Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-07-17

Three nights went by before the
white cat again serenaded the COppell
house. Then two nights together Al
derson's rest was broken. At that time
he was the only boarder who slept on
that side Of the house, and the only
one who heard the caterwauling, At
the end of the second night Anderson
went 10 the Lovejoy house and re-
~monstrated.
Miss Nellie was not at home, but
Misses Euphemia and Jessie expressed
their regret and promised TO try to get
Mrs. Gilman to keep Snow Darling"
in at night. Anderson went home
somewhat Modified.
Jonathan watched him ~uneaslly as
he took his departure.
EFF my ladies knowed what was
good fur EN- he commented, "deya
invest In about a dimes with O. 'Shoah-
death-to-cats' and administer hit un.
beknownst! But bein' ole maids, poah
thengs, dey don't know dat when you
gifts a man mad-he1l fuhgit about
bein' in de marryin' notion
Before breakfast next morning Al
derson appeared at the Lovejoy house,
tremulous with nervous anger. Miss
Nellie opened the door. "Tm sorry II
the kitty disturbed you" her soft
voice was very sweet, 'but Mrs. Gil
man loves him so, she can't bear to re-
strain his liberty and fasten him up at
night"
Alderson's evaporation broke out In
mild fury. "Loves the pestiferOus
bunch Of fur, does she? l love sleep,
too, and I'm going to stay In the house
where l am and get 1t! The next time
that cat dlsturbs me, I'm goingsto re-
strain his li~berty-with a bullet"
'That wouldn't be right" quavered
Miss Nellie.
Anderson turned abruptly and left
her without another word.
He was not disturbed that night. but
the next day he kept out of Miss Mel
lies way. The night after, at the
usual hour of half-past three, he was
awakened by a feline wailing. He rose
instantly. A single shot from his pearl
handled revolver and "Snow Darling
vas no more.
Next day a very fat and exceedingly
irate lady telegraphed her son to come
to her. Jacob came. Anderson was
hailed into the police court and fined
ten dollars for shooting Mrs. Gllman's
cat.
"Tll go to Jail and dry up before !
pay that fine!" he informed the court.
"Sixty days in Jail or the fine paidi"
answered the judge.
'T1l live on bread and water for the
next two months In my cell before l
will pay that finer Anderson conn
mented.
The town rang with the tale.
"De jailer says dat Detroit mans
a-gettin' pale and his rheumatism's
comm back on him--not gittin' his
mineral baths and de water. He say
he plumb Uneasy about hImls Miss
Nellie overheard Jonathan saying to
the cook about a week after Alderson's
incarceration.
Suppose he died Of the heat or some
thing? For three nights Miss Nellie
cried herself to sleep. Then she could
stand it no longer. She went to the
judges office and paid Alderson's fine.
The judge, %supposing that Anderson
had requested his landlady to bring
the money, to spare himself mortifica-
ton, sent an order to the %jailer: Ere
lease T. M. Anderson. Fine paid"
"Judge said your fine was paid and
to turn you out. That's all / know y
The jailer answered Alderson's remon.
STRANGE.
He went to the judge. "Who dared
to pay that fine?" he demanded.
LADY brought 1t. Supposed you sent
it by your landlady," answered his
honor.
Fuming with anger, Anderson STROBE
off in the direction of the woods across
the river. In a thicket Of pines lying
prone on the pine needles, sobbing like
a hurt child, he came upon Miss Nellie
At sight of the little disconsolate fig
ure In the leaves he felt his anger cool
A twig broke under his feet. She sal
up, shaking.
"Oh, don't be angry with met she
begged. '"They said you were sick ant
suffering in that awful Jail and r.
couldn't bear it! went and paid YOU
fine !"
With. the touch of the wind, sweei
with piney fragrance, in his flushed
face and Miss Nellie's low sobs in his
ears, Alderson's pride and obstinacy
fled. Nothing mattered but that little
white bundle at his feet. He bent oveI
and lifted her.
''You were afraid I couldn't rough i
out?' he said, very tenderly. "Yot
thought l needed somebody to lool
after me? l do, and for all time
Won't you do 1t, little girl?"
earnind II Elriv