The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-03-15
A Home
For Harriet.
ByFRANK H. WILLIAMS.
Copyrighted, 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.

quizzically as she lay IN the sun on the
boarding house steps.
ANY feline but Harriet" he de
clared. would at least feel mildly per-
turbed at the prospect of losing home
and a mistress"
You'd think so, wouldn't you?" an
svered Bessie Roberts. Bessie was
very pretty and wholly charming, but
at the present time little frown of
anxiety wrinkled her forehead.
II simply don't know what to do
about it" she continued. THE land
lady says that I've got TO get rid of
Harriet, and I can't find any other
place so convenient to my work where
l can live. 1 suppose suppose" she
added wistfuIly, that 1 shouldn't be
so foolish over Harriet, but in some
way she seems the only link between
today and the other life. With all my
| people gone and HARRIET some other
place in this big city I'd feel too aw-
fully, miserably lonely"
Roger saw that Bessie was near
tears. Poor, lonesome kiddie," he
thought And, leaning over, he stroked
Harriet very carefully. Harriet arch
ed her back, purred and rose slowly to
her feet. Then, turning round, she
jumped squareiy into Rogers lap.
what a sensible catr' Roger smiled
at the girl. You see, she likes me
very much If only every one-that is,
some one-liked me very, very much"
he glanced at the girl slyly. A little
flush had spread over Bessie's face,
and she kept her eyes fixed steadfastly
ON the cat.
81 only wish they allowed cats in
my boarding house." he continued
'rThat's one of the troubles Of living in
boarding house-you don't get the
real, simon pure comforts of home
Now, III tell you what wen do" be
cried, jumping to his feet. Wen take
Harriet with us and go on a tour d
inspection in this neighborhoOd. Wei
hunt up a nice, quiet street where
! there are little cottages instead Of bis
r houses, and when we see nice
E honey comfortable housewife in one
e of the homes wen go in and ask hel
: to keep Harriet for us"
For usY' queried the girl, with ;
little laugh.
Sure" continued Roger. unabashed
r "You don't think Harriet belongs t,
! you alone. do you? / think Harriet
h would resent any such idea as that
She likes me too well, and I like he
< too well. No, indeed, l have a minor
tty interest in this cat"
The girl laughed and rose to he
: feet.
: 'WelI come along" she said. II SUI
pose it's the best think we can do, an
as it's Sunday afternoon we ought t
be able to find lots Of the peopl
= home"
Roger helped the girl down th
steps, and, calling to Harriet, the
walked down the street Harriet, bi,
enough until they reached small
rather obscure cross street.
Roger happened to be looking bac
as they crossed this street and disco
cred Harriet very sedately amblin
down the little thoroughfare.
! Come here, Harriet" Roger calle
a. and then whistled to the cat
Harriet paid not the slightest attel
ton, but continued her sedate wa
= away from Roger and the girl. Bess
N called, but even to her HARRIET pa
&c no attention.
to well. 1 declarer' cried the girl
a. surprise Harriet has always be-
n peculiar. but she has never acted I'll
i this before"
- Lets follow her and see where 81
goes" cried Roger. Perhaps she
- looking for home or perhaps she HI
3 home already picked OUT
n ''All right" said Bessie.
to They turned back and FASTENED al
is er Harriet who was now about
er fourth of q block ahead The sire
to was a quiet one Neither Roger u
ne Bessie was familiar with it and b:
u paid but little attention to 1t in pre-
Gus times.
IL. Now, however, they glanced curiol
of ly at the small, rather cozy hous
ID, which lined the sides Although ere
ed within recent years, they were
most old fashioned by comparis
u with the big buildings on the more
4 portant streets near by. 1t seemed
If the little street was mere eddy
the swirling life and progress
around It,
w "Oh, like this streetr' cried Bess
at appeals to me, too" declaI
Roger, with conviction.
For several blocks they follow
Harriet, who continued her stea
course. At last they saw the cat tt
into a gate in a charming stone fen
raj and they FASTENED after her.
md The fence inclosed a coy little c
raj tage, wen set back from the sidewa
to In the yard were couple Of trees
IA flower bed or two and a delight
path, bordered by a low hedge, VIII
ev- ran up to the spacious veranda.
cir The little home had such a piQua
10 happy look that involuntarily b,
no Roger and Bessie smiled as they ga;
~ at It.
Eff Then Roger laughed.
Id Look who's on the verandap'
ay- cried
Bessie looked closely and gasp
srs There was Harriet, curled up tigt
To- in the blaze of the sun. as If she !
cen tao,, a., tho hahit % Jy5por %ho~o 4