MADAM DIABLE AT HOME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 78

MADAM DIABLE AT HOME.

By I‘na.

There were just the two of them —fat, rollicking, rolling balls of grey fur. Every day of their short lives had been spent in eating, playing, or sleeping. Deemie, or, to give him his full title, the Deemster, was much handsomer than his sister Greeter. He had white paws and breast; she was all grey. But the real difference ■was in their tails. He had a short tail with a ridiculous curl at the end; she had a long, smooth, elegant tail, just a convenient length to play with. Poor Deemster would chase his short tail round and roiund with no evident result, so would sit calmly washing his paws while Miss Greeber would wickedly glance at him out of one ©ye, and twist and play Avith her own tail, and then look again at the seemingly absorbed Deemster with a tormenting grin, until that young gentleman could bear it no longer, and ivould suddenly spring on the offending tail with an angry “G-r-r-r-r,” and bite it so hard that Miss Greeber Avould squeal with pain. Usually, however, they were the best-tempered kittens in the World, and as they frolicked lovingly together their mother, Madam Diablo, would purr sleepily, “Bless their -little pairs, what good kittens they are!” And then she would promise them a mouse for tea. Noav, you must know that at three months of age every respectable kitten “comes out”—that is, it enters society. The Avell-to-do cats usually celebrate their children’s coming out bv a moonlight party; and as Madam Diable ivas decidedly well-to-do, a large party ivas to be held under the ivillows, to let all the cat world know that Mr Deemster and Miss Greeber Diable were to enter the “Society of Cats.” What preparations there ivere! The Deemster had to bo taught the popular songs of the day. He was forced, much to his disgust, to practise the Court boiv, and the twirgle dance step. Greeber looked on in great admiration Avhen her brother stood solemnly in the yard practising for half an hour every day. Sometimes she joined in the singing; but not often. Her duty at the coming party was to be polite and attentive to all her elders, to hand round supper, and to applaud heartily all the items on the programme, for the night. Then there were the preparations for the grand supper. Young mice were in great demand, and almost all day Greeber had to sit and watch a mouse hole, so that the inmates could not make their escape before the day arrived. Then all the famous cooks of the land had to be consulted. Mrs Pinkeyes was begged to come and superintend the making of rabbit pie, and old Graiiny Tiptoes ventured to lea A re the warm fireside to eee t that the mouse sauce Avas made according to the recipe given to her by her great-grandmother, who had it from Madame Tuiler, the celebrated cook.

All went smoothly till the day of the moonlight concert. Then what a flurry and a bustle there was. Madam Diable found that she had forgotten to ask the Theewee family. Greeber had lost her best bow, and was out of sorts with trying all the dishes. Deemster had a slight cough, and had a spot of tar on his very best white collar. He sat the whole afternoon in the sun to cure his cough, and to try to make his collar perfectly white. Greeber hunted all through the garden for the lost bow, and at last found it on top of the summer house. Madame Diable trotted round, and round in a state of bewildered anxiety. She feared there was not enough mouse sauce to go round. She did hope her darling Deemster would do himself justice in the evening. She then tied Greeber's bow neatly, and finally heard her son sing all. his songs over to see that ho was perfect. Then she kissed the two kittens, and took herself to sleep for an hour, It was night. The moon had not yet risen over the hill, but there was light enough to see shadowy forms flitting in and out of the willows. Down by the water's edge was a group of staid old tains purring loudly to one another. Under the willows the Miss Kittens talked softly in and watched the new arrivals. "Here come the Rolies," whispered Miss Tabby; "just look at Mewmew's new - bow."

"There's old Blinkie; and, see, here's Miss Muffin, as neat as ever!" was the next remark, made by a most untidilydressed Miss Kitten.

There was quite as much excitement among the Master Kittens. They seemed ■very shy, and l .stood apart until Jack Roly came up with his green eyes shining. 'There's supper spread out under the tail willow," was his first announcement. That broke the ice. Little fat Tommy Ramby said eagerly: ' 'Yes, I know; and there's rabbit pie too." Blinkie purred loudly, and Rillie Reddle danced a war-dance round the group. "Oh, I'm* so hungry," mewed Tommy pathetically; "and that sauce smells so nice ! I know it's mouse sauce." Just at that moment the moon showed its silvery edge- over the hill. This seemed the-.signal that the concert was to begin, for at once all the groups broke up. Madam Diab'le first rose, and in her kindly manner bade all her guests welcome, and hoped that they would all enjoy themselves. She then called her cousin, Mr Whitenose, to open the concert with a speech. Item after item followed in quick succession. Hftve you ever heard a Cats' Concert? If you have not, there is still a great happiness in store for you. A single Master Kitten would lift up his handsome head, and open his huge mouth with a "Yowww! Yooowow ! Yoooowowouoyow!" Then at the chorus all the Master Toms would start; "Yooooowow," until the very willows would take up the sound, and echo it and re-echo it until the whole valley rang. At the end of an hour silence reigned, but under the willow, where the feast was

spread, the cats, old and young, sat enjoying the feast. Mrs Tiptoes was thanked for her help in preparing the delicious concoction known as mouse sauce. Little Tommy Hornby happily helped himself to an eighth helping of the- delicate mixture, greatly to th& consternation of the correct Miss Muffins, who watched his proceedings open-eyed. Madam Diablo sat and purred lazily at the head of the table. She was perfectly satisfied with the party, and was quite at peace with the whole world, for had not M'sieur Tomcat, the worldfamous musician, praised her darling son's voice, and had not Lady Grey declared that nothing could be prettier than her sweet daughter Greeber's ears? After supper the younger members of the party started singing again. The Bluestone choir was called, and was begged to sing. They all came willingly and started chanting a sweet droning melody, the tune of which could not be surpassed even by their rivals, the Whitey choir. First the deep wowow of Mr Tom would be heard; then one of the Miss Kittens would chime in mew-mewew; and so it would go on, gradually swelling louder and louder until the song was taken up by all. In the midst of all this happiness a gruff human voice was heard to say, "Bless those confounded cats! I'll never get to sleep!" If the choir had not been so intent on their song they would have heard the shrill shriek of a window being raised. Suddenly, without the slightest warning, a bucket of cold water fell on the upturned noses of the happy gathering. With a parting "Wow-wapcw, mewew !" the choir fled precipitously into the night, and left the moonlight flooding the path among the willows. The ruthless human with a "That settled 'em!" returned to his disturbed rest, to dream that the cats were all sitting on hie bed glaring at him with huge yellow eyes, that grew bigger and bigger, until at last he woke up in a bath of cold perspiration. "Bother!" he said, and turned over. The moonlight still lingered, and shed its pale light over the valley, and rested on the figure of a small kitten sitting crying miserably among the remnants of the feast. Poor Tommy Romby '. Ten helpings of mouse sauce had done their work!

Next morning little Helen lifted Deemster into her lap. He lay quite still, not even attempting to catch at the hair she dangled invitingly before him. "Why, Deemster!" she said, "whatever's the matter with you?" Deemster gave a faint mew and settled down to sleep. "Mummie," said Helen a little later, "I think the Deemster is ill; he won't play with me." Deemster opened his eyes, winked slowly, and shut them; again "The moon knows ; ask the moon," was his unspoken thought.