Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-02-06
MANDY:
HER LIFE a.ND L0EE.
[BY MARY HARTwELL.]


By MARY HARTWELL.
When Mandy sprung into existence, and
how she for several years maintained that
existence, historian sayeth not. Who was
her father ? Who was her mother ? Hae
she asister Had she a brother p are also
unsolved problems.
She made the discovery of herself while
playing with the baby ofsome woman who
had gone out washing. Her senses received
with the Me such facts as that the sun
shone earth and growing grass smelled
sweet the baby's cheeks were round and
soft, and his breath balmy. She was glad
with the joy of lamb, and frolicked awk'
wardly; bringing the baby pebbles, rolling
over in soft places, and shouting down the
narrow street. Having thus found her
self, she continued hand in hand with that
self various years along this world, pass
ing not from glory to glory, but from stra-
tum to stratum of dirt: now under one
woman's hand, now under another's, I'M
til, pausing at that line which divides
childhood from maidenhood, her wary skull
had active exercise in lodging the strength
of Mrs. Jinks.
Mrs. links was a person of few teeth,
but much tongue whose forehead was a
fine specimen Of deep blowing; whose ell
bows were ever bare, and grated ; the
motto of whose calico dress-skirt was ever
coward and upward )" she supported
several small children and one large hus-
band by boarding railroad hands, and
Mandy was her assistant.
Spring now p bawled Mrs. Jinks, as
she dished the breakfast hash. I hear the
men comm in, and that milkman hain't
got round yit Fill up the coffee-pot, and
take that pitcher and run across the alley
and borry some milk of them folks. Tell
'em we'll pay 'em soon's the milk-man
comes
MANDY took the pitcher and ran across
the alley to them folks The house of
them folks fronted on an avenue, and
from the highest point in the yard you
could catch the blue eyes of the lake. 1t
was built of that gray brick which makes
Milwaukee houses so famously pretty, and
had balconies, dormer windows, and pre-
ty pillared porches. From it, as Mandy
approached, was bursting such music as
reminded her Of all she knew about hea-
ven.
Mrs. links was not at all on intimate
terms with them folks Mandy stood
abashed before the tidy maid to proffer her
request.
While the damsel went somewhat ungra-
ciously to fill her milk-jug, she followed
the music, oheying the law of her nature,
Just as Theseus obeyed the law of his ven
turing down the labyrinth. Doors stood
invitingly open. She slipped across a
carpet, along matted passage, through a
drawing room, furnished in style so luxuri-
GUS that it took her breath, and stood be-
fore an opening no wider than her hand,
left between folding doors. Through this
crack she saw young lady at a piano.
Such a lady as Mandy had not even dream
ed of before To be sure, only lovely black
hair, and shoulders, and sweeping dress,
and flying hands were visible. But a mere
square inch Of this young lady would have
convinced you she was of superior quality.
ooh, how ken she do that y thought
Mandy; knows just when to hit every
time 1 want to do it Oh my ! clench-
ing both hands over the calico where her
buried heart was jumping and utterlng It's
pulses. ooh, want to want top
Still the young lady's hands flew, and
Mandy hung at the crack.
With crash of heavy chords, Aurora
turned on her music-stool, calling in soft,
pettish tones:
Haven't you rung for breakfast yet,
NOrah p when she encountered an erie
slice of human being staring at her be-
tween the doors.
Did you want me ~ asked Miss Aurora,
dimpling at the girls curiosity.
4 heard you,' replied Mandy 4 could
MT help comin'.'
Push the door back and come through,
invited Miss Aurora. DO you like music?'
MANDY slid through the opening like an
anatomy and walked up to touch.the piano.
Il love it p she said, with the full-throated
voice of one who speaks her heart. No
body ever showed me, but think could
learn it easy
She looked over the lovely woman beside
her, then down her own sorry little length:
at those silken white hands-her own.
yearning, dark fingers her mouth tried to
purse itself steadily. but quivered. She
had been bold in following where her ma
ture beckoned, but she now shrunk up
abashed before her superior in culture
hot tears drowned her eyes.
There was something sweet and winning
in MANDY. She had no beauty. Her eyes
were ordinary the forehead over them
smooth and broad but her cheeks were
tawny and sunken her nose tilted ana
her sensitive, softly-rounded chin, hardly
a sufficient offset to the pale little mouth
Yet was she sweet and powerful with some
suppressed strength, like brownie under
a wicked spell, so that she fascinated MISS
Aurora.
what is your name p inquired the
young lady.
MANDY (Chin shaking, and drops
falling like quick Autumn shower. ohe
turned away and swept her face with
quick flirt of her dress-skirt. Then she
turned back staunchly and added, to prove
her composure), Live with Mrs. Jlnks
across there
will not Mrs. Jinks let you come IL
some time {? I'll show you something about
&c .I,a will