The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-07-27
4 WHITE KITTEN.
The Important Part 1t Played in q
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
Asshe reached the gate, man passed
carrying 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 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, kitty
Miss Lucia was listening intently.
The calling ceased, and she heard
| the sound of his footsteps walking
briskly on the planks 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
grandmother's, giving her neighbor,
(, Reuben Spofford, and his new pet not
another thought.
1t was evident that Miss Lucia Marsh
and Reuben Spofford were not the best
of neighbors. The ill-feeling dated
back to her fathers time and his fa-
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-
ton had been propounded to Miss Lucia
Marsh, they would have looked at you
in wonderment; for the ca use of the
feud was an old tale.
Miss Lucia was not especial ly young.
She was younger than Reuben Spcf.
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, no games Of ball
nor blackberrying together like other
neighbors' children. And they grew
up In this fashion, and had been girl
and boy, and now were maid and man
yet the division fence was as high anG
uncompromising as ever. 81
When Miss Lucia stood at the kltcher
door next morning she was humming q
snatch of hymn and shaking the
tablecloth at the same time. Fat ole
Aunt Martha stood laughing in the
yard
docs yer see him, honey?" she said
"Jes' look at dat" She pointed to the
fence, which was running over with gay
morning glories, their blue and pinl
and white cups spread like trumpets
And likewise running along the fence
and balancing himself by the tangle O
vines, was roly-poly white ball of I
kitten. He grabbed one blossom afte
another in his sharp claws and doomed
, it to destruction. To and fro he scamp
cred, sometimes tum bling, anon catch
ing his feet unaw ares and nearly goint
headlong.
Hes running my vines" cried Mis-
Lucia. "Oh, Martha, how can you? d.
chase him away-horrid little creature
Hurry, Martial" Miss Lucia wrung he
hands.
"Shoo, he can't hurt 'em," Marth'
answered, laughing. But I'll chas
him. Scat, 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 Lucia
"He's going to be a nuisance"
!, The white kitten seemed to regart
that fence as his special playground
He enjoyed the vines very much, ant
finally destroyed their beauty com
! pletely. Then he began making shor
, sorties into the enemy's camp, l. e.
scampering across Miss Lucia's bacl
J yard and then home again. The frs
I few times Miss Lucia assisted his de
| parture. She impressed upon Aun
, Martha the fact that he must be sen
nohc' Ano yct, one oay, Whdt oi'
Aunt Martha do but catch her mistres
: In the very act Of giving the white kit
; ten a saucer of milk!
, II don't think, Martha" she said, ex
planatorily, that he gets very wei
fed. See how he drinks that milk!''
Hes shore little scamp" sAs'
Martha, chuckling. In her big b1aGl
| body beat very tender heart for n
dumb creatures. four-footed or feash
szed .p M ea "a. .ssss
, Whan 1kiss Lucia sae sewing, nax
] ~. On The ln&xaCed ucwUh. Nhe VhAH