crowded TIA
BILE, with violet eyes and rosy lips and
cheeks and hair like pale corn silk;
surely this flower face did not belong
here among these sterner counte-
nances.
The drug clerk passed the butter
twice to Violet and ventured a re-
mark about the weather. Mr.. Dale
frowned az his oyertures and again
passed the butter to the new boarder.
Miss Twitchell made a scratchy
remark and fat Mrs. Jones giggled.
Violet blushed and Doctor Coleman
emerged from his polar-bearishness
long enough TO remark that she
looked feverish. and suggested TO
Mr.. Dale that there might be an cpl
demic OF scarlet fever threatening the
school.
"Oh. have had scarlet fever" re-
assured Violet. hastily.
Doctor Coleman froze up again and
asked for another cup of tea.
The remainder OF The meal was
eaten In silence and the guests passed
out to the broad piazza where each
one Immediately appropriated a com
Portable chair
Violet sat down on the top step and
felt very lonesome. The women were
embroidering and talking. in low
tones; Doctor Coleman was reading q