News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-07-13
hssing each other on

the corner of Fjfty-fifth street Millieehs
met friend, and drew aside by the
railing of the great Presbyterian church
for a moments gossip. While so en-
ployed she found herself all at once
crowded back against the railing by a
burly market woman, who explained
apologetically that it was to "make
room for the percession."
What was the percession ?" Mil
icent looked down the street, and here
is what she saw:
Two dozen children-girls and boys
ragged, barefooted, hatless, some of
them, but an attempt at cleanliness and
a general air of good humor that made
up for all deficiencies. They were
walking two by two, in tolerably good
order, except that half a dozen sur
rounded their leader, walking sideways,
backward, anyway, so that they might
keep in his immediate vicinity and look
up in his kindly face. And the leader,
tall young man with eyeglasses, who
led by one hand very tattered-looking
small boy and the other more decent
appearing little girl, Millicent with
start recognized. The boy she did not
know; but the girl was Katie Finne-
gan, and the young man was no one else
than Jack Wendover. Clearly the pro-
cession was Katie's picnic. In all her
own wonderment Millicent could not es-
cape hearing the expressions of the by
ISLANDERS. 1t was the warm hearted mar
ket woman who spoke first.
''Bless his honest face p said the
hearty voice. "It's good man he is,
or the childer d never set such store by
him."
The next comment was from Mil
hcent's friend.
elbow queer, Milly Fancy you and
me exhibiting ourselves that way. And
dare say he's respectable.
And then there was voice from be-
hind, to identify which Milly did not
need to see tie speaker. She had often
enough heard the grave, kindly tones in
the pulpit of the very church before
which she was standing, and she listened
now intently, as though somehow or
other her destiny depended upon it.
"That man." the voice said, sis made
of the stuff they make heroes out of. 1t
takes more moral courage to walk up
Fifth avenue at the head of those
children than to fight battle"
The girls heart gave responsive
throb.
''To think" she said penitently to
herself, show silly and blind I've been
all the time !"
just at that moment the procession
was abreast of the place where Millicent
stood, and Katie's eyes rowing rest
lessly among the crowd of Iookers-on
spied the familiar face. son, there's
Miss Broon!" she shouted. s'Please
let's stop and speak to her, Mr.. Wen'-
ver," and without waiting for permis-
sion she. sprang away to Millicent's
side"
Katie |" cried Jack-it must be con-
fessed a little peremptorily.
But Katie did not heed either Mr..
Wendover's cry or the amused looks of
the spectators.
'Oh, Miss Broom I" she was saying,
''won't you come along. We're goin' to
see the 'nagerie and then we're goin' to
have picnic. And there's lots to eat p
Jack had halted in an uncertain way,
and the procession was all broken up.
Katie; > he called once more.
"Oh, Mr.. Wen'verr' she cried, turn
ing around and pausing distressfully be-
tween the two attractions. "WouIdn't
you like Miss Broom to go with us ?"
She told me the other day she knowed
you, and there's lots for her to eat"
Jack moved step or two toward Mil
licent. Some of the crowd had by this
time turned away, but enough remained
to make it an embarrassing e;..ssSsS,so-