The Advocate and news., 1898-09-21
BY MABLE DIccs.

, sitting on the floor at her feet playing
with Rags, as she had called her poor
little fOundllng.
whats a national cat shOw?" re-
peated Mrs. Williams, uncertainty.
"Why, it's-its show of cats, sup
pose; and it's to be held next week
Wednesday in Madison Square Garden" +"
ooh, yes" cried Maysie, excitedly
that must be where the bad boy In the
street told me to send Rags; but
thought, of course, that he was just
foolin'. He said that maybe I'd get a
prize for her. Do yOu-dO you think that
might, mother? Mrs. Williams hid a
smile behind her newspaper as she read
Of tho gorgeous AngOra, Maltese, Per-
sian, and other rare and beautiful cats
that were to be exhibited by the richest
and most fashionable ladies in New
York; but she only answered absently,
II shouldn't wonder"
This was enough. In the course of ten
seconds she had decided in her own mind
that she would take Rags to the show.
SO early Wednesday morning Mrs.Wil-
liams stood calmly and unsuspiciously
tying her bonnet strings before the glass
and said, Goodbye, dearie. I'm going
to sew to the Jones to-day; and If all
those babies don't kill me with their
noise and fretting, I'll be back home
at the usual time"
Goodbye, mother" said Maysie, kiss
ing her, as she thought, "If she only
knew what Rags and mes going to do
she'd be most as cited as l am"
Then she skipped off into nice, fresh
little calico dress, caught her hair back
with an old yellow ribbon, so she could
tie the new red one around Rags neck
in fascinating bow, which, however,
would slip right round under the
Chewed off ear Then, Cramming her
into the market basket, she set off with
light heart, If with heavy load, for
Madison Square.
1t was long walk, many blocks north
and many more west Of where she lived.
She had only gone very little way
when Rags poked her head through
hole in the old basket and Maysie was
obliged to take her out entirely; and
with kitty under one arm and the basket
on the other she plodded painfully
along. At last the beautiful yellow tower
OF the garden cheered her sight.
Even then, however, although 1t
seemed hours since she left home, she
was still too early to be admitted, and
SO had to stand and wait near the side
door marked Entrance for Cats" as the
big policeman told her.
At last a carriage drove up to the
great front door of the building; lady
daSnnndad Rrov, a. Fo1Iovynd h,y a y,,o3d IN
a white cap, carrying a basket.
She was such q pretty lady and so
beautifully dressed that Maysie liked her
on the spot, and thought it would be only
kind to inform her that she was not at
the right entrance for cats, and must
wait at the side door with her.
The lady smiled when she told her, and
said, "Oh thank you; you are very good.
| see that you have cat, too. Is 1t to
be in the show?"
ooh, yes,' answered Maysie, decidedly.
Don't you think she'll get a prize?"
''Pro-probably," said the lady, turn
ing away for an instant, and shaking so
strangely that Maysie thought she was
cold.
Suppose we go into the show togeth-
err
'Why, we can't, can we?" asked May
sic. 1T amt open yet, is it?"
Not to every one, but am one of the
patronesses, and fancy they will let us
in"
And sure enough they did.
Here is little girl who has a cat
that she would like to exhibit" said the
lady to a gentle-lOoking man inside, who
seemed to be managing everything 81
know It's rather late to enter 1t, but