The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-06
CAT AND Doo."
tExeAanee.l

kxchange.
 ln the middle of the doorway stood a cat--a maternal cat-who had spied my black pointer, Jet, who stood At my elbow watching me eat, with nc muGderous de- sign on Cat or kitten at all. But the feline temperament is suspicious and wEaihful; and thls Cat was tefmagant anyhow, born under some evil star, and bent on having row. Now, 10 my mind, there IS always terrible fascination in the process of preparation which a cat soea through preliminary to a combat. There ,s such deliberate spitefulness about N such murderous malignity d design as Il passes from one phase of sx 2ression to another, that 1t Is impossible to withdraw | your eyes from the creature $ she passes through her suAsms Nov, this cat vas no exceptiea to her tribe. Her manner ism was perfect after its kind. When looked up she stood in the doorway with a suggestive curve in her back. and with a slightly swollen appearance abou, her tail She stood and swelled. The curve in her back grew and grew. Her tail bulsed until it vas enormous. Her eyes bisE sd hotter and hotter. Her mouth opened wider, and out of it came a sue. cession of noises that were simply fright. tul. How that cat could keep anything inside of her and spit it out that way was marvel
 Of course, Jet had not been an unmtnd- ful spectator of the scene. She had been interviewed before in this style and knew what was coming. Her hair Eidged up on her back, her tail stiffened straight as an iron rod, and her lips frightened over her white teeth. Any cat that was at all sensible would have let such dog alone But this feline had no caution at all And when she left the doorway and be- gan to stride across the'fioor toward Jc, 1 knew if things kept on much longer the peace of Europe would be disturbed. !" l was just iiiting myself rom my chair, or getting my legs out from under the table so l could lift myself from the chair. when that cat went into the air like a flash and exploded in a series of mos, unnearthly noises over lets back. Of course, no decent dog would stand any suth conduct as that, and Jet diin't. Now, you understand, this was sud denly improvised affair. 1 had no pro. gramme to go by, and didn't understand at all where the different parts came in and besides, the actors did DO, seem to require any special prompting, and evil dently needed all the room to themselves.
 So, feeling that wasn't wanted, and might actually be in their way if l re. mained, retired out through the window to the pislza, where could contemplate the development of action from back seat, as it were. Of one thing am cer- tain, have never, in city or country, seen a more intense performance. It was the very climax of high tragedy. The actors were up to their best key and going 1t strong. saw that the thing was draw ing to a fine point. Either 1 should not have any dog in few minutes, og the man wouldn't have any cat to speak of One of the two things was certain. At that instant the door burst open, and the man himself, with broom in his hand, burst into the room and began to lay about him right and left But this only stirred Jet up tremendously. The ca, and the broom together brought out her bes, points. The way she went after the cat, under the table, bet~een the mans legs, back of the stove, was indescribable. But the actors were not all on the stage yet Again the door burst open and a woman without hoops on and washboard in her hand, shot into the apartment with a look of interrogation on her countenance frightful to see. She didn't stand still more than a SC cond, for Jet came agains, her in way that sent her spinning. This was too much. dropped on the piazza, rolled of upon the ground, dug my fingers into the turf, and laughed.
 In less than four seconds saw cat come out through the, front door. about half way up from the door. sill to the ce;!- ing, followed by the dog in full bolt, with a big broom close behind. The cat 1t on her feet, of course, and went up tree in the door-yard faster than any Cat has ever done that thing since the beginning of the world. clucked to Jet, and sloped around the corner of the house, and streaked it through the garden down back of the barn, where l laid myself down on the grass again and rolled over and over, wiping the tears from my eyes.
 This is all, this time. My pencil is worn down to the last inch and must stop. If ever get to "Martin's" l will tell you what 1 see. Bat think will spend this vacation travelling around with Jet and stopping at country hote's where they have plenty of cats. have an idea that such a course would yield me q grea, deal of innocent fuu, such as even dea- con csuld not object to.