Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-06-14
The Deferred
Excuse
BY A. W. PEACH

L Stuart. He was trying to get his
own 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
mstakable "me-ow" warned him that
he had visitor. A scouting eXpedl-
ton revealed the visitor in his study,
kitten, decorated with crimson
ribbon. Evidently she had slipped in
when the kitchen door had blown
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 to 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 to an
swer.
He opened the door and found him
self facing a slight figure muflled in a
fur coat.
II wonder II you have seen my kit
ten" sweet voice querled.
II just deposited feline of the de-
| scription over the backyard fence"
he replied with some GOODNESS as be-
fitting the time Of the year, the sub
ject, and a breakfastless man.
"Oh, you did" the sweet voice said
with increasing chill. 81 thank you
But, If am not mistaken, l just saw
the kitten behind you'll"
He looked around, exploded mild
expletive in his mind, snatched the
kitten from under davenport, sus-
pended it by the nape of its neck and
extended it to its mistress.
"You need not be quite so savage
about itp she said as she received
the kitten, and turning sharply about
went down the snowy walks, her small
Oyershoes leaving quick imprlnts be-
hind her.
He closed the door and retreated
TO his belated breakfast As he ate.
the unhappy world took on roster
aspect, and he suddenly realized that
the owner of the kitten possessed
brown eyes of a remarkable depth and
beauty, and her eyebrows, and the
curve of her cheeks above the dainty
furs-
by JOve, she was downright pref
| ty, and I'm just awake to the fact !"
he advised himself.
He was a 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 going
over, and perhaps l can make a bet
ter impression than | did this morn
ing" 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
| schoolboys, and John cascaded down
the walk in front Of her house with
more speed than grace.
He gathered up the outspread lin
| It's of his six feet Of extensive propor-
lions and thought as he did so: "This
! Is a grievous day. The Bible is right
again: lie was tempted and he fell
I'll make tracks for home and STAY
therew
Once moro I'm bis snuo and com
Portable study no set himself 70 work
hut II was of littIo use Tn front of
tbe shoot In his tvnevriter no saw
brown eves so deen his glance couId
NOT fothom tbem. the cnrve Of ROSY
checks and tbe hint Of heavy coils Of
brown hair under fine fur can
Tho ortornoon voro on to ovenino
Io nronorod and nodo nav with a
verv eotisfactorv renost and wae smok.
inc pleasing cigar whom his hoort
iumned Ar tbe kitchen door tbere
soundad an pnmietokobIe nNfe.ov,n
ua ruebed IN tho door. ana gotbered
to himself tba kitten that was IN no
bis f,rrod o,,c,,so
uo do,rod ,ho nronor oorh and
otortod Uo woIl,od hrisl,1y untu no
con,o IN Frort % hor house In tho
shodows no cav .omotbino dork
strotcbod ocross tbo ,,oII, wboro hn
hod foIton II wos tho oi,I uncor
aa,a,,a r.o,,, tto go - In fa1, 90