The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-29
CAPTAIN EpnRAIn's CAT
BY DORIS BROWN.

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 q maid, but she refused to grow
old.
Trim little craft" muttered the
captain. as his ueighbor 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 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."
so 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.
| You're the fust old maid l 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 Darefooted lads
came scuffling along the dusty road.
"Oh, Capn Eph! jest heard cat
in Miss Pitts smokehouse, sounded
like your Tibby!"
Il reckon we better be setting sail
for your smokehouse, Myra," said Cap.
taH EpufdlHl, 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 mistaking Tibby's pc.
culiar wall of despair.
Il guess we've sighted a 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 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 |
OF water. A soft, silken pillow showed
where libby had rested her well-fed |
body.
Surely libby had Jared we'll.
Captain Ephraim's blue eyes turned
In puzzled inquiry on Myras 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 I'm
gers and pulled them away from her
wet eyes.
"How did I known" he chuckled
softly. why. jest happened to see
libby cruising over this way-and IL
saw you steer her into the smoke.
house and l knew she was there; but
couldn't understand what you wanted
OF her. wasn't afraid you'd harm
her-leastways. i was pretty sure you
wouldn't. says to myself, II she
harms poor libby, I'll be COMPOUNDED
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.
sll!"
"Oh-oh!" sobbed Myra Pitt.
why did you lock up my libby and
hen treat her like the queen Of cats?"
insisted Captain Ephraim.
oh, because-because was jealoua
If her, there!" confessed Myra, She
Used to come to meet you every night
and I wanted to be doing it myself.
sphraim-yes, 1 did! Don't ask me
Why didn't accept you five years ago
i don't know why. Only, now-only,
low"
Only, now, you dol" finished Cap
ain Ephraim SO very acceptably that i
dyra's brown head dropped on his
comfortably broad shoulder and re-
NAMED there