The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-10-03
THEPRINCE.
A TrueTale OF . Cat

band and l, for all the years that havi
come and gone since the hanging o
the crane in our modest domicile
There have been Toms and Robs anf
Tbs, and a race of Bonnies; TIN
death of Bonnie the Third gave u.
such q sense of bereavement that vi
declared the house sacred hencefortI
to her memory. though we have ha(
no small difficulty In adherlng to thli
resolution.
Perhaps 1t may have been a yeai
from this event that friend and
were strolling up and down our VII.
lage street, one warm summer evening
to catch an elusive breeze that nov
and then blew freshly across our
faces. IL was little past eight
O'Clock, | remember. Flashes Of
lightning fitfuIly Illuminated the
rapidly darkening sky, and soon pelt-
ing drops OF rain made u seek the
shelter of the house.
Ny friend remained outside upon the
broad front porch while | vent on In
to the living-room and sat down to
scan the days news. | had sat thus
perhaps half hour intent on the do
ings Of the Peace Conference. then in
session when I was startled by a
hoarse cat cry 50 near me that invol-
unfairly | looked about within the
ROOM I can hear II nov. Such a
hungry, starved voice. From the sec
ond appeal | knew it was outside a
window opposite me which opened
upon rear porch. | rose instantly.
As | did so there flashed across my
mind the recollection of brushing
against a cat somewhere on the street
earlier In the evening. | remembered
also, with a prick of remorse, that
had checked an impulse to stretch out
a hand and give friendly greeting, lest
some strange cat should follow me
home and demand adoption. As |
opened the screen. a large gaunt cat
retired a step or two, but kept w the
sharp cry which | could only inter-
pref as Food. food, for am stary-
ingi' Hurrying to the pantry. | gath
cred some cold meat and carried II out
to step at the rear of the house. II
was very dark. As ! am timid, I
hastily retreated into the lighted
house. not waitlngto see II the food was
eaten. Burying myself again in the
tumble of contradictory dispatches.
my cat visitor vas completely for
BolIeiIf as Quiel IelBneu.
A little later. rejoining my friend
upon the front porch. | settled myself
comfortably within a hammock swing
ing there. The air blew fresh and
full, the sky still heavily overcast
light from a window behind me shone
brightly on the rail and floor before.
There. regarding me graYely. sat the
same gaunt cat, Dominated still By
the fear that here was cat Who would
be adopted will or MILL I drew nv
skirts around me like an well-fed
Pharisee. and maintained discreet
silence. My visitor sprang down and
came toward me. but with deliber-
alton Of manner. arching it back, tail
waving. and YoieIng its thanks like
this. Meow. meow" Thank you,
thank YOU Meow. meow. You have
been very kind. indeed Meow" Il
am extremely gratefully. This was
followed by eegtatic pufrIng. Anti
cipatIng next n spring into the nam
mock. | said In voice OF lay condos
censIon, Not 50 fast, ~ good sir.
You we're welcome 10 the food, nut
never was one In make friends hast
fly Retreating 1t this hostile speech.
this strange cat continued the sal
aams and grateful meows Then fol
lowed a prolonged pause Of dignlfied
silence which ! did not venture to
break. the cat meanwhile inspecting
me calmly. This look had well-nigh
moved me 10 repentance for my cold
ness when the stranger Yaulted NJ
and over the porch rail and disan=
peafed in the inKy darkness beyond.
Then. indeed, was my humiliation
complete. Then. indeed. id ! com
prehend that I had befrlended =
Prince. but In most ehunlIsh man
ner. received his thanks. 80 charming
ly expressed. most graeiDnsly. ! had
maintained throughout a desplcabie
air Of bestowIng aims upon the wor=
thy poor. while the Prince had put
forth his best effort TO convince me
of his good breeding, refinement and
worth. There WAS no appeal for
more food In hIH second appearance.
only simple dIenified note of grail
tude and relief 4 cat Of lower order
would have hung about the premises
insisting upon recognition. Not so ny
royal visitor, for I was given no fur.
ther glimpse Of his Hlghness, and
futile indeed was all speculation DIS TO
Hh3Aii Nfl1laf anu NAlAH41A Alf hAilA
Interesting was our discussion as To
why this cat followed me to my home
out Of the numbers on the street WHY
he applied 10 me for food: and gave
to me his thanks and farewell salnta=
ton. when the other members of the
family were as easily accessible
As this is only one of the interest
ing incidents I have stumbled upon
concerning cat ways, | an convinced
that many cats possess great intel
llgenee, with which they are seldom
credited that their conduct. II care
fully noted. would often prove a con
demnation of our own In this opin=
ion I have m0aI illustrIons company.
remembering II. Lofts charming tale
of "Moumette Blanche ct Chinoise. =
and the delightful creatures which
dlsport themselves throughout the
pages of THE F1reside Sphinx" BY
Repplier. Certainly this suppllant
from a so-called lower order of crea-
lures had given me a striking lesson
in courtesy, aud I have written the
simple tale with the hope that other
waits and travellers may be more
Hospitality entertained than was the
Prinee.-By Mrs c. NJ. Treat, in Our
Dumb Animals"