The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-05

AIMS mother had told his moth
er that she had just as soon have him
come over to see Serena Ann, as a girl
Serena Ann, herself, thought him al
most as good as a girl. She went
COaSting and sliding with him-and he
| was better than a girl, in that kind of
| sport, because he always dragged her
up hill on her sled, and that another
girl would not do. Johnny Starr had
even been known to play dolls, to please
Serena Ann. although he made her
promise never to tell the other boys.
| Now, when Serena Ann met his hand
| some brown eyes, she felt a comforting
sense of companionship. Johnny Starr,
| moreover, gave his head an indignant
| jerk toward Miss Little, which did her
| good, though she loved Miss Little.
Recess came soon after the girls We're
released from their position in the
| floor and everybody went out, the
weather was 50 warm. Johnny Starr
followed Serena Ann into the north
east corner of the school yard, where
there was Il little clump of pine trees.
He took out his jackknife and began
cutting a j. S. in pine trunk, as if that
was what he had come there for.
Say, what did you write that about
w nat ulu size StIu you Out Ill llt llDOI
fOr?' he whispered. as he cut away in
dustriously. Serena Ann explained.
Its mean," declared Johnny Starr
Say, Serena Ann"
WHAT"
It's too warm to go sliding, after
school; we'd slump through, and there
amt enough snow to coast on. If you
won't say anything about it, and your
mothers willing, I'd jest as lief come
over and play dolls"
Serena Ann smiled gratefully at him.
1t seemed to her at that moment that
he was better than girl Then Johnny
Starr snapped his jackknife together
and went off to the other boys, and
Tabitha Green and Miranda Sail the
doctors daughter, joined Serena Ann.
Miranda was one of the big girls, very
briSht-eyed and redcheeked. She was
quite a belle and a power in the school.
She wore finer clothes than any other
girl too, and looped up her black curls
with a comb, and had spending money.
She put plump protecting arm
around Serena Ann.
Don't you feel bad one Bit" said
she. Il had stood in the foor dozens
of times before l was as old as you.
Didn't you ever have a valentine, Sc
rena ANN"
Serena Ann shook her head and
looked up gratefully into the gins
handsome, glowing face. No words
could express her admiration for Mi
randa
"Well, maybe you'l get ore this yeaI
stranger things have happened" Mi
ranGa remarked, meaningly, as she
turned away.
II don't believe but what she'll senG
you one" whispered Tabitha Green
and Serena Ann was seized with de
lightful, though tremulous anticipa
ton.
She looked across at Miranda aftel
school began and thought that sht
must be the most beautiful girl in tn,
| whole world.
Serena AIMS spirits revived as tn
\ forenoon wore on. She was perfect il
her arithmetic, did an example on tn
: blackboard which no one else coul
do, and she went to the head in tn
= | spelling class At noon the teache
; called her to the desk, gave her a seed
, cake out of her own dinner basket an
:, told her how sorry she had felt to b
:, obliged to punish her, when she ha
> always been such good girl, and Sc
IcIld Ann, lIOuBH SIG Ntpl u Iltl
. more, was sweetly comforted.
t Moreover, the teacher suggested tina
S her grandfather Judd might be Willing
t since it was only the twelfth of lCebru
a airy to let her start afresh in her effort
r to win the book, and Serena Ann fe
r quite sure that he would. She coul
a not remember that her grandfather ha
II ever refused her anything. Her mothe
Gai Sh hsA
= spoil her.
- Serena Ann had, during all the rest {
7, that day, a vague impression of a kline
" ly intent toward her from eVerybod.
J. She could not have expressed it plainl.
l. but she felt a delightful surprise, as
i she had a present, when people locke
d at her, especially Johnny Starr, an
the teacher Miranda, her cousin Sal
d Wells, who was one of the biggest boy
| in school-quite a young man-an