The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-07-27
Establishment
90
By OSCAR MEYERS
ASSOCIATED Newspapers.l
MNU Service.

binary because, besides possessing
authentic beauty, they had wonder
full dispositions. They did not
scratch; they were comrades. Even
those undiscriminating persons who
disliked cats in general were forced
to say "they seemed just like dogs"
Dora merely smiled and let it go
at that.
Dora herself was pleasantly
plump, fond of all sports and while
in college had captained the track
team.
She found herself rather at loss
when the financial crash came and
her father was forced to sell his
book store in town and find a small
country home. Hence the cats.
Next door lived a rather porten-
tous widow. She was nice, but
formidable to Dora on account of a
commanding presence. However,
Dora saw she agreed well with her
adored father and secretly hoped
that what the country neighbors
called ian understanding" might re-
suit. Her father was quite lost with
out the book store. Her mother had
died three years before, and she
felt that he needed a more complete
home than she could give him. So
she devoted herself to her cattery
and the provision of such meals as
{ he did not eat with Mrs. Graves, the
formidable widow.
But sometimes when the twilight
fell and the cats were fed and put
to bed Dora felt lonesome. She was
not sorry when the widow told her
her son, aged "a, was coming home
from college to take up work as
an instructor in mathematics at
the high school. The mathematics
sounded terrible, but Dora recollect-
ed that Lewis Carroll had been a
mathematician in his off hours. So
possibly the instructor could play as
well as demonstrate awful prob
lens.
And so it proved. Peter Graves
was whimsical. He read Locke. He
loaned her books and he really liked
cats. He understood the tempera-
mental Victor, champion and lord of
the cattery, who rarely showed af-
| lection, and Victor jumped into his
arms and purred.
Dora was delighted. "You must
be very nice or Victor would never
make friends. He is very partic-
ular," she added.
"'I am particularly nice" said
Peter, "and fully justify all that
Victor thinks about me. You'll
see"
Dora laughed. "Well, Wen see,"
she said.
Peter taught Dora to drive car.
Being without nerves, she was an
apt pupil Mrs. Graves beamed on
the pair and it was almost discon-
certing to realize her formidable
character disappeared with each
box of candy Dora's father carried
next door and melted into maternal
smiles when she viewed Victor, the
aloof, allowing his coat to be
brushed by Peter, a liberty he
Slightly resented even at the gentle
hands of Dora.
eve all seem pretty happy these
days." ventured Mr. Stone as he sat
at dinner alone with his daughter.
"Do WEI" said cautious Dora.
81 think Peter is about the finest
young man you've run around with
in some time" Mr.. Stone helped
himself to more fried chicken and
a liberal spoonful of hominy. Dora
certainly could cook. But then-so
could the excellent widow.
"You make it sound as if l ran
around a great deal, Dad" said
Dora, land you know very well I
do nothing of the kind"
Mr.. Stone laughed. 'Well, well,
daughter, don't catch me up so. /
mean you certainly look better in
young Graves roadster than when
you used to 90 out with that red
headed Fred Smith"
"But Fred never rushed me, dad.
Not that Pei mean Mr.. Graves
does anything silly like that; but
ne ID 81 SGuolDlG Will Tie CdLSs TIC
has saved me at least So, for he
brushes Victor, and you know had
to get old Jim to help me hold Vic
tor, for he's dreadfully tempera-
mental when he's brushed"
"Well, that's something. If Peter
can make himself useful it's a good
sign that he's handy about house.
Just what man ought to be, eh?"
rs that what Mrs. Graves says,
dad?" said impudent Dora, her eyes
twinkling in a rather red face.
Mr.. Stone rose hastily and ex-
cused himself from watermelon.
81 am taking Mrs. Graves to hear
Kreisler," he said.
"Fine, dad Peter is taking me
to the movies, countered Dora.
Of course the neighborhood said
the whole thing was ridiculous.
Like some silly book" exclaimed
one disappointed woman. But Mrs.
Graves insisted it was the blandish-
ments of Victor that won Peter his
pretty bride. And, when he was in