The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-02-09
A Home
For Harriet.
By FRANK H. WILLIAMS.
copyrighted, 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.

darr1ett was peculiar name IoI d
cat; but, then, Harriet was peculiar
cat. Roger Webster surveyed her
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 your an
swered Bessie Roberts. Bessie was
very pretty and wholly charming, but
at the present time little frown of
anxiety wrinkled her forehead.
Il simply don't know what to do
about it," she continued. 1.-THE land
lady says that I've got to get rid Of
HARRIET, and 1 can't find any other
place so convenient to my work where
l can live. 1 suppose suppose" she
added wistfully, shat / 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 squarely into Rogers lap.
what 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.
''Thats one of the troubles Of living in
boarding house-you don't get the
real simon pure comforts Of home,
Now, I'll tell you what wen do" he
cried. jumping to his feet wen take
Harriet with us and go on a tour Of
inspection in this neighborhood. Wen
hunt up a nice, quiet street where
there are little cottages Instead Of big
houses, and when we see a nice,
honey comfortable housewife in one
of the homes we'll go in and ask her
to keep Harriet for u.s."
"For usY' queried the girl, with
little laugh.
"Sure," continued Roger. unabashed.
"You don't think HARRIET belongs to
you alone, do you? I think Harriet
would resent any such idea as that.
She likes me too well, and like her
too we'll No, indeed, have minor
ity interest in this cat"
The girl laughed and rose to her
feet.
"Well, come along" she said 81 sup
pose it's the best think we can do, and
as it's Sunday afternoon we ought to
be able to find lots of the people
home"
Roger helped the girl down the
steps, and, calling to Harriet, they
walked down the street. Harriet, big,
sleek and black. followed decorously
enough until they reached a small,
rather obscure cross street,
Roger happened to be looking back
as they crossed this street and discov-
cred Harriet very sedately ambling
down the little thoroughfare.
"Come here, Harriet" Roger called
and then whistled to the cat.
Harriet paid not the slightest atten-
ton, but continued her sedate walk
away from Roger and the girl. Bessie
called. but even to her Harriet paid
no attention.
"Well, declarer' cried the girl In
surprise Harriet has always been
peculiar but she has never acted like
this before"
Lets follow her and see where she
goes" cried Roger. Perhaps she is
looking for home or perhaps she has
a home already picked out"
"All right" said Bessie.
They turned back and FASTENED aft
er Harriet, who was now about
fourth Of a block ahead. The street
was quiet one Neither Roger nor
Bessie was familiar with 1t and had
paid but little attention to it in previ-
Gus times
Now, however, they glanced curious
ly at the small, rather coy houses
which lined the Sides Although erect
ed within recent years, they were al
most old fashioned by comparison
with the big buildings on the more i'm
portant streets near by. 1t seemed as
if the little street was a mere eddy In
the swirling life and progress all
around 1t.
"Oh, like this streetP' cried Bessie.
at appeals to me, too" declared
Roger with conviction.
For several blocks they followed
Harriet, who continued her steady
course. At last they saw the cat turn
into gate in a charming stone fence,
and they fastened after her.
The fence inclosed a coy little cot
tage, well set back from the sidewalk.
In the yard were couple of trees, a
flower bed or two and a delightful
path, bordered by low hedge, which
ran up to the spacious veranda.
The little home had such a piquant,
happy look that involuntarIly both
Roger and Bessie smiled as they gazed
at It.
Then Roger laughed.
sLook who's on the veranday he
cried.
Bessie looked closely and gasped.
There was Harriet, curled up tightly
in the blaze OF the sun, as If she had
been in the habit Of lying there just
like that day in and day out for years.
"Well." cried the girl, Harriet
seems to be perfectly satisfied with the
place"
YES" acknowledged Roger. II could
be happy, too, in home like this If l
had the right person to share it with
me-" He looked directly at the girl
For a feeting moment her eyes met
his, and then, startled and with her
face flushed, she ran up the path to
the veranda.
why" she exclaimed as she reached
the first step, there's no one living
here-the place is for rentw She point
ed to a sign that had slipped from its
position in window.
.Why, so it isP' cried Roger. "Har-
riett can't stay here, Of course-unless
-unless''- He looked at Bessie with
smile full Of meaning.
"Of course she can't stay here!" cried
the girl, making a grab for the cat Il
wish we could find a home for her,
though, in in a nice little place like
this"
She caught the cat up in her arms.
"How Harriet would enjoy the
place. unused Roger Look, there's
big open fireplace in the front room,