New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-25

, mature abatement of his mental an
physical faculties. Whether he is reall
the Niggles-" .4..ttFl
Here he was interrupted by "Miggles
Miggles Migglesyl Migr and, in fact, til
whole chorus of Miggles i'm very much til
same key as it had once before been deli,
cred alntO us.
We gazed at each ether for a moment i
some alarm. The judge, in particular, Vi
Gated his position quickly, as the voic
seemed to come directly over his shoulder
The cause, however, was soon, discovered i
a large maggie, who was perched upon
shelf over the fireplace, and who immediate
iy reiapsed into sepulchral silence, whcl
contrasted singularly with his previous VIC
lubility. 1t was, undoubtedly. his vote
which we heard in the road, and our frien,
in the chair was not responsible for the dis
courtesy, Huba Bill, who re-enteTed tn,
room, after an unsuccessful search, wa
loath to accept the explanation, and still
eyed the helpless sitter with suspicion. HI
had found a shed in which he had put III
his horses, but he came dripping and skep
teal Thar amt nobody but him within
ten miles of the shanty, and that ar ID
old skeesieks knows it, f
But the faith of the majority proved to be
! securely based. Bill had scarcely ceased
growing before we heard quick step upon
the porch, the trailing OF wet skirt, the
door was flung open, and with flash of
white teeth, sparkle of dark eyes. and an
utter absence OF ceremony or ditfidenoe, a
young woman entered, shut the door, and,
painting, leaned back against it.
20, if you please, I'm Miggles!"
And this was Miggles! this frightened.
full-throated young woman, whose wet
gown of coarse blue stuff could not hide the
feminine beauty to which it chung; from the
chestnut crown of whose head, topped by a
mans oilskin SOU westeF, to the little feet
and ankles, hidden somewhere in the re-
cesses of her boys brogans, all was grace:
this was Miggles, laughing at us, too, in the
most airy, frank, off hand manner magma
BILE.
You see, boys" said she. quite out of
breath and holding one little hand against
her side, quite unheeding the speeches. dis
comfture OF our party or the complete de-
mOralization of Yuba Bill, whose features
had relaxed into an expression of gra-
tuitous and imbecile cheerfulness-''y Gu
see, boys, was more than two miles away
when you passed down the road. / thought
you might pull up here, and SO l ran the
whole way, knowing nobody was at home
but Jin-and-and-I am out of breath
and-that lets me out"
And here Miggles caught her dripping oil
skin hat from her head, with mischievous
Twill that scattered shower of rain drops
over us; attempted to put back her hair:
dropped two hair pins in the ATTEMPT:
laughed, and sat down beside Yuba Bill. |
with her hands crossed lightly in her lap.
The judge recovered himself first, and
essayed an extravagant compliment.
III trouble you for that thar harpn," |
said Miggles, grayely. Half dozen hands |
we're eagerly stretched forward; the missing
larpln was restored to it's fair owner, and |
Mlggles.s crossing, the. room, looked keenly
N the face of the invalid. The solemn ewes
ooked back at hers with an expression we
lad never seen before. Life and intelligence
eemed TO struggle back into the rugged
ace. Miggles laughed again-it was a sim
'ularly eloquent laugh-and she turned |
Ter black eyes and white teeth once more
oward us.
This afflicted person is'-hesitated the
Judge.
Jim" said Miggles.
your father p
Brother ~ ..,-'l r5 DO ...--
NO"
Husband ?''
Miggles darted quick, half defiant
lance at the two lady passengers, who |
ad noticed did not participate in the gen.
raj masculine admiration of Miggles, and
aid, gravely: mo; it's JIM"
There was an awkward pause. The lady
assengers moved closer to each other: the |
Fashoe husband looked abstractedly at the
re; and the tall man apparently turned
is eyes inward for self support at this
But Miggle's laugh, which was
cry infections, broke the silence. Come
re said briskly, you must be hungry.
'holl bear hand to help me get tearF II
She had volunteers. In few moments
uba Bill was engaged like Caliban in
caring logs for this Miranda; the express C
an was grinding coffee on the veranda: to
as assigned; and the Judge lent each man i
3 good humored and voluble counsel. And i
hen Miggles, assisted, by the judge and 4
II Hlbernlan deck passengers, set the d
Die with all the available crockery, we u
"a become quite joyous. in spite of the q
IN that beat against windows, the wind I;
at whlied down the chimney, the two u
dies who whispered together in the cor n
r, or the magpie who Uttered satirical 0
oak!ng commentary on their converse 4
N from his perch above. In the now a
light. blazing fire we could see that the
Ills we e papered with illustrated journals IL
ranged with feminine taste and discrimi-
ton. The furniture was extemporized. II
adapted from candle boxes and pack n
, cases, and covered with gay calico or X
skin of some animal The armchair of al
heipless Jim was an ingenious variation "
Hour barrel. Th.re was neatness and III
9n taste Tor the picturesque to be seen 81
the few details of the long, low room. W
The meal was culinarv success. Rut
re, 1t was social triumph, chiefly, IN
nix, owing to. the rare tact of Miggles in ye
ding the conversation, asking all the
sstions herself, yet bearing throughout 4 DE
nkness that rejected the idea of a1y CON ia
iment on her own part, so that we talked Al
ourselves, OF our prospects, of the jour nc
:, OF the weather, of each other, of every do
lg but our host and hostess. 1t must be
fessed that Miggles' conversation was
er elegant, rarely grammatical. and that "a
lines she employed explosives, the use of 90
oh had generally been yielded to our ne
But they were delivered with such a ch
ting up of teeth and eyes, and were tn
ally followed by laugh-a laugh pc mr.
ar to Miggles-so frank and honest that Sol
'emed TO clear the moral atmosphere en-
nee during the meal, we heard a noise gu
the rubbing of heavy body against an
outer walls of the house. This was
at the door. That's Joaquin" said pa
giles, in reply to our questioning chances; the
'uid you like to see him9" Before we ing
d answer she had opened the door, and 100
losed half grown grizzly, who instantly ng
ed himself on his launches, with his pas
paws hanging down in popular at s1i
te OF mendicancy, and looked admiring. wh
/ Miggles, with a very singular resa,se- bat
ce in his manner to Y1ba RilI .eTba4's len
watch dog" said Miggles, in explana- OF
=, 20, he don't bite" She added, as the bet
lady passengers huttered into q corner. say
es he, old Toppyl" 1.-THE latter remark wa
Z addressed to the sagacious Joaquin wo
sll you what, boys" continued Miggles, ing
she me had fed and closed the door upetl my
= MLnOr. "YOu were in hin Luck 81 | I