The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-22
THIRTEEN

translucent in hardened syrup, 'deif-a
cately launched It on the way 70 thae
attractive dissolution hoped for II BY
! the wistful doner-and all without re-
moving her shawowy eyes from the lit
tie volume and its patient struggle Tor
dignified rimes with Julia" Florence
was no longer in her beautiful relattveas
idlest thoughts. - - .zs.Est
Florence was idly in the thoughts,
however, of Mrs. Balche, the next-dooH
neighbor to the south. Happening to
GRANGE from a bay window, she nesli-
gently marked how the child walker 70
the front gate, opened 1t, paused Tor 9:
moments meditation, then hurled the
gate to a vigorous closure. herself re-y
manning within its protection. Odd!s
Mrs. Balche murmured. ~.
Having thus eloquently closed the
gate, Florence slowly turned, then
! moved toward the rear Of the house,
quickening her steps as she went, untn
at run she disappeared from the.
! scope of Mrs. Balche's gaze, cut OF oy
the intervening foliage Of Mr.. Atwaters'
small orchard. Mrs. Balche felt mo-
| great interest; nevertheless she paused
; at the sound of a boys voice, half
husky, half shrill, in an early stage OF
change, What she say, Florence! Dshe
! say we couldo" But there came A.
warning, Hush up" from Florence In
! harsh whisper. Then in lower tone
| tie bows voice said: LOCK mere;
these are mighty funny actin cats.
| think they're kind Of crazy, OF somep'm M,
Kitty Silvcr's fixed washtub 1ul o.
| suds for u.s."
Mrs. Balche was reminded Of her oNns
I cat and went to give 1t little cream
Mrs. BalChe was retired widow. WIZ
out children, and too timid to Ike doSs:i
! but after a suitable interval. folloWtnSi
the loss Of her husband. she had accept
ed from, a friend the gift OF q white KIT;
; ten, and named II Violet. It may Do SAID
! that Mrs. Balche. having new Interest,"
/ in life. and being Of a squestertng na-
ture lived for Violet, and that SO mucn,
much devotion was not good for the lat-
/ ters health. In his youth, after having
shown sufficient spirit to lose an eye
during a sporting absence OF three.
nights and days, Violet was not aSains
permitted enough freedom of action to.
repeat this disloyalty-though In his adj,
vanced middle age he had been fed To-
such a state that he seldom cared to
move. other than by a. slow, sneertng'
wavement of the tail when friendly
words were addressed to himi and con-
( sequently. as he seemed beyond all capa.;
; city or desire to run away, or 70 run AZ
all, AlTS. bdlCHc lhu 6lfCH 1AV = va
of the place. She found him now asleep
upon her back porch, and placed besids
him a saucer Of cream, the second since
his luncheon She watched him attec-
tionately as he opened his eye and turn
ed his noble Henry-the-Eighth head,
with its great furred jowIs, toward the
saucer, and began the process OF rising.
for more food, which was all that.eyer
seemed even .feebly to rouse his mind.
When he had risen. there was httiei
hot him anywhere and TIA.
floor Of the porch.
Violet took his cream without entna.
sasm, pauslng at times and turning hiGs
head away. In fact. he persisted only
out OF an incorrigible sensuality. and
finally withdrew pace or two, leaving
With a multitude of fond words his Kind
mistress drew his attention to these,
and, making a visible effort, he returned
and disposed OF them. ~
Oats de itty darlin'." she said. stoop-.
ing to stroke him. Eat UNI az up slee
clean. Dood for ole sweet sin" She
continued to stroke him. and Violet half
closed his eye, not with love and seren:
Iity, but rather. as he simultaneously
I curyingly gestured with his tall, In
kind Of impotent Menace me eaha xon No
hands off O. me-" Then he opened the
eve and paid little. instructive atten-
| ton to sounds from the nelghporlng
yard. A high fence, shruboerles. ana
; foliage concealed that yard from the.
view of Violet, but the sounds were elo-
ouent to him, since they were those
made by members Of his own general
species when threatening atrocities Tns
+ accent may have been foreign. but VIC.
LET caught perfectly the sense OF what
was being said, and instictively he NUT,
tered reciprocal curses within himself
wat a malta. honey?" his COMPANION
inquired sympathetically. "Ess. BAD,
people Tighten poor Violet!' .. 80
, From beyond the fence came the muir.
murings of a boy and girl in hushed.
but urgent conversation; and with THESE
! sounds there mingled watery agitatiohs,
! spla shings and the like. as Wen az tnose
low vocalizlngs which Violet haa recIs-
nized-then there were muffled expio-i'
sions. like fireworks choked In feathef'.
| beds: and the human voices grew uneon-,-
j trollably somewhat louder. SO that theig
+ import was distinguishes.
Hush up; ,S cant town y91!t oE IS@ Hush,
up SOqri ist 6e4 E0"aSs eIi. look what
she's dom to me. can't you! a
heavenses' sakes, eaten mott ano-oi ~
Then came n hushed. husky voice. m
AvitabIv that Of a Mortified colored per-
/ son Fastening from distance: on; .hy
, Gawd!" There was scurrying, ana thS
| girl was heard In furious YET noa a,oss.
E Eu%1H Bring the clo'es prop! We can
pcEp that one down from the garage
ANYWAY. oh, my goodness. look ~ nes
| CO., ,o,.,.
children" she said as she pi ifcSen up door.
which she held open for Violet to enters,
, want to come with mamma!
! Rut Violet had lost even the rant ln.'
terest in life he had shown a rev -
ments earlier. He serted n'AA -
, in the sun, \
a" ..WsI, veil" Mrs. Balche said inoulss.3
! entity. "Aafter while shall haVe e'"i'ty
more nice keem." - .,,tsAss
sun ho,,-s Later. in another quarter 81
the town. q little girl OF seven OF eH m.t
~ NAV on the domestic side or an Sies
| ate became aware OF an older eHt 81.
her f1sd yyf Gvf Felt the
and paused in her gayeties, en,ou
n a. her arms her pet and playm
"uowdy'do," said the stranger ~ ~
ons tone "What'll you take ZOE = =
cat?" ..'a I,l.h~
The little girl made no reply, ano ,S ~
s,ronyer opening the gate came ino
stranSstI' Ssn looked weary, rather bA-
5rerrIed' vet hurried: her air VA VA BIZ BIZ
dominantly one Of anxiety, sv
v0,i a quarter for that cat ny
| II want an ali-white ca'. n ~ ovsr 10
o ovn and / don't believe there's an AZ
White cat lef. in town ie Si.S fi s shss
, anybodys willing to part ar. % :, hayenst
you got Il with me, but I'll promise to give !
: 4 70 YOU day after tomorrow ~.
The little girl still r,ads no 5eSls .y Dt
cuH d tho caller spoke with desperation.
an" See e here" she said. II got 10 haye
, wbitish cat! Thatn isrft'i worth
more'n a quarter, but. III; live ,o you
u"S A. his the frightened child get the
car upon the ground and fled Into the