The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-08-01
PIERRE AND JEANNE.

A Story of n devoted Friendship
Between i. Cat and Bird
Some time ago, in quiet little cor.
ner down on Rue Royale, I CHANGED
upon a queer little Creole creature,
whom the neighbors called MANI
selle." If there. was ever any name
attached, it must have been in prehis-
toric times, for now there is not even
a sign upon the door of the little bake
shop where Mam'selle sells bread and
cakes to the neighborhood Very good
bread and cakes they are, too, as can
testify, for recently I have found
Mam'zelles cozy shop a very comfort
able resting place for morning tramp
in quest OF news. In this way I have
come to be pretty we'll acquainted with
Mam'zelle and Pierre, the cat, and
Jeanne, the bird. - vi: ,'
Pierre is a handsome black and
white fellow, wit noble head, and he
and the little canary, Jeanne, We're
about the same age. Mam'Zelle told,
me, in her pretty patois, how devoted
the two pets were to each other, and Z
myself saw frequent evidences of their
kindly relationship. In quiet corner
of the little shop had seen Pieere
and Jeanne taking their breakfast to-
gether, from the same plate, and by
and by, when the cat would lie doing
in the sunshine, the bird would hop
about him, or cuddle up, snug and
comfortable, between his outstretched
paws. When Mam'zel1e was busy so
that she could not keep an eye on the
little birds safety she would swing
the cage in the doorway, while Pierre
would stretch himself on the floor be-
meath, keeping guard over his friend.
And woe betide the strange cat that
wandered that way. Pierre was al:
ways on the alert for squalls, and if
the cat came too near to suit him he
would send Jeanne hustling into her
cage while he chased the offending
feline off the street. e.
Just this very thing happened yes
terday, for the thousandth time, prob
ably, but, for the first time on record, {
grief followed the move. Pierre and
Jeanne were taking their usual morn
ing game in the sunshine Of the little
shop door, when a brindled stranger
appeared on the banquet without.
Straight as a die Jeanne was in her
cage and Pierre had gone in hot pur-
suit of the brindle.I The chase was q
hard one, and Mam'zelle says Pierre.
must have have been gone long time,
but she was busy serving customers.
and by and by noticed Jeanne hopping
about the counter. Thinking, Of
course, that Pierre had returned, she
took no further notice of the bird. A
little later, however, hearing dread
full commOtiOn out on the banquet. she
ran out to witness the sad little trag-
edy which /, too, arrived just in time
to see, but too late to prevent. Taking
advantage of Pierre's protracted abb
sence, an ugly tortoise-shell from the
next block stro1led up to the little
shop in search of Jeanne Finding her
out hopping about and unprotected. he
began siege at once, no doubt Mann
Zelle and ! arrived just in time to see
the tortoise-shell pounce on poor
Jeanne, as she sat perched on the TOP
OF the swinging cage, and bear her
WITH MN to the pavement. Before
either of us could interpose the deed
was done, and then in a moment there
came Pierre rushing around the cor
ner. and as quick as a flash had taken
I in the situation With one fierce bound
ne sprang upon the tortoise-sh and
swept poor Jeanne from his clutches.
Fol. q brief moment he sat guarding
her, but that moment was long enough
to tell him he was too late
Then,# letting Mam'zelle take the lit
tie corpse from under his paw. he
sWooped down upon the tortoise shell.
1t was only for a little while, but
when the battle was over hotl, cats