Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-04-20
in my way, and its kindness 10
Richard Owen to give her hint"

"hafrled' hlChard married! He
could not be all her own any more;
she should not dare to nestle up to his
side any more, when he came in weary
from his days work at the farm; she
should never venture again to tell him
the little trials and sunbeams of her
daily life; he would have something
else to think Of now!' And the tears
came with great gush, blotting out
the soft vapory brightness of the land
scape, and she bowed her head over
the gray kit ems ears with a sob which
she could not repress.
If only it had been any one in the
world but Sylvia Martini Mignonnette
had never been so lonely and wretched
in all her life before.
"Well, l never" said Squire Double
day. aye didn't walk clear across
them medders by yourself Mignon.
nette!
"Oh, am getting quite strong" said
MignOnnette. 81 don't use a crutch
at all now, Mr.. Doubleday. And l
wanted to see you early, to ask YOU
to ask you whether you thought HUI
dah could give me work in her shirt
factory"
"YOu work. cried the Squire, with
eyes that looked as if they were about
to prOpel themselves through the round
glasses of his spectacles. "Why, /
thought they couldn't do without you
down to Ovens"
81 am not so important as thatw
answered MignOnnette, with little
hysterical laugh. 81 really am going
awayp
liant quarrelled with 'em, nor
nothin'?'
"Oh, no! no! Only-I want to be
independent"
"Well,' the Squire made answer,
"lIuldy did write that she wanted half
dozen good hands; business is look
ing up since the fall in gold, and l
don't know why you wouldn't do as
well rs another"
"WOuld you please write out her
address?' asked MignOnnette.
And she went off home with it,
leaving the good farmer in much
amaze as to what had happened to
inspire little lame Mignounette with
so much ambition.
She did not see Richard Owen until
dusk that evening when he came in,
stalwart and handsome and erect as
ever.
"Why, Mignonnette, where have you
been hiding all dayp' he asked gayly,
but Mignonnette slipped out of his en-
circling arm.
as it true, Richardp'
"Is what true?'
"That-that you ale going to be
marriedw
"Who told you, Mignonnette?' he
asked, half.grave, halt-smiling.
as il true, Richard?'
"YeS, it is true. l thought you
would have been pleasedP
$50 am pleased, Richard. l hope
you will be happyl"
81 don't think there can be a doubt
about that" said Richard cheerily,
"because, Mignonnette-"
And then Sylvia Martins sweet,
high-pitched voice was heard, and
Aunt Joanna came in with the light,
and Mignonnette crept away to find a
lonely spot to cry in.
When Richard Owen entered the old
sitting-rOOm the next evening, he had
"A tiny box in his hand, a box lined
with white velvet, which held a pearl
ring.
"It's like her, exactly" Richard said
TO himself, locking tenderly at the white,
pure stone. diamonds wouldn't have
suited her; emeralds and rubies are
too glaring; she is a pearl among
women"
And when Aunt Joanna came in, at
the sound of her nephew's footsteps,
he looked brightly up.
"Where's Mignonnette?" he asked.
"Gone."
Richard Owen started. "Gone where? =?
For what?"
And then Aunt Joanna told the
little story of Mignonnette's trials, am
bitions and resolve.
"And you let her 60, auntyf"
What else could | do, Richardp /
had promised you that l would not
tell until"
"Yes, l know, but Call Simeon
to get up the wagon. l may reach the
depot before the train goes off yet; it
is always late on Saturday evenings.
Or, stay, I'll saddle old Bay myself.
To think of little Mignonnette starting
into the world all alone by herselfp
Gall alone by herself" The strange
sense of her loneliness came to Mignon-
nette with sickening dreariness, as
she sat on the broad bench outside the
railroad station house, trying to think
trying to collect her wandering ideas
and fancies. She had had some one
to lean on and cling to all her life;
now the support was rudely torn away.
And tear, shining softly in the
dusk, not unlike the limpid pearl which
was in Richards ring, escaped from her
dropping eyelid and rolled slowly down
her cheek.
The great world it looked so strange
and cold and far off, and Mignonnette
felt piteously that she was so small and
weak and solitary. ---
"Mignonnettep
A hand laid lightly on her shoulder,
a familiar voice in her ear, and Mignon-
nette started.
"Mignonnette!-little girl, were you
running away from mep'
He spoke with such reproachful
tenderness that Mignonnette had to
control herself with a strong effort, as
she spoke her answer.
81 have been burden upon you long
enough, Richard, and--and your wifi,
wouldn't like it if stay on any longer
"Who told you sop" asked Richard
with puzzled face. "Not the girl
am going to marry, I'll venturel"
eyes, said Mignonnette sadly, 81
was Sylvia Martin. Here comes th
train"
"Let it come, Mignonnette. You ar
not going on it. What made You thin
1 was going to marry Sylvia Martini