The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-26
MILLY'S FATE.

THERE swims no goose grey but soon or
late
Will find some honest gander for mate
And swinging her feet dolefully from
her perch in the big apple tree, Milly
made a wry face, and then continued
her soliloquy:
81, Millicent Middleton, aged nine
teen, big enough, old enough, and ugly
enough''-and there the witch laughed
she knew she was not ugly to fall in
love, and dying to do it for the sensa-
ton, and o, dear, nobody to fall in love
with! Now l shall imagine this tree
my lover. 0, you de-
But, alas! as she turned to embrace
the monstrous limb, as she supposed
was the general way, she slipped, and
in q moment more was on her way to
the ground, to be killed." flashed
through her mind, and then-blank.
Consciousness returned slowly, and
sly Milly peeped out from under her
lashes to see who was holding her so
softly and gently.
''Or' and snap wentthe lids together
again, and Milly's pretty cheeks be-
came n decided scarlet.
Never mind DEAR" said soothing
and decidedly manly voice.
Now that was too much. Milly sat
straight up then, but with q groan
sank back. THAT horrid ankle, how
it did hurtr'
Walk she could not, so as soon as
she gained courage to Speak, she
opened her eyes and said:
go, sir, | am so sorry to trouble YOU.
ND 7 foil aud LIN
Then, noticing smile on the stran-
gers lips, for stranger it was, though
alas! for romance, decided homely
one, she added;
go, please do not laugh at mel |
live in that white house at the top of
the hill. Won't you go for some one
to take me home?'
&c beg your pardon, miss, l do not
like to leave you alone. If you will
allow me, | will take you home my
SELF
And suiting the action to the words,
he lifted her lightly in his arms and
started for the house, and almost be-
fore Milly had time to speak again, he
had reached it, and walked in at the
open door, laid her on the sofa in the
hall, touched his hat and was gone.
Milly was pretty, very pretty; not
beautiful, stately creature, but pretty
little witch with curly brown hair,
laughing brown eyes, pink cheeks and
rosy lips, an undecided nose, dainty
foot and dimpled hand, a merry nature,
a foolish little heart that was goodness
itself, and willful, winning way. And
Milly was an orphan. Her parents
having died, she was left an independ-
ent little sprig to be grated into the
hard hearts of her cross uncle and
strong-minded aunt, but so thoroughly
was she grated, so thrivingly did she
grow, that in the corner of their hearts
the ice melted and sunshine came in.
The cross uncle would smile and the
stern aunt's frown fade when she was
near. She did as she pleased, and
pleased all; a romance was to come.
Milly woke up, and after tea was
moved out on the wide, breezy veranda,
and, while sitting idly turning the
leaves of book and wondering why
she could not have a handsome hero
like the beauty therein, she was startled
by the latch of the gate, and, looking
up, beheld "that man. walking coollv
toward her.
Milly smiled and murmured: 80
dearn' to herself, then stretched out her
dimpled hand, and had Just said:
Good evening; please let me thank
you" when she beheld Aunt Barbara's
stern face in the door, and Milly was
frightened.
No need; he walked over to Aunt
Barbara and said:
g Pardon me, madam, l called to in
quire for your"
My niece" said Aunt Barbara.
"Whom found in the orchard this
morning. | trust she is not seriously
hurt" and, after presenting his card,
with polite "Allow me-" to Aunt
Barbara, he turned to Milly.
Aunt Barbara's face softened visibly