Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-06-24

| clalmeQ KISS (ROOu gracious now ner
cheeks flushed at the remembrance y
for payment when he rode away again.
How happy, how very happy, she had
been then, with that dear father and
dear old Aunt Nanny $50 happy that
she had scarcely ever felt the loss of the
mother who had died in giving her
birth. But when Molly was fifteen, the
blacksmith, so strong and ruddy that it
seemed impossible pain or sickness
could ever come near him, fell sick, and
after lingering, sorely crippled, for
nearly two years, died, leaving nothing
to his darling but hard work. Yet,
there was one alternative to become
Mrs. Jake Willow, and mistress of the
forge again; but Jake was a rough, vul-
gar fellow, and Molly, inheriting the
delicate tastes and gentle ways of her
mother (who had been shy, pretty
young governess before she married the
handsome blacksmith), shrank from the
loud voice and rude laughter of her
would-be husband. And so, in prefer
ence to accepting Jake's offer, she be-
came and Heaven knows this was a
hard enough thing to donald of all
work in the cottage of the Misses Cam
eron. Poor little Molly prettier than
many a princess, with lovely, black
fringed gray eyes, and halr of the very
darkest brown-hair that would curl in
spite of her, to Miss Cameron's great
displeasure. "If I had such untidy
hair, that lady would often declare,
glancing approvingly into the mirror
at the fiat dyed bands that made tri-
angle of her high narrow forehead,
"Id shave my head ;" and owed GER
tainly shave our heads" would echo
Miss Georgette.
The kitchen floor finished, the rugs
shaken and returned to their places, the
bread put away in the big stone jar in
the cupboard. Molly sought her own
room (Which, truth to tell, was no room
at all, but a corner of the garret rudely
partitioned off, with only small sky
light to admit light and air-there were
rooms, empty, unused rooms, in the
attic, but "they were much too good
for a servant, Miss Cameron said and
"very much too good for servant, !"
agreed her sister)-to make ready for
her fitting. Molly looked around it as
she tied her straw hat over her rebel
lious tresses, and again the tears filled
her eyes. 1t had not been a happy
place of rest to her, but it had been a
place of rest, and shelter, and she had
been glad to have it, fearing to leave it
lest worse luck lay beyond.
And she would not have been COM
PEELED to leave it had it nos been for
that unfortunate mirror, and the uu-
ceasing complaints of the old bachelor.
Old bachelor Why, he conldn't be so
very old, after all, for he was only one
and twenty (she was then between five
and six) when he gave her the ribbons
and books and silver pieces, and she
gave him the kisses.
But the sound of closing shutters
broke in on her reverie, and reminded
her that her departure was waited for,
and taking her bundle in her hand, she
ran quickly and lightly down the stairs
to the parlor, where the maiden ladies
sat erect and stern, their bOnnets al
ready on in readiness for the lecture.
"I'm going now," said Molly, stand
ing in the doorway, her sweet, pathetic
face, with its pleading gray eyes and
quivering lips, in no way touching what
her mistresses were pleased to call their
hearts. "Good-by, ma'am. Good-by,
Miss Georgette.
But the only reply she got was: "Bear
in mind that you are still indebted to
us eight and twenty dollars. If, how
ever, you should prefer to purchase a
mirror yourself in place of the one
broken by you, we will consent to re-
ceive it, provided it is in every way as
good as that left us by our grandmother.
And in that case we will agree to refund
the eight dollars, your last months
wages, which we have retained as the
first installment of your debt which is
really much more than could have been
expected of us.
"Oh yes, indeed, very much more
than could have been expected of us, 4"
murmured Miss Georgette.
For such gross carelessness-"M Miss
Cameron went on.
Indeed, ma'am, interrupted Molly.
her cheeks flaming and her eyes spark
ling, "as / have told you, I never
touched it: [ wasn't even near it. l
was sweeping the other side of the par
lor when it fell, and the cord it hung
by was all moth-eaten, and had parted
just in the middle, as 1 showed you at
the time"
"-Should be punished" continued
Miss Cameron, not paying the slightest
attention to the girl. "And one word
more. Please to remember that we
have your signature to an acknowledge
ment that you consider yourself re-
sponsible for the breakage."
"You frightened me so that scarce
" knew what was signing" said
Molly. But as 1 have promised, l
will pay You, for it shall never be said
that my fathers daughter broke her
word. I'd give you the few dollars
have saved, if had not to keep them
for my own support until get another
place. Poor Aunt Nanny can only give
me shelter, for, as you know, she has
depended almost entirely on me for
food and clothes ever since my father
died."
"Yes, and a very ridiculous thing for
both of You" snapped Miss Cameron,
with cold snap. "She might letter
sell the hut she lives in for kindling-
wood, and go to the poor house, and
you might much better save your wages
to pay for the things you break. For
break you will to the end of your days.
| never saw person with such fiy-away
hair as yours that was not vain, careless,
and frivolous. You may 60"
Yes, indeed, you may CO." added
Miss Georgette