The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-23
WAlFSAND SPRAYS.
a .FREsH AIR. STORY.

a &Go6 nan o4Oh4
It had been very hot day. but a
shower had laid the dust. and now
cams were seen emerging from the
farious lanes into the turnpike. all go
sng down to meet the train from New
York.
In the wide porch Of Farmer Morris's
old homestead stood his daughter MIL
Ilcent. The occupants of the passing
wagons nodded to her as they went by.
Her own team waited under the naples
near. but Bfliiteent seemed In no hurry
10 60, She was thinking; thought was
twisted in the coils OF her soft, brown
hair, expressed in the grave lines of
her usually laughing face, and in the
deep, gray eyes. that at present were
Watching the footpath across the mead
o&s that led to the Calder farm,
Aiillicent Morris. Martha Graves, Will
Ellis and, Adam Calder. children of
neIghboring farmers, had grown up to-
rather, happy inseparable band.
When there had been childish differences
between them 1t had always been Mar
tha and Will on one s.1e, and Mllllcent
and Adam on the other; and=she had
grown up to feel that he belonged to
her. or course he belonged TO her; It
would be absurd TO think of his marry
ing any one else, and yet-he had kept
away, from her so much Of late she
could not understand 1T. Martha had
Just left her; VIII Ellis and she were to
be hurried in September. and she was
naturally full of happiness. But to
pretty Millicent, as she stood watching
the path along which nc. one came, life
seemed at present rather disappointing,
Wen! She might as well so to the sta
ton. too. VI
Around newly emptied ashcan in
one of the dirtIest streets on the ex-
IRENE West Side of the city three rag
ged urchins were gathered. peering
eagerly down into the depths and all
talking excitedly. 81 want it! It
minel Tum up Jenny! Tum up"
These were the continuous exclama.
uons OF the smallest of the three, as
she reached her grimy hands down into
the grimier depths. From the abyss, in
answer to the call for Jenny" came
faint, slckly new, unnoticed, or laugh
ed at by the loungers about the side.
walks and doors OF the tenements.
There seemed no help for the kitten,
until by the combined efforts Of its
three friends pulling together on one
side the can tipped over and children
and can rolled together iVto the gutter
From It's depths crawled the skeleton
of kitten, draGgled and weak, but not
without spirit. No sooner did 1t appear
than big, rough boy Cwho haG thrown
1t into the CAM seized 1t and was abou.
to put 1t hig+ up on the lamp-post out
out of its owner reach, When the kit
ten, squirting around, planted all of
its foreclaws in his hand, just as little
three year-old Kit learned already IN
modes of warfare current In the vIcin-
ity, set he. sharp little teeth In the calf
OF his les The sudden and severe at
tacks made him drop the kitten. Kit
seized it and hugging 1t in an overdose
embrace. exclaimed: II yubs It!
yubs it," and pressed It's dirty little
zace to her own dirty face rapturously,
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 unmolested;
he just rubbed his leg ruefully, used
strong language and threatened what
he would do. Then, stirred to anger by
the laugh of those around him, he Of
fered to fight any one who laughed
again. Some one did laugh, ring was
formed and fight seemed imminent;
but just then came new diversion, A
murmur was heard on the outside OF
the crowd. a quiet looking lady was
coming up the street, and from mouth
10 mouth and all along the block was
heard the exclamation: THE country!
The country! The kids are going to the
country" The fight was off. Kit was
forgotten
The lady was one of the agents Of the
great Fresh Air Charity and had come
to collect a party that was to leave the
city that day. They came out from the
tenements all along the block by twos
and threes, and in squads; there was
great running to and fro. general stir
throughout the naighborhood, every
one came out to see them off.
They were ready at last, sixty in all.
The lady had pinned on the last Of the
blue badges by which they were to be
recognized, when she became conscious
OF small ragged figure which followed
her about. and very earnest voice
which said, as # had been parsistentty
saying: "Kitll go, too Kit wants to
20! Gimme a wlbbon?' You want to
70, baby? should love to take you"
said the lady. Where is your mother?
Why didn't she speak to me before?"
She amt got no mother; her mothers
dead. She just stays around and no one
takes care OF her; please let her 60"
It was the big. rough boy, who spoke
for her now, and Kit sided up to him
In entire confidence and said in the
most amiahle manner, as though grant
ing a favor; "Kitn 60" -as
a few questions to the women about
brought out KITS history. Her parents
were poor but decent folk; her fathal
had been killed in railroad accident
while soaking arubInvrnept n ypnr he.