The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-02-13

When Hilda explained her errand,
the old man leaned far across the coun-
ter, clutching it with his lean, brown
old hands.
Did she live?" he asked, piteously.
did she really live?"
"Live?" answered Hilda. you
should see her! She is the prettiest
and the worst spoiled kitten in Wienl"
The fancier sat down and buried his
face in his hands. "Du lieger Gott!"
he sobbed. "Ach, Du lieber Gott! She
was my granddaughter's kitten" he
went on, when he could control him.
self a little. ''She ran away, and the
dogs chased and tore her"
"And your grandchild is dead?" ask
ed Hilda, full of sympathy.
He shook his head. 81 know not.
| She was like the kitten-she ran
away. Mein Gott in Himmel! The
dogs they may chase her now-she is
out in this great world alone"
His frame shook with great, fearless
sobs.
For moment Hilda was too shocked
to know what to say or do, but while
she waited silently she thought out a
plan. 1t was late in the afternoon, and
the rain was beginning to fall.
Perhaps you would deliver the
things" she said. you could close
the shop early. 1t is not likely many
people would come tonight is it? And
then you could see her. I am sure you
would be happier if you knew how
round and plump and dear she is"
Then, as he hesitated, my uncle will
be glad to have you see what a good
doctor | am" And he promised to
come.
1t was after eight, when he arrived
and the girls uncle and her old bach
elor cousin made him as welcome for
her sake as If he had been all the de-
sirable things he evidently was not
There was something almost painful in
his joy over the rescued kitten, and
he touched her as if she were little
child. Very haltingly he told the story
of the wilful granddaughter's discon-
tent, and her running away to earn
her own living and be free of his re-
straint And when he went back to
his menagerie he carried with him q
hope that he might still find his own
little one, and save her from danger
and hardship.
After that, every two or three weeks
the old man slipped quietly in for half
an hear and slipped away again, like
an unobstructive shadow, always bring
ing some small offering for the kitten.
Something Of the pity the girl had
felt for the animal was transferred to
the old man as time went on, and
there could be no question Of the sue
cess of Herr Dornheim's experiment.
What newspaper people call the hui
man interest" had taken hold of Hilda,
and she had many plans for helping
the old man find his lost grandchild-
all of which her Uncle Heinrich told
her were impracticable.
One bright morning at the beginning
of spring, when the windows were
opened to let in the soft, sweet air,
Hilda became conscious that the kit
ten was behaving in a most unac-
countable manner. She raced back
and forth along the window-sill, as II
she heard herself called, and rushing
to Hilda, ran back to the window.
The same thing happened for several
days, and Hilda noticed that It was
always about the same hour. 1t must
be some one that the kitten knew.
Hilda hid behind the curtains and
waited, her heart humping; and the
kitten sat at one end of the tulip
box, making her toilet, as IL she were
expecting company.
After a long half-hour of waiting,
there came a soft call, and Hilda,
peeping out, saw a white-faced young
girl with heavy brown haid and work
roughened hands, holding thin cape
about her bent shoulders. She
coughed as she spoke to the kitten,
and her voice was low and faint.
Hilda waited no longer. She Slip
ped out of the room, down the steps,
and flung her arm about the girl as
she stood on tiptoe, vainly trying to
reach up far enough to stroke the
arching back of the fluffy Angora.
"You are Gretel!" Hilda cried. ooh,
know you are Gretel! No, don't go
away! shall not hurt you. See,
have been keeping your kitten for you.
She was homesick when you went
away, and she is so glad to have you
back"
Very gently she led the girl in, and
as she subsided, shivering and crying,
little heap Of mingled woe and joy,
upon the rug, the kitten nestled down
in her arms with purr of content.
This is really the finest cat In
Wien," said the old fancier. 81 do not
believe there is a finer in Europe. II
there were, ach, gnadige Fraulein,
would walk thousand miles to get
her for you, as you brought my Gret-
chen to me"-Youth's Companion.
The Doctors Progress.
One Of DR.. Seward Webb's neigh.