The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-12-01
A YELLOW CAT.

ain the course of the next few
weeks" said one OF the official at the
Custom House, "the newspapers will
announce wedding that will round
Off n singular little romance. 1t would
be indiscreet for me, perhaps, 10 men,
ton any names at present, but | don't
mind telling you the facts. A certain
gentleman who is in the Government
service, and whom. with your permis-
sion. | will call Mr.. Smith, took apart
ments some time ago in the old quar-
ter near ESplanade street. The rooms
were on the third floor of a building
given over entirely TO dodgers. mostly
of Bohemian tendencies. and the door
directly beneath, on the second floor,
bore a sign reading: a. Metz, Music'
That is not exactly the name. by the
way. but it is pr tly near it y Metz
was away on summer vacation. but
had left behind a large, prowlng yell
low cat, which made free Of the prem
lses.
"Smith. being a bachelor, beguiied
his loneliness by keeping four white
mice. which he was teaching To do
tricks. and this yellow cat began to
haunt his quarters with the evident in
tention of making a meal of his pets.
Whenever the door was opened the at
would rush in and secret him ELF be-
hind the furniture. and as hr diScoy-
cred a new hiding place every day aud
was inScnSihle to kicks and cur ),
Smith finally began TO get desperate.
He is naturally Il kind-hearted man and
did not want to Kill the beast nut
neither did he relish the idca of losing
his mice When he Went ont hc used
to hang their cage To the gtS-hurner by
a string.
zone day when he came home he
found the yellow cat perrhrd on the
suspended cage. which lie had evident
ly reached by pruligiuus leap. In
coming up the stairs Smith not ced
that the apartment below wa~ op.led,
indicating the return of 4 Metz and
he thereupon had 3n inspiration Slam
ming the door he succeeded with ~ume
difficulty in capturing tn" yellow mon-
ster ana. ignoring his hoVls. he ted
his four paws together I'M "a bunch.
Then hc attached = u'H"3rl reg ing,
Keep This brute 20 hour.' aud lowered
him out of tie window on - c5 Il. lrav-
ing him suspended Just outside oi the
easement of 4. Metz.
Needless to say. tNe lewl~ Of The
poor animal alarmed he ueiEhNorANod
and they were answered 10y inarjicu-
late cries Of rage from the apartment
below, all Of which filled Smith with
extreme joy. Then somebody reached
out cut the cord and there was sudden
silence That evening when le saun-
tered downstairs. Smith was confront
ed on the lower landing ny a beautiful
young lady, whom lee had never seen
before in his life Her eyes were lash
ing. ALLOW me to inform YOU She said,
with indeScrihable scuru. that the 9th
er brute will hereafter remain at
home" She laid strong emphasis on
the other and Smith Grovellcd. The
young lady was charmiugly petite, but
she seemed to he mt least uine feet
high I thought the cat belonged to
Prof. Metz he SWtc.cd incohcrently.
L am Prof. Metz, rcplici the young
lady with icy dignity. and disappeared
in her rooms. Smith Went down stairs
without knowing whether be was
walking on his feet or his hands
And now Smith. rs you doubtless
OWNED from the first is going to mar
ry the beautiful young lady. l would
like to describe how he made his peace
and convince her by degrees that he
was not the hardened villain that he
seemed. but. to toll the truth | don't
know. Possibly it was ny an act Of re-
nunciaton. for H. eventually gave
away his preciouv white mice, and
when Miss Metz learned Of his sacri-
flee. she was so touched that she gave
away her yellow cat. BY singular CO.
incidence they both presented their
pets to the same person. and the yellow
eat promptly deyoured the four mice.
That consolidated ths collection, md
only yesterday Smith told me he was
going to have that cat back as soon as
they got married and egln housekeep
ing. This story happens TO be quite
true in every particular, but | hope
that little circumstance will not excite
your prejudice If You are scrptcal,
can show yuu 'hc yellow cat"-New
Orleans Times Democrat