Smyrna times., 1929-10-02
The Kitten Liked
John
By A. W. PEACH

he was, as the expression mad lt,
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 unmistakahle ''me-OW''
warned him that he had a visitor. A
scouting expedition revealed the
visitor in his study, a kitten, deco
rated with a crimson ribbon. Evi
IDENTIFY she had slipped in when the
kitchen door had blown open.
After some skillful stalking,
which did not make his world any
the happier, he cOrnered the kitten.
He had reason to believe it be-
longed next door, so he decided to
drop it over the fence. He per-
formed this act with due ceremony
and retreated to his belated break
fast. AS he entered the kitchen
his doOrbell rang and he fastened
through the bungalow to answer:
He opened the door and found
himself facing a slight figure muf-
fled in a fur coat.
81 wonder if you have seen my
kitten?" a sweet voice queried.
81 just deposited a feline of the
description over the backyard
fence" he replied with some cold
ness as befitting the time of the
year, the subject, and a breakfast
less man.
"Oh, you did," the sweet voice
said with increasing chill. Il thank
youl But, if I'm, not mistaken, /
just saw the kitten behind you!"
He looked around, exploded a
mild expletive in his mind. snatched
the kitten from under a davenport,
suspended it by the nape of its
neck and extended it to its mis-
tresS.
"You need not be quite so saw
age about itl'' she said as she re-
ceived the kitten, and turning
sharply about went down the snowy
walks, her small OvershOes leav-
ing quick imprints behind her.
He closed the door and retreat
ed to his belated breakfast. As he
ate, the unhappy world took on a
roster aspect, and he suddenly real
lied that the owner of the kitten
possessed brown eyes of a remark
able depth and beauty, and her eye
brows, and the curve of her cheeks
above the dainty furs-
by jOve, she was downright
pretty, and I'm just awake to the
fact!" he advised himself.
He was newcomer in the neigh
bOrhoOd. Probably she lived in the
attractive house Just back of his
on the other street.
"Now, if that kitten should come
again I'll have an excuse for go
ing over, and perhaps l 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 owner of the kitten lived.
Her home was attractive, there was
no doubt about that. He wondered
if he could catch a glimpse of her.
The effort to do so was fatal.
The deceptive snow sheltered an
icy stretch made more icy by the
sliding feet of scho0lboys, and John
cascaded down the walk in front
of her house with more speed than
grace.
He gathered up the Outspread lin
its of his six feet of extensive pro-
portions and thought as he did so :
This is a grievOus day. The Bible
is right again: He was tempted
and he fellp I'll make tracks for
home and stay there"
Once more in his snug and com
Portable study he set himself to
work, but it was of little use. In
front Of the sheet in his typewriter
he saw brown eyes so deep his
glance could not fathOm them: the
curve of rosy cheeks and tile hint
Of heavy coils of brown hair under
the fur cap.
The afternoon wore on to eve
ming. He prepared and made way
with very satisfactory repast and
was smoking a pleasing cigar when
his heart jumped. At the kitchen
door there sounded an unmistak-
able Meow He rushed to the
door and gathered to himself the
kitten that was to be his furred ex-
cuse.
He donned the proper garb and
started. He walked briskly until
he came in front Of her house. In
the shadows he saw something
dark, stretched across the. walk
where he had fallen. 1t was the
girl, unconscious from the force of
her fall on the snow-covered, lev
walk. He gathered her in his arms.
thrilled Mt the sense of the firm.
slight figure; then he went to the
house.
Her father came to the door.
There was excitement and confu-
sion for a time, but fifteen minutes
later the troubled waters were quiet
and John was looking into brown
eyes that regarded him oddly.
81 saw you tumble out there this
afternoon and / was amused-there
was so much of you" she laughed.
"And then had to do it, too. II
serves me right for being so dis
agreeable to you this morning"
I'm afraid I should apologize.
l was trying to get my own break
fasti" he said.
She smiled. 'That explains II !:
you are forgiven, and / suppose
her brown musing eyes were upon
him-"I suppose because the kitten
likes you so well ] ought tor