Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-12-25

possible. naQ almost as SOON you
danced in the ballet.n
30, dear, mamma do be reasona-
BILE" cried poor little Mignonne, in
dismay. Don't you see it is per-
fectly respectable "a young girl of
refinement, and fifty dollars what
would it not do when there are so
many things We need, drugs and a
new flannel wrapper for you, and |
could have my old seals revived, for,
poor things, they are not provided by
nature with that valuable renewing
force you wot of. O, mamma, don't
be prejudiced. Don't you see | am
philosopher, not quite like Nine.
Roland, who at six declared poverty
was bon pour lie digestion, and whip
ping, bon pour lie circulation, but | do
believe tcork is, and l know God
helps those who help themselves.
but, Mignonne, there are other
things to do"
Nothing that presents itself noao,
mamma, but this, and l believe |
could fill the requirements. Wait,
not word now; let me bring Mrs.
Neroyn over, and you consult with
her about the propriety of the mat
ter"
Mignonne was half way across the
hall before her mother had time to
answer. She knocked lightly against
the door opposite. Come in, call
ed voice, and the girl opened the
door and stepped across the thresh-
old. A white-haired lady sat near a
window reading, and on divan be-
meath a second window lay a man in
a dressing gown with blue velvet
smoking cap fitting his head so close
ly that not vestige of his hair was
discoverable beneath it; the hand
lying on his breast clasped long
stemmed pipe, the fingers of the other
scraped the carpet; his low, meas
ured breathing filled the room. Mig
nome, at a warning sign from her
friend, stepped across the carpet to
where she sat-
"Who is it ?" she whispered.
"Duff-my nephew" was the
whispered reply.
"Sick ?"
SO no, asleep"
Mignonne. made a mouth express
sive of supreme contempt.
"Lazy thing! Mrs. Meroyn, can
you come over to mamma for a mo-
ment, please ? she wants to see you
about something"
Mrs. Meroyn glanced toward the
divan hesitatingly.
80, he's safe to sleep till you re-
turn, and if he should wake, why, it
is broad daylight, you know !" with
a wicked little laugh, unguardedly
silvery and clear.
The old lady gave her a playful
blow:
"He makes a convenience of my
rooms, l tell him, but all the same |
find him right useful at times, nota-
bly,, when the thermometer is at
zero and there are dozen things |
need from down town. Come along,
Mignonne, I'll trust to his sleeping
until l get back"
MignOnne followed to the door and
with her hand on the knob gave a
hasty glance back to where that
sleeping figure lay, with it's strong
white hand hanging listlessly on the
carpet. What was her amazement
to find those heavily-lidded eyes wide
open ana regarding her with mirth-
full audacity. Blue as gentianellas
they were. and long dashed as a girls.
"Adieu, little onel" he cried in
French, as she stood for a instant
like one transfixed. SIT is possible
to turn tables, don't you know? l
shall catch you at disadvantage
some day, perhaps, who knows ?"
Slam went the door in his face.
He laughed, stretched his long limbs,
clasped his hands above his velvet
skull.cap and yawned, then sank
back into somnolence again, until
aroused by the opening of the door
and Mrs. Meroyn's return.
"Well, auntie, let have your COM
MISSIONS" he cried, jumping up with
remarkable alacrity for Clay" man
and DOMINIC walking and overcoat,
thus transforming himself from a
sleepy-eyed college soph into a dig
nified man of business, with only a
pair of sentimental blue-irised eyes
to distinguish him from any other
respectable "bull" or "bear" on
change.
''Sit down a little, Duff, please. l
am so glad you are manager of that
pantomime at - hall. Mignonne
Haviland, my sick friends little
daughter, means to apply for the
leading part. l want you to see that
she gets it. They are very poor, and
the salary will be something worth
while to them. Will you manage it,
Duff ?"
POSSIBLY; but you say little daugh-
ter, how old is she ?"
so, she is such tiny spright, but
fully grown, that will be no objec-
ton"
"Paradoxical," laughed Duff sit
is hard to get at what you do mean,
auntie has she dramatic talent 20
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