Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-04-04
LOST
A KITTEN
BY ELEANOR II. PORTER
tcopyright. 1905, BY Joseph B. BOwles,I

count for my being outside the house
and on the piazza when the cat came.
1t was tiny gray ball of fur that
bounded up the long fight of steps
and bounced into my lap with an I'M
mistakable gurgle of satisfaction.
We'll, well, upon my SOUL" ]
calculated
A mellow rumble came from the
gray ball, and two amber eyes looked
confdingly into my face.
"Humph! Where did you hail
from?'
The rumble increased perceptibly.
stretched out my hand and gently
stroked the soft fur Instantly the tail
came upright and waved joyful well
come to the caress, while the back
arched itself hard against my hand
didn't care for cats-that is.
supposed | didn't. My sister alb
horred them.
There was something extraor-
dinarily fascinating, however, about
this curious little creature in my lap.
She rubbed and sung, and sung and
rubbed, and winked her yellow eyes
ecstatically. My cigar went out
she didn't like the smoke; | couldn't
even read-she objected to the rust
linz of the paper. She tugged at my
vest buttons and chewed awhile on
my watch charm then curled herself
into an impossible ball and went to
sleep. l held her until nine O'Clock,
then gently laid her in the hammock
and went upstairs to my room.
In the middle of the night | was
awakened by most extraordinary
noise. 1t resembled nothing SO much
as the thunder" we boys used to
make in our amateur theatricals out
in the barn. There was another re-
sounding, vibrant rumble, then a soft
thud; next came a plaintive, long
drawn wall that brought me instantly
to my feet l knew then-it was that
kitten doing a cake-walk on the
screen door downstairs!
For just one hour lay there listen
Ing to the thumps and bangs and
walls of woe from the piazza-then
went downstairs in righteous wrath
and let that kitten in. For the rest
of the night lay on the bed repent
ing what l had done
1t was not that the kitten was I'M
grateful-her gratitude was of the
deepest, and she showed it by chas-
seing up and down my recumbent
form with what seemed to me a pro-
digious roar for so slender a throat
to produce. She poked her little nose
into my ear and thrust her whiskers
into my nostrils; then she lay down
hard against my back and filled me
with terror lest roll over and crush
her.
In the morning, heavy-eyed and UNI
rested, l arose to dress.
At last was ready, and, leaving
the kitten on the front porch with an
old watch chain for a plaything,
hurried Off to my boarding place.
All through breakfast I meditated.
Clearly, something would have to be
DONE This was evidently some
bodys lost pet, and ought to be i'm
mediately returned. would make q
few inquiries in the neighborhood.
Surely it ought to be a very simple
thing to find the little creatures own
er! So it was with a cheerful face
that started home little later bear
ing carefully in my hands the kittens
breakfast.
My walk was not altogether pleas
ant, for l attracted more attention
than relished. People seemed to
think 1t very amusing to see a man
six feet tall carrying a saucer of
milk and chicken wing through the
streets should have thought my
hair Otis slightly gray would have
taught them respect-but 1t didn't. |
Ten minutes later l left the kitten
on the front walk-it was
well, indeed, that my sister was away
-and began my quest.
A sleepy-looking girl answered my
ring at the first house.
Have you lost a kitten?' asked,
She shook her head.
do you know anyone that has?"
Another shake.
/ paused hopelessly and she shut
he door. Somewhat crestfallen de.
Icended the steps.
Two minutes later I rang the bell at
!. small white cottage across the
street, and woman whose skin was
Ike wrinkled parchment came to the
loor.
Il called to see if"
"Hey?"
Il called to see If YOU began in
i louder voice.
"Hey?" she interrupted, again. "T'm
! little hard o. hearin', sir"
Il called to see if you'd lost q
at" shouted.
"oh-no, we don't want none to-
ay," she returned.
drew a long breath
Have - you 20 lost a - cat?"
Rwied
A sudden light OF comprehension
anne into the woman's eyes.
I'VE don't keep CATS she said,
rowning, and turned her back.
I didn't try any more ho,,rau a, that