Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-03-06
that night the household was minus the

that night the household was minus the
kitten.
The next day was spent in looking for
the loved though lost, and many of the
village boys joined in the hunt, but
with no result.
Toward sunset Mabel decided to walk
through the woods that skirted the viii
lage, thinking possibly her little prodi-
gal might be somewhere about, and
down shady path she went. She fam
cied ere long that she heard moan-a
very sad, kittenly moan 1t was-and
soon discovered up in tree, tangled
most promiscuously in creeping vines,
the yellow kitten, unable to free her.
self. In vain Mabel called and tried to
entice her from her perilous position;
only piteous little meows We're the re
suit. Ii she only had a long stick, or,
still better, If she could climb the tree,
something might be done, but the years
spent at boarding school had robbed
her of all her childish accomplishments.
In the midst of her dilemma. help
was Forthcoming she little dreamed of.
Through the bushes she heard the
sound of approaching footsteps and
cheerful whistle. Soon the author of
these pleasant noises was in view. 1t
was Charlie Price. the family enemy,
and, to boot, a splendid young athlete!
Mabel forgot the traditions of three
generations of bitterness and called out
to her playmate of former days:
"Charlie-AIr. Price, mean-can you
help me? See my poor yellow kitten;
she cannot get down." pointing, as she
spoke, to the tree which contained her
treasure. ~. u
with pleasure, Miss Mabel! Beg
pardon, Miss Campbell. Poor little
beastie-she is caught in the vine.''
And with that he sprung up the tree
with the agility Of a squirrel or a circus
rider, and at some peril of broken limbs
rescued the kitten and placed her in the
outstretched arms of her young mis-
tress. 8i tt
Then II was the most natural thing in
the world for our hero to walk home
with our heroine, and still more natural
the next day when they by chance met
in the same woods, to'stop and speak OF
the lost one. Thus. in spite of the fam
lily feud, the intimacy ripened between
the young branches.
| 1t was useless for Mabel's parents ia
protest; indeed, nothing short of com
mand would have stopped this new and
delightful friendship, and Charlie bold.
ly announced to his paternal that he
was tired of keeping up such an anti.
quated fuss; let the grandfathers fight
out their own battles in whatever
world they were now residing, but he,
for his part would no longer encourage
hatred, malice and all uncharitable-
ness.
Ere the winter had advanced Charlie
Price was known throughout Pineville
to be Mabel Campbell's STEADY com
pany," and although Miss Priscilla, at
the head of the Price family, and old
Mr.. Jonas Campbell, Mabel's great I'M
Gle, the chief of the Campbell tribe, de-
| clared in unmeasured language their
opinion of the doings of their young rel
atiyes, it was useless, and, in fact. hur-
ried up matters. Then the two moth
ers, who secretly bore no malice, eX-
changed calls, and actually Mrs. Camp
bell was overheard to say that Mrs.
Prices sausage receipt was the best in
the village, while Mrs. Price made no
denial of having borrowed Mrs. Camp
bells knit quilt as a guide for the one
she was making TO exhibit at the coun-
ty fair in the spring.
From that the fathers of the two
peacemakers met and discussed poll
tics, and not boundary lines over the
disputed fence. By this time, as may
well be imagined, the wedding prep
arations were well under way. At the
suggestion of Charlie his new house
was to be built directly over the part of
the ground that both Campbells and
Prices claimed, and this was universal
ly regarded as the most amicable set
Element of the trouble, and 10 and be-
hold! the marriage was announced to
take place on the following Easter
Tuesday.
And just then did Miss Priscilla Price
make her statement that the yellow
kitten did 1t, and the entire village
agreed with her.