Judsonia weekly advance., 1915-06-23

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 l be a maid, but she refused to grow old.
 Trim little craft" 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?" Not word!" 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 propty.'
 "So she was"
 Land sake!" gasped Myra. clinging to the gate. Next thing you'll be say ing that stole libby"
 Hum! You ain't any too fond of cats," ventured the captain warily- q hate 'em!"
 The captain grew red with anger.
 You're the fust old maid ever saw who didn't set store by cats," he parked rudely.
 "I'm the first old maid who didn't accept the first half-witted old bache- Tor who wanted to marry her!" re- torted Myra still more rudely.
 Captain Ephraim grew still more crimson.
 I'm confounded glad you didnt!" he roared.
 Myra smiled provokingly over her shoulder as she turned away.
 At that moment two barefooted lads came scuffiing along the dusty road.
 "Oh, Cap'n Eph jest heard cat in Miss Pitts smokehouse, sounded like your Tibby!"
 q 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.
 9Mr-r-r-e-e-eow!"
 There was no misttaakkiiifaa aakkifag s |FFfiibby's pe- culiar wall of despair.
 q 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 her silky coat, but his bright blue eyes were staring into the open door of the smokehouse.
 On the clean, bare floor were set a tempting array of blue and white china saucers. One contained cream, another one chicken livers, still another the white breast of chicken, another one q water. A soft, silken pillow showed where libby had rested her well-fed body.
 Surely libby had fared well.
 Captain Ephraim's blue eyes turned in puzzled inquiry on Myra's downcast face.
 What made you do it, Myra?" he asked sternly
 How do you know-?" she lifted her hand, saw the discriminating row of saucers in the smokehouse, and 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 her wet eyes.
 "How did l know?" he chuckled softly. Why, I jest happened to see libby cruising over this way-and saw you steer her into the smoke house and knew she was there; but I couldn't understand what you wanted of her. I wasn't afraid you'd harm her-leastways. I was pretty sure you wouldn't. says to myself, If she harms poor libby, I'll be confounded glad she wouldn't marry me. If she don't harm her, why, I'll jest keep on being sorry she won't have me and make me the unloneliest man in Wood ell!'
 "Oh-oh!" sobbed Myra Pitt
 'Why did you lock up my libby and then treat her like the queen of cats?" 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, I did! Don't ask me why didn't accept you five years ago