The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-02-10
Mary AIMS
Valentine ~
BY May C.. Ringwalt.

3 LnTlillnS ! II OF COMICS
"Ges Whit" excitedly murmuret
Bob, thrusting his hands into his trou
sers' pockets. Then his eyes lifted
to higher things and his heart-stringS
frightened with positive awe. In the
center of the window, suspended by
q gilt cord, swung a creation Of pink
~celluloid, paper lace, blue forget-me
nots and green sparrows. If only he
could buy it for Mary Ann! His
breath came and went in little gasps
On a scroll miraculously issuing from
the mouth Of one Of the green spar
rows were two lines of gilt lettering:
sure as the vine grows round the stump,
You are my own dear sugar lump"
He gave an e~cstatic whistle. Even
the hard heart of Mary Ann-who
%scornfuly .winked the tip of her nose
at his most adoring glances-could
not possibly Withstand poetry like
that! He entered the shop.
He came out with a crestfallen air
and dropping spirits. The pink Gel
luloid valentine was so cents, and poor
Bob had only a nickel! He glared in
at the window and then turned an
grily away, walking slowly up the
street, his dirty little forehead puck
cred in thought.
Had he only remembered in time
that this was Valentine day he might
have saved up enough pennies for
even SO dazzling ar extravaganza as
the celluloid dream Of beauty. But
how could he instantaneously earn so
vast a sum? The holidays with their
snapshot opportunities to run errands
were passed, and now instead of there
being a lucky blizzard with a jolly
lot of sidewalks to sweep this four
teenth Of February, the air was as
balmy as May-as if spring had sent
a breath of her flowers to old winter
for a valentine.
Bob glanced at a clock. It was too
early to go for his evening papers.
He turned up the alley leading to the
"Grotto." For the first time in the
last proud three months he was al
most sorry that the gang had taken
him in. OF course, after sleeping on
shed roofs and %burrowing under
wharfs, a fellow lived like a swell in
q fine cellar, but when he had paid
Freckles-the gangs ten-year-old bust
ness manager-for his bunk, and con-
tributed his share of the daily grub,
his regular income" was always ex-
hausted. If only there could be some
sensation in that afternoons edition,
Mary Ann might still-Bob's thoughts
were abruptly interrupted by a cats
plaintive cry.
Hello there," exclaimed Bob.
where in the world did you come
FROM" He stopped and stealthily
stroked the rough fur of a forlorn
kitten who had appeared as mysteri-
ously as though a trapdoor had sud-
denly opened in the ground for her
special accommodation. You are a
beaut!" laughed Bob. Just ought to
see your ribs! Looks as if you'd been
living on washboards all winter.
What are you following me for? Take
me for the avenue swell whose father
keeps a dairy?"
Meow! Meow!" The half-starved
timidly rubbed against Bob's
foot, her frightened eyes looking up
into the boys face.
Il amt got anything for you
In terror, the cat scampered behind
an ash barrel-the tip of an ear, one
big yellow eye, a cobwebby whiskor
alone visible. !
"Say, 1 didn't mean to scare you
way" apologized Bob. contritely
kneeling by the barrel. Come here,
Kitty. Kitty"
you see, Kit" explained Bob. gen.
thy %stroking the thin little head, II
like cats-honest. But it would be
" orth all nine of your lives to follow
me into the Grotto. It amt that the
haven't kind hearts. It's just
they can't understand that
got feelings inside like other
folks, you know. Besides, Theodore
would make mince pie of
vou in short orderl You're terrible
amt you?"
Meow! Meow!"
Sorry, old girl, but 1 amt a mil
ionaire that can afford to dine stray
alley cats at restaurants. Clean bust
I'd, except" Bob's face flushed a
red. He had remembered the
lickel in his pocket.
He scrambled up, and scowled down
It the kitten. There's no use of you
ooking at me! A fellow can 20 what
le pleases with his own money, and
7ou needn't suppose for one instant
going to give up Mary AIMS val
'ntine to feed an old alley cat!"
Emphatically jerking his head, Bob
urned his back upon the two plead
rg, hungry eyes riveted upon him,
md took to his heels. But a glance
'ver his shoulder was his undoing,
or the cat, trying to run after him,
oppled over from weakness, giving a
.ry that cut deep into Bob's tender
leart.
The brave little pussy was soon on
Ter feet again, the plaintive meow"
With a note of triumph when she found