The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1893-07-27
A WHITE KITTEN.
The Important Part 1t Played in a
Pretty Romance.

Miss Lucia Marsh was walking down
to the gate, between the beds of bright
pinks standing stiffiy erect on each side
of the path. Their spicy fragrance
scented the air, and she plucked one and
stuck it in her belt.
AS she reached the gate, man passed
carrying a basket from which issued
faint mewing sounds. He looked aside
hastily, and as for Miss Lucia. she cast
her eyes quite the other way. He went
by, and entered the iron gate next door,
shutting it with clang. Miss Lucia
looked after him with a scornful sniff
of her small nose.
He could as well have gone round
the other way instead of coming past
here" she said.
A shrill new came over the fence, an
other and then another wall
Come, kitty she heard him call.
Here, kitty, kittyi'
Miss Lucia was listening intently.
The calling ceased, and she heard
the sound of his footsteps walking
briskly on the planlls laid around the
house.
II suppose twas cat he had," she
unused. "And what will he do with a
cat?''
Miss Lucia picked up her skirts daint-
lily and tripped down the street to her
grandmothers giving her neighbor,
Reuben Spofford, and bis new pet not
another thought,
1t was evident that Miss Lucia Marsh
and Reuben Spofford were not the best
of neighbors. The illfeeling dated
back to her fathers time and his IA
theirs time, and now both fathers were
dead, and Miss Lucia's mother, also, yet
still there was no cessation of hostili-
ties. Miss Lucia remained in the old
homestead quite alone save for the two
old servants, Martha Spinks and her
husband. Reuben Spofford's sole liv-
ing relative was an invalid aunt whom
he cared for as gently as if she had
been his mother. And if Reuben Spot
ford had been asked the cause of the
unneighborliness on each side of the
high division fence, or if the same ques.
tion had been propounded to Miss Lucia
Marsh, they would have looked at yor
in wonderment; for the cause of the
feud was an old tale.
Miss Lucia was not especial ly young
She was younger than Reuben Spot
ford and they both had been children
when the courthouse was built. But
they had never played together, and
there were no merry cries across the
high division wall, 10 games of bal
nor blackberrying together like othe1
neighbors' children. And they grew
up in this fashion, and had been CIR
and boy, and now were maid and man
yet the division fence was as high ant
uncompromising as ever
When Miss Lucia stood at the kitchen
door next morning she was humming a
snatch of hymn and shaking tn,
tablecloth at the same time. Fat olt
Aunt Martha stood laughing in tn
yard.
Does yer see him, honey?" she said
'Jes' look at dat!'' She pointed to tn
fence, which was running over with ga,
morning glories, their blue and pinl
and white cups spread like trumpets
And likewise running along the fence
and balancing himself by the tangle @
vines, was roly-poly white ball of
kitten. He grabbed one blossom afte
another in his sharp claws and doome
1t to destruction. To and fro he scamr
cred, sometimes tum bling, anon catch
ing his feet unaw ares and nearly goin
headlong.
Hes running my vines" cried Mis-
Lucia. "Oh, Martha, how can you? D
chase him away-horrid little creatur,
Hurry, Martial" Miss Lucia wrung he
hands.
'Shoo, he can't hurt EN-" Marth
answered, laughing. But I'll chas
him. Seat, you-scat!"
She waddled toward the fence, he
fat sides shaking, and away went tn
kitten over the other side.
Now that's bad" said Miss Luci;
Hes going to be nuisance"
The white kitten seemed to regar
that fence as his special play-groun,
He enjoyed the vines very much, an
finally destroyed their beauty con
pletely Then he began making sho
sorties into the enemy's camp, / e
scampering across Miss Lucia's bac
SsFa and then ho@s again The ar