Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-03
SCANDAL 1T RIDEAU H4LL.


OTTAWA, ONT, March 25.-There Is cat
story going the rounds OF the court circle
structive. When II. r. IL. came 10 Canada in
1878 she brought with her an Italian kitten OF
the feminine gender. In the course OF few
months the kitten had grown to be recognized
as cat, and with the Instincts of that species
began to sigh for the company Of the opposite
sex. II. X. II. viewed with alarm tie restless
ness OF her pet, and gave special directions
that Minimize should not be allowed outside
the precincts of certain room. A close graf
ing was put on the window, and everything
done that could be to prevent any democratic
Thomas" from flirting with "dear little Min
ME- But Thomas would come round, at
tracted, no doubt, by the pla1ntive waillagS Of
Minnie in the upper chamber The sentry,
whose duty it was to pace with measured tread
the special district and ward off maraudefS
was disturbed by these frequent conversations
between the lonely Minnie and the old fel-
lows that would, but couldn't, on account OF
the distance that separated them, so that 1t fire.
quently fell to his lot to drive these midnight
serenadeTs from their post. AS time went on,
the Thomas cat visitors increased rather than
within mile OF Rideau Hall where the owners
could keep their plebeian Toms at home, for Off
they went to Government House, anxious to
become the lovers of the blue-blOOded Minnie
imprisoned within these walls. 1t Is said that
the Marquis demonstrated, but II. r. II. per-
sisted, and the evening concerts were con-
tinued uninterruptedly except from an occaS-
ional "bang" from the sentry's rifle. The time
came for the Princess departure to Western
Ontario and in leaving she gave the piper
orders that under no circumstances, was he to
allow Minnie to go out from that room. In an
evil hour the piper went out for walk leav
Ing the door unlocked, and, when he returned,
found that Minnie was happy In the company
OF flne-looking democratic Tom that some
body had placed In the apartment. Hoping
that the evn day might be averted, he hurried
the old fellow out amid the laughter OF some of
the maids. From that day Minnie was the
best behaved cat in the neighbOrhoOd. 81. r.
Fl. returned-the piper said that the fay0rite
had not been out. The Princess remarked that
had been confined so steadily. The piper grew
nervous and retired. A few weeks afterWard
poor Macdonald was sent for hurriedly by the
Princess. Before leaving his room he reck-
oned up the time, and found that 1T was the
date that he had feared
On entering the Princess apartment She
brought him to corner and showed him two
gray and white kittens on beautiful cushion,
the white Italian Minnie looking on admir-
ingly. Mac declared he did not know how-but
II. X. Ii. interrupted, stamped her womanly
foot, and warned him to be careful. She said
It must have been gray Tom cat; He replied
he supposed so, too. He vowed she had never
been out. She vowed he must have been In.
| The Princess did not think he would have been
| so careless about her orders. Mac explained
| and affirmed he had not been out long, and ht
| could not have been there long. Her r: High
| ing smiled then. The Princess said that SHE
would not have cared for the increase in tht
family, only the kittens must be related 10
| some vulgar democratic cat.
The story Is short one now. She briefly in
formed Lorne's favorlte piper that he would
have to go back to the Highlands OF his native
home, which he did few days afterward
| Minnie Is now regarded as an outcast, and pc
she 81 has eo R5sssa ssSw fn
thereby Lnas9ef choice OF company has mo-