The Forrest City times., 1909-10-29
Assistant
By FRANCIS A. COREY
Copyright. by ". G. chapmanJ

Mercy, It's cat" the woman ex. claimed Where can it be bidine,"
 Everybody looked around If that dismal vail was repeated, the kitten would be located They were ap. preaching the residence of Harding's best friend. Rising hastily he sig nailed the conductor.
 On alighting he suddenly became aware that Miss Loring was close be- hind him. lnstinetiyely he offered his disenSaged hand, but she haughtily declined it Her frigid look as she stepped down from the car was more chilling than the piercing wind roreed to leave her to shift for her self, Harding pushed his way through the storm to the big. carved door that marked the abode of the Mortons.
 He hang the bell and glanced be. hind him-just in time to see Miss Loring pause uncertainty on the lower step.
 Why, Edith, Are you calling here. too?' he was surprised into exclaim. ing.
 T have an appointment with Mrs Morton, she responded coldly.
 Harding gasped. Retreat was out of the question. The door had swung open-Morton and his charming wife stood on the threshold.
 The next few moments were like confused dream In the warm, fra orr I p.II into a careless pose before the fire. Harding stared from his corner with worshipping eyes. How remote she seemed in her cold proud beauty, Confess to this regal creature what soft-hearted fool he was? Never!
 He had left the box on the hall table on his way in. But there was l no counting on the imprisoned crea. ture. He must invent an excuse for the impromptu call and get away quickly-or court disaster
 He noted from where he sat the perilous nearness of the box to the edge of the table Suddenly it began to sway slightly, and before he could rush to the rescue, fell to the floor There was distressed mew-more appalling than a thunderbolt When he reached the spot the kitten was 'spitting' angrily, in an energetic struggle to eXtrieate itself
 Funny little beast, Where the dickens did it come from" Morton ex claimed, close at his heels. Then he stopped and looked hard into Hard ing's face
 Why old chap. you had that box under your arm, I remember"
 Yes. the box is mine." Harding said sturdily, lifting the kitten against his hot cheek And I'll have to own 1 ur to this little beggar too I-picked him up-in the street. He was wet and cold and miserable I couldn't let him freeze, you know Tm-tak ing him-home with me"
 Morton stared, gasped then, as the situation dawned upon him, broke into a roar of laughter
 "Ha, ha. ha, So you go about adopt. ing alley cats? This little beast is to be quartered comfortably in your i bachelor abode? Oh, shades of the society with the long name Tom Carrol and the boys shall hear oi this"
 The flush on Harding's cheek deep. ened. He turned blindly, holding the kitten close to him. He wanted to get away. The one thing he could not dc was to meet Miss Loring's scornful eyes
 But there was a rustic, quick step. She had slipped between him and the door
 It's nasty night-of course you couldn't leave the poor creature to perish, Ralph" she said, in a voice singularly gentle and sweet "It would have been cruel" Then she smiled a queer smile, and added with sudden ir. relevancy: But there were flowers in that box! What has become of them?"
 T threw them away"
 "Oh, you did? You sacrificed m, flowers for a vagrant cat?"
 Harding felt the room go round "Yours. Edith?" he echoed feebly. They were sent to the club I didn't know-I never dreamed-that they came from you"
 "Of course not. They should have gone to your apartment-as usual The messenger blundered"
 I'm sorry" he began, and stopped : for two bejeweled hands fell suddenly on his deep shoulders
 Didn't you see that the flowers were yioiets, Ralph?" she whispered 'I thought you'd understand, when you opened the box, that Twas sorry for last night-and wanted to be friends again.
 Bird Songs.