The Wichita tribune., 1898-07-23
"RAmDant,'

pOpuIaLlOu. Inef6 WAS fOslOuCS 4oAh'
over on the Neck, a great, handsome
fellow, who presided over the distribu-
tion of the mails, looking down with
big green eyes from his lofty perch on
the very top of the pigeon-holed cab
met where the letters awaited their
owners.
There was the bewitching Maltese
kitten who took me in charge when
went sketching in the old town, and sat
demurely at my side while | worked,
with an occasional scamper after her
own frolicseme gray tail by way OF re-
freshment. There were various aristo-
cratic cottage cats. sleek and proud;
and there was Remnant.
The first time l saw her the little
steamer had just come in from the
Neck, and the people were hurrylng 10
and fro, some going ashore and some
running to take their places In the
boat, and Remnant, not bit abasneo
by all the hustle, looked on with her
bright eyes from the post where she lay
basking In the sunshine and evidently
feeling herself the proprietress OF the
whole affair
It seemed a strange place for cat
I thought; but she was quite as mucn
at home among the boats and pies OF
timber and dingy warehouses as is
your own puss in her peaceful back
yard, or her corner by the Kitchen
stove.
She was a pretty creature, black ana
| gray and tawny yellow, with snow
white breast and paws, and because OF
this coloring, like a piece of gay ca-tco,
the sailors gave her the curious name
of Remnant" She had a family OF
kittens somewhere among the old can
vas in one of the dark sail lofts; but
she had hidden them away so safely
that even her good friends the sailors
could not find them.
All night she stayed with them, and
part Of the day, but am sure she felt
equally the responsibility of looking
after the wharf, to see that the boats
came and went regularly, and that the
float was kept as clean as a tidy cat
would wish to see it.
And how was she FED? No doubt
there were plenty of rats and mice
about the wharves, but Remnant had a
taste for daintier fare, as you shall
see.
When the little steamer had puffed
away again, and the deserted float
;swayed gently on the quiet water, kind
Captain T. looked up at Remnant,
where she still sat on her post in the
sunshine.
II guess you're hungry, puss," he
said Its about dinner-time." Then
he called. Kit, kit, kit!" She blinked
her eyes lazily, and did not move. The
captain smiled at me.
This will fetch her" he said, and
took a fishing-reel out Of his pocket
Kit. kit, kit" he called again soft
ly, holding it up so that she could see
And Remnant understood. Down she
came, stepping gravely along the gang
plank. and looked up with questioning
eyes in the captains face.
Are you hungry puss?" he asked.
Meow" she answered gently, with
a wave of her plumy tail,
foat, unwound his reel and dropped the
line into the water, and Remnant set
tied herself beside him, watching every
movement with an air Of entire famil-
iarity with the proceedings. She was
too well-bred to show any impatience
Her manners were perfect, though
she was born and brought UP on tbs
| So kn 1xTa NJ &c
which your pussy has enjoyed She
cooked her pretty head on one side
with an expression of alert and intelll
gent interest, restrained by gentle
dignity. Jerk. UP came the line. A
culver ran through Remnants delicate
body. But there was only bit of sea
weed on the hook, and down it Wen
again.
Over and over this happened, ant
still with unwearied patience the mar
knslt and threw his line, and the ca
sat motionless beside him, gazini
gravely down into the dark water Th'
float rose and fell on the tide, and tn,
sunshine lay warm on the boards, ant
| watched the pretty sight, smiling
from nv bench corner.
I'm afraid you'll have to go hungry
puss," said the captain at last "The,
won't bite today" And then, as b.
spoke, jerk! up came the line again
and he sprang to his feet, for this tim
there was a little Ash dangling AM
shining on the hook!
Remnant would have liked to juml
for Joy, I think. But she didn't. Sh
caught the fish in her white paws, witt
a soft meow" for thank you" whel
the captain tossed it to her, and walke
away to enjoy her dinner in sheltere
corner; after which she sought he
young family to tell them, no doubt
about the fishing, while the good cap
tain wound up his line and went whist
ling off to his own dinner.
wise cat was Remnant! Down O
her wharf she might miss some Of tn
privileges enjoyed by her fashionabl
cottage friends. but which of them ha
a fresh fish dinner caught and serve
up every day for her own especial bene
f1t?-Margaret Johnson In Youth
Companion.