Fluffy.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVII, Issue 20, 17 November 1906, Page 40

Fluffy.

(A complete short story by Hope Ward). It was a pouring wet evening, and everyone was making a rush for the cabs and omnibuses outside the station. “ I guess 1 might as well go home, for all the coppers I shall earn to-night,” said Tim, looking dejectedly at the rain splashing down into the puddles. Tim was a shoeblack, and had his “ stand ” in a corner outside one of London’s big railway stations. Trade had been very bad that day, and Tim had only earned a few coppers since the morning, for ]>cople didn’t want their boots cleaned to go splashing through the rain. “ Fourpcnce. fivepence,” muttered Tim, as he carefully counted out his earnings; “and threepence of that’s got to go towards the rent. Well, I don’t care. I'll have a bust for once, and buy meself twopenn’orth o’ fish and chips for per! ” “ Place looks kind o’ lonesome to-night somehow! ” he said to himself, as he reached the dingy street where he lived. Just as he was going up the dark, narrow stone stairway that led to his garret, Tim heard a plaintiff littla “ Miow, miow! ” and a soft, furry- little form came and rubbed itself against his legs. Tim stooped and picked it up, and as soon as he reached his garret struck a light; when he found, to his utter astonishment-, that he held in his arms a soft, furry little black Persian kitten. “Oh, you little beauty! ” cried Tim, in delight, gently stroking its head. “ Miow, miow! ” came the plaintiff cry again. “ Arer you hungry, dear?” said Tim anxiously. “ Well, I’ve got nothing for you; but there, lie on that old coat in the corner, and I’ll go out and fetch you some milk! ” He was back again in a minute; and then, oh, the joy with which the little stranger pounced upon the milk and lapped it up! “ Poor little thing, you must have been hungry! ’’ said Tim. taking her up in iiis arms and gently stroking the soft little head. “Purr, purr, purr!” went the kitten contentedly, curling herself into a ball and then going off to sleep. "Well, this is a rummy go!” ejaculated Tim. as he looked down at the sleeping pussy in his arms. “ She doesn’t belong to these parts, but—but f guess I’ll keep her for now. anyway!” And he hugged the nestling, purring little creature to him in delight.

Tim didn’t get his fish and chips for supper that night—funds wouldn’t run to it after he had bought milk for the kitten; but he ate his bread and cheese without a single thought for anything but the small, dinging creature who had come to cheer his loneliness in the garrett.

Presently the little ball of fluff uncurled itself, stretched out its velvetypaws. and then jumped out of his arms and made for the saucer of milk, eagerly lapping up every drop. "I shall call you Fluffy.” said Tim that night, when the kitten lay cuddled up beside him on the straw covered over with an old blanket that Hid duty for a bed. Next morning an old potato-basket, done up very securely with string, accompanied Tim to his work, and was tucked away behind the stand out of sight of prying eyes, before the lid was opened—disclosing Mistress Huffy, curled up in a comfy bed of straw, as happy as a queen. There she stayed, quite content, the whole day. purring loudly whenever Tun had time to put out his hand and stroke her head. At night she went home in the pocket of his coat, and shared his supper. Then followed a delightful game with bits of string and old cottonreels. which mightily pleased Miss Fluffy. Trade got 'better, so there was great hilarity in the garret Tim and the kitten even rising to the height of bloaters for supper twice in one week. Then a terrible thing happened.

Tim arrived at his stand one day to find that a boy with a very new red coat, and a very new box covered with ever so many shiny brass nails.and brand new brushes and blacking, had set up an opposition stand just a few yards away. That night Tim went home with threepence —nearly all his old customers had forsaken aim for the rival shoeblack. Tim whistled dismally. “Well lie broke if this goes on, Fluffy,” he said.

Fluffy mio wed as though in sympathy, and rubbed her head against his shoulder; but she had her inuk all the same, though Jim li'ad nothing but some stalo bread. Next day matters were even worse, for only two customers stopped at their old shoeblack’s stand, and by six o'clock, when lie usually went home. Tim had earned exactly twopence. “Fluffy,” he said, ‘’it’ll be the workua for you and me!” But there was a catch in his voice as he looked at hT< little playmate and wondered however he should manage to get on without her. “Hurry up, please, my boy!” called out a voice; and Tim wheeled round, to see a gentleman with his foot on the stand. “Boots cleaned, sir? Right, sir!" And Tim set to work with a will. Thinking it must be time to go home, naughty Miss Fluffy must needs creep out from her hiding-place to see what was going on. “Hallo!” cried the gentleman in astonishment. “Whatcver’s that ? Surely not a kitten here!” “Yes, sir; she’s mine!” said Tint proudly. “Here! Pussy, pussy!” called the gentleman; and Miss Fluffy promptly trotted up to him with her most engaging air. “Yours, did you say?” he exclaimed, in a strange excited voice, as he picked her up. “How long have you bad her?” “Going on for two months, sir,’’ said Tim. “I found her half-starved in a back street, and —and well. I've kept her ever since.” And then what do you think happened? The gentleman grasped Tim’s hand and said: “Bless you my boy—bless you! You’ve done more to save a little girl’s life than all the doctors in London! For the kitten belonged to my little invalid daughter, who simply worshipped it; and when it stayed two months ago she made herself perfectly ill grieving tor its loss, although we advertised and hunted everywhere, but now ’’ “You want the kitten back?” said Tim, in a husky voice. “Then take her quick, afore I ” “No. no!” interrupted the gentleman. “You shall come baes with me, and we ll see what’s to be done!” And before Tim quite realised what was happening, he was seated in a cab beside him.

Weil, of course, Tim gave Fluffy back to her rightful owner: but when the little girl, overcome with joy at her darling's return, flung her arms round his neck and kissed him again and again, the boy felt more than recompensed. And now he is little Lady Miklre,. s most devoted slave; for he was engaged then and there as stable-boy. and when he takes Fluffy- and her little mistress out in the bath-chair for their daily he is the proudest boy in London. (The End.)