The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-10
DOES RED ENRAGE A RAT?
GREY RODENT ATTACKS A RED
HOsED BELLE.

why the Feminine Portion of WASH
ington Society Is More Than Ever
Afraid of Mice and Their Kind.
Thrilling story NJ the End of "A
Ride After Dinner Party-A
Gallant Young IAeutenants
PIucky Fight
Washington, March s-(speciaD.-one of
the latest sensations in Washington Is an
account of a large gray rat attacking
young lady on the street, with distressing
results. Many woman in the Capital
City has enlarged her fears of mice to an
awful dread Of rats since the terrorizing
experience of a society belle. few nights
ago, Never again let it be said that rats
are color blind or Indifferent to questions
of taste.
The circumstances surrounding this
novel rodent episode are vouched for by
the father of the victim, and all Washing
ton Is discussing the remarkable occur
renee while the victim has been hurried
off to Florida to recover from the terrible
shock to her nervous system and have
the wound inflicted by her assailant prop
efly treated.
A few evenings ago select but dis
tineuished dinner party was given by one
Of the recognized leaders of society. Among
the guests were the society belle and D
young lieutenant In the army, supposed to
be an aspirant TO her heart and to the
fortune she will probably inherit. Through
OUT the dinner the attentions of the lieu
tenant were most pronounced, and he was
clever enough to contemplate brilliant
coup-de-grace.
This was nothing less bold than to vol
unteer, through the hostess, to do escort
duty at the conclusion of the function. AT
the hour of departure, he begged permits
sion to accompany the young lady home,
and under the circumstances the request
was granted. The carriage was a snug lit
tie brougham, sacred to the use OF the
wealthy West End girl, and IL may be i'm
agined that the tete-a-tete drive was not
unpleasant to it's fair owner or her es-
cort.
A symphony in Red.
Now. the gown worn by this fair charm
er was a creation in red. one of those scaly,
clineing. irridescent affairs that sparkle
like rubies and claret. The young woman
is nothing If not consistent upon matters
OF dress, and therefore, II transpHes that
her feet were incased in dainty red Slip
pers. with which were worn silk stockings
OF the same brilliant hue.
The stockings we're gossamer In texture,
beautiful with design in open work. and
.hev offered the slightest sort of protec~
lion against an attack from such an enc
nv. And yet an enemy lurked, all I'M
seen and unimagined, at the very curb
of the foot walk in front of the fair ones
dwelling If the attack was unpremedi-
tated. it was none the less productive of
distressing results.
The carriages containing the young cou-
Die drew up TO the curb, and there being
no footman on the box. the happy man
inside opened the door, stepped to the side
walk and turned to assist his companion
to alight. Just as one twinkling foot
touched the curb a huge gray rat almost
as large as a cat, sprang by the gallant
lieutenant and fastened It's wicked teecn
through the scarlet silk stockings and deep
into the flesh of the young woman's ankle.
A Low Down Attack.
Shrek after shrek rent the midnight
air. and the episode had occurred with such
incredible swiftness that several seconds
lapsed before the lieutenant (who saw ac-
tive service at the battle of Santiago. re-
allied the force of the situation. An i'm
mense rat, savage aud fierce as a blood
hound with teeth firmly gripping young
woman's ankie-said ankle belonging to
the one girl loved above all others--was a
foe calculated to bring out an the COM
bativeness Of the soldiers nature, and he
arose to the occasion with even greater
spirit than had distinguished his conduct
in front of the Spanish forces In Cuba.
with the shrieking and frenzied girl