Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-03-15

Otudlt. lie was Lying " So ufo 49,
breakfast. His housekeeper had been
suddenly called away, and he was, as
the expression has it, ION his own"
On his ascent from the cellar way
he found the kitchen door had blown
open, and wintry gusts of snow were
cascading in. He closed the door and
went about his labors, when an I'M
mistakable meow warned him that
he had visitor. A scouting expedi-
tion revealed the visitor in his study,
a kitten, decorated with crimson
ribbon. Evidently she had slipped in
when the Kitchen door blew open.
After some .skillful stalking, which
did not make his world any the hap
pier, he cornered the kitten. He had
reason to believe it belonged next
door. SO he decided 70 drop it over the
fence. He performed this act with
due ceremony and retreated to his be-
lated breakfast AS he entered the
kitchen his doorbell rang and he has
tened through the bungalow.
Mine O'Clock and breakfast twenty
miles awayT' he groaned.
He opened the door and found him
self facing slight figure muffied in
fur coat.
II wonder if you have seen my kit
temp" a sweet voice queried.
Il just deposited feline Of the de-
scription over the backyard fence"
he replied with some GOODNESS as befit-
ting the time of the year, the subject,
and breakfastless man.
"Oh, you did" the sweet voice said
with increasing chill 81 thank you
But, IL am not mistaken, just saw
the kitten back of your
He started to say Impossible"
but remarked that nothing seemed to
be impossible that morning; and it
certainly was probable that the kitten,
dropped over the fence, had found
some familiar hole and tagged him
straight into the house again.
He looked around exploded mild
expletiye in his mind, snatehed the
kitten from under a davenport sus-
pended it by the nape Of its neck-and
extended it to its mistress.
Now, If that Kitten should come
again I'll have an excuse for going
overland perhaps I can make a better
impression than did this morning
he thought to himself.
He made his usual morning trip to
the post Office and returned by way
of the street on which the pretty own
er Of the kitten lived Her home was
attractive. there was no doubt about
that. He wondered If he could catch
la glimpse Of her.
The effort to do so was fatal The
deceptive. snow sheltered an icy
stretch made more ley by the sliding
feet Of schoolboys, and John cascaded
down the walk In front Of her house
with more speed than grace.
Once more in his snug and comfort
able study he set himself TO work, but
1t was of little use. In front of the
page he saw brown eyes SO deep his
glance could not fathom them; the
curve Of rosy cheeks and the hint Of
heavy coils Of brown hair under the
fur cap.
| Il am gone-theres no doubt of it !!
Now, if thatSblasted kitten would only
appear again." he communed with
| himself. He ever made, to his dis
grace, number of trips to the kitch-
en- door, but no kitten appeared.
The afternoon wore onAto evening.
He prepared and made Way with a
very satisfactory repast and was
smoking pleasing cigar when his
heart jumped. At the kitchen door
there sounded an unmistakable
Meow" He rushed to the door and
gathered to himself the kitten that
was to be his furred excuse.
He donned the proper garb and
started He walked briskly until he
came in front of her house. Then he
paused, remembering. In the shadows
he saw something dark, stretched
across the walk where She had fallen.
He dropped the kitten and bent over.
1t was the girl, unconscious from the
force Of her fall on the snow-covered,
| icy walk. He gathered her in his
arms, thrilled at the sense Of the
firm, slight figure in his arms; then
he went to the house.
| Her father came to the door. There
was excitement and confusion for a
time, but fifteen minutes later the
troubled waters were quiet and John
was looking into brown eyes that re-
garded him oddly.
81 saw you tumble out there this
afternoon and | was amused-tfs ~e
was so much of you'll" she laughed
"And then had to do it, foo. II
serves me right for being so disagree
able to you this morning" :
I'm afraid / should apologize.
was trying TO get my own breakfast y
he said
She smiled "That explains it; y0T
are forgiven and I suppose"heI
brown, musing eyes were upon him
81 suppose because the kitten likes
YOU so well ought tot"