The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-30
MILLY'S FATE.

| Will find some honest gander for mate"
| And swinging her feet doletully from
her perch in the big apple tree, Milly
made a wry face, and then continued her
soliloquy:
81, Millioeut Middleton, aged nine
teen, big enough, old cough.
and ugly enough" - and there
the witch laughed; she knew
she was not ugy-"to fall in love, and
dearl nobody to tall in love with! Now,
| l shall imagine this tree my lover. Oh,
you de-"
But, alasl as she turned to embrace
| the monstr0us limb, as she supposed
was the general way, she slipped, ana III
| a moment more was on her way TO the
| ground, ste be killed." flashed through
| her mind, and then-blank.
| consciousness returned slowly, and
| sly Milly peeped out under her lashes to
see who WAS holding her SO softly and
gently.
"OnW and snap went the lids together
again, and Milly's pretty cheeks became
| a decided scarlet.
.Never mind, DEAR" said soothing
though decidedly manly voice.
Now, that was too much. Milly sat
straight up then, but, with groan, sank
back. "fhat horrld ankle, how it did
hurtW
| Walk she could not, 80 as soon as she
gained courage 10 speak, she opened her
eyes and sald:
| "On, sir, am so sorry to trouble you.
| DID fall aud Kill myselfW
| Then, noticing smile on the strang-
er's lips, for Il stranger 1t WAS, though
alas for romance, decidedly homely
one, she added:
"On, please do not laugh at me! /
| live in that white house AT the top OF the
| nil. Woptyou 20 ior some one to take
me homer
u beg your pardon, Miss, do not
like 70 leave you alone. Ii you will al
low me, will take you home myself"
| And, suitlng tue action to the words,
ihe lifted her lightly in his arms and
started for the house, and almost before
| Milly had time to speak again, he had
reached it, and walking in at the open
door, laid her on the sofa In the hall,
| touched his hat, ami was gone.
| Then MiIly aughed-laughed until she
| erie d-notWlthsta landing the terrible pain
| in her ankle, until the stern face of her
aunt appeared over, demanding an ex-
vlanatiom. She then sat up to give it,
and with groan pointed to her foot.
II fell and hurt myself, and that man
my ankleW
Then stern Aunt Barbara softened
| little, and bent to explore.
| The poor little foot as badly swollen,
and cutting off the dainty shoe and toss
inx it from her-lor Aunt Barbara dis
liked anything dainty, and scolded Mil
| iy tor being so-she proceeded to dress
| it according to rule; then, alter prop
ping Mllly up in the cool, comfortable
sitLIng-room, she again demanded:
| "MIllicent, all eXplanationW
| Again Milly laughed, but seeing the
| thunder gathering, and knowing what
the clap would be, she meekly straight
| eued hGr lace and said:
Il was in the apple tree, Aunt Barb,
and tell OUT, and l guess L tainted, and
when l found my senses that man had
picked me up, tnat is ALL" (with a men-
| Lal reservation in regard to The 'Never
mind, dear,") and then she laughed
again.
"Ihere swims no goose, &c." flashed
into her mind. She rsked the clap and
| roared. Aunt Barbara left The room in
disgust. Then Milly again solilo-
qpzed:
"Iali, light hair (ugh! hate light
haired manD big llgnt beard, nose large,
face, sunburnt, hands nonstrous, eyes
I-oh dearl what kind Of eyes did he
have? l was afraid to LOOK. But he
was ugly, awfullY ugly; SO l am safe,
for my gander must and shall be hand
some, But, then, l want to see him
again." and MIlly oraned her neck to
| ook out the WINDOW; but as ''that man"
was net to be seen, she fell back and
went to sleep Tor diversion.
Now l shall tell you all about her.
Mily was pretty, very pretty; not a
beautiful, stately creature, but pretty
little witch, with curly brown hair,
laughing brown eyes, pink cheeks and
rosy lips, an Undecided nose, a dainty
toot and dimpled hand merry nature,
a foolish little heart that was goodness
itself, and wllful, winning way. And
Mllly was an orphan. Her parents hav-
ing died, she was lett an Independent
little sprig to be grated into the hard
hearts of her cross uncle and strong
minded aunt; but 80 thoroughly was she
grated, SO thriylngly did she grow, that
IN her corner Of the he arts the ice melted
and sunshine came in. The cross uncle
would smile and the stern aunps frUwn
iaue when she was near. she did as she
pleased, ana pleased all; a rOmantic H.
lie piece; whose piece OF romance was to
| cUme.
| Milly woke up, and after tea vas
moved out on the wide, breezy YerahdaA,
and while sitting idly turning The leaves
of book and wondering why she sORld
not have handsome hero like .he
beauty therein, she was startled by tbe
latch OF the gate, and, looking up, be-.
held ''that man" walking ooelly toward
| her.
| Milly smiled and murmured Goa
dearw to herself, then stretched out her
dimpled hand, and had just said, GOOD
evening, please let me thank YOU" whsa
she beheld Aunt Barbara's stern face in
the door, and Mily was frightened.
No need; he walked over to aunt Bar
| bara and said:
pardon me, madam, called to in
quire for your"
"My NIECE" said Aunt Barbara.
"WhOm l found in the orchard this
morning. l trust she is not seriously
nurt," and after presenting his card,
with polite "Allow me-" tO Aunt Bar
bara, he turned to Milly.
Aunt Barbara's face softened visibly
after reading the name, and turning i'm
mediately TO MllIy, she SAID:
"MI IlIcent, this is DR.. Vanbourg, from
New YORK; thank him for his trouble and
kindness"
Gas ii were an infant" thought Mil.
lily, and was silent.
Then Aunt Barbara, finding Mllly dis
posed to be grum, settled herself to talk
TO the gentleman, and Milly watched.
cont IA All hi "A hah