The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-22
Waits and Strays.



II had been a very hot day, but .
shower had laid the dust, and now
teams were seen emerging from the va
rious lanes into the turnpike. all going
down to meet the train from New
| York
In the wide porch or Farmer Norris
old homestead stood his daughter Mil
ncent. The occupants of the passing
wagons nodded to her as they Went
Dy. Her own team waited under fhe
mapies near. but Millicent seemed in
no hurry 10 go. She was thinking:
thought was twisted I'm the coils or her
SOFT, brown hair. expressed In the
grave lines of her usually laughing
race and In the deep. gray eyes, that ar
present were watching the footpath
across the meadows that led to the CAL
Millicent Norris Martha Graves. VIII
Ellis and Adam Calder, children of
neisnporing formers, had grown UP
svsether, u happy. inseparable band.
When there had been childish differ
ences between them il had always been
marina and viii on one side. and Nil
iicent and Adam on the other: and she
had grown up to feel that he belonged
20 her: or course he belonged to her;
II would be absurd to think of his mar
ryhS any one else, and yct--he had
kept away from her so much of late
she could not understand H. Martha
mad Just left her: Will Ellis and she
were 10 DE married in September. and
she was naturally full OF happiness.
But TO pretty Millicent. as she stood
watching the path along which no one
came. life seemed at present rather
disappointing. Well. She might as well
go TO the station. too.
Around newly emptied ashcan in
one or the dirtiest streets on the ex-
IRENE west side OF the city three ragged
urchins were gathered. peering eager
iy down into it's depth and all talking
excitedly. II want II. It's mine. Tum
up Jenny! Tum up" These were the
continuous exclamations OF the small
est OF the three. as she reached her
grimy hands down into the grimier
depths. From the abyss. in answer 10
the call for Jenny came a faint. sick
ly new. unnoticed, or laughed at by
the loungers about the sidewalks and
doors OF the tenements. There seemed
no help for the kitten, until by the
combined efforts OF its three friends
tipped over and children and can roll
ed together into the gutter. From its
depths crawled the skeleton OF a kit
ten, draggled and weak, but not with
out spirit. No sooner did II appear than |
a big, rough boy (who had thrown II |
into the CAM seized It and was about |
to put 1t high on the lamp-post out of |
its owners reach. when the kitten, |
squirming around. planted all of It's |
foreclaws in his hand. just as little |
Kit, learned already |
i'm modes OF warfare current in the vi |
cinity. set her sharp little teeth |
In the calf OF his leg. The sudden and |
severe attack made him drop the kit
ten. Kit seized IL and hugging II in an /
overdose embrace. exclaimed: II yubs
IL. yubs it," anu pressed its dirty lit /
tie face to her own dirty face raptur-
ously.
The big boy was not really bad; he
was only having fun in his own way.
and so he did not strike Kit, or kick
the cat, as he might have done unmo-
ested; he just rubbed his leg ruefully,
used strong language and threatened
what he would do. Then. stirred to an
ger by the laugh of those around him,
he offered to fight any one who laughed
again. Some one did laugh. ring was
formed and a fight seemed imminent;
bot just then came new diversion. A
nurmur was heard on the outside OF
the crowd, a quiet looking lady was
coming up the street. and from mouth
20 mouth and all along the block was
heard the exclamation: THE country!
rhe country! The kids are going TO
he country" The fight was off. Kit
was forgotten.
The lady was one OF the agents of
he great Fresh Air Charity, and had
,ome TO collect a party that was to
cave the city that day. They came
)ut from the tenements all along the
block by twos and threes, and In
there was great running TO and
'ro. a general stir throughout the
n xn L
lee them of.
They were ready at last. sixty In all.
rhe lady had pinned on the last of the
blue badges by which they were TO be
recognized when she became conscious
If a small ragged figure which follow
d her about, and a very earnest voice
which said, as It had been persistently
saying: "Kit'll go, too. Kit wants TO
roi Gimme a wibbon?' You want TO
20 baby? should love to take you,"
aid the LADY Where In your mother?
Why didn't she speak TO me before!
She amt got no mother; her mothers
lead. She just stays around and no one
axes care Of her; please let her CO..
h was the big. rough boy, who spoke
'or her now, and Kit sidled up TO him
n entire confidence and said in the
nost amiable manner as though grant,
ng a favor: "Kit'll go.
A few questions TO the women about
brought out Kits history. her parents
were poor but decent folk; her father
,ad been killed in a railroad accident
while seeking employment year be-
'ore. Sorrow and hard work had been
.oo much for the mother. who was
lalicate woman and she had died two
months ago. leaving Kit TO the neigh
oors. They were all ready to feed her
and give her sleeping room, and so she
nad gone from one to another az she
,hosa che and her kitten. But there |
was no one whose duty 1t was TO clean
and clothe and mother her. and "the
Island" would at last be her place.
The party was fun. but the agent de.
.ided IN take her Some farmer might |
nave pity on the little waif. She would
De responsible for Kits safe return. at
my rate. Safe return! AS tnoush any
not, SO the baby tramp and her pet
we're badged with the blue RIBBON and
vent with the party.
O "