Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-07-30

Vanderventer sat communing with
himself. How the world had changed
to him in the last few hours-hOw BIT
terly hard it would be to go on with the
, old life tomorrow. The old life with
all the brightness taken away from it
for he was engaged to his cOusin-apd
in the clear light which had come to
him at last, he saw that he loved Mig
nonne-little Mignonne-and her alone.
"Merci I" it was Frederica's voice,
and Frederica's eyeglasses were direct
ed toward him, ''how dull you are,
Philip. Captain Merton is crucifying
himself to entertain us, and you are
not assisting him In the least. Has
anything gone wrong, sir ?" There was
keen, but not unkindly look in the
blue eyes behind the glasses, a look
which deepened as he reused himself to
answer, with Jest, and then she turned
away.
81 shall call upon you again, very
soon, Miss Chandran," she said, very
graciously, as they rose TO go. You
were not in when | came beforehand
you must come and see me-you and
Philip and then Philip, busy with his
aunt's draperies, was astonished to see
his stately cousin bend and kiss Mig
nonne warmly. Some way he admired
her more at that moment than he had
ever done before in his life, and then
she gave him her hand. not languidly,
as usual, but with cordial pressure of
friendliness.
1t was decidedly odd-the more so
that she turned, at the last moment,
and said, in her old, imperious way,
''Come and see me tomorrow, at five
i think you will have something TO
tell me. Goodnight ~ and she was
gone.
What a delightful walk that was
with Mignonne. She was SO happy, 50
entirely pleased with her whole evening,
so full of anticipations of "what Jack
would say" when he knew about it !;
it was simply charming to hear her
talk, but suddenly, as they drew near
her door, she paused moment.
II had almost forgotten" she said,
''your cousin asked me to give this to
you; 1T is surprise, she said, and she
thought it would he a pleasant one,"
and she gave him folded slipof paper.
They were near a street lamp, and he
unfolded the little missive hastily, his
fingers trembling as he held it A; it was
note in Frederica's delicate, unsteady
hand.
~ have read your story in your face
tonight" it said. ''and take the respon-
sibllity of breaking an engagement
which ought never to have been made.
We shall be better friends than lovers.
Your MignOnne is a darling, and | am
sure you will be happy; and land /
am sentimental enough to be glad of
it," and that was all.
For one moment, Philip stood look
ing at the little slip of paper which had
brought such a change to his life oddly
enough he liked his cousin Frederica
more at that moment than he had ever
done beforehand then he turned to
MignOnne.
'Read it, he said, and he watched
the bright color rise over the fair face
as she did so.
''Mignonne, he said, at last, "Mig-
nonne," and then the lovely, blushing
face looked up at him, the heavy eve
lashes glittering with sudden, happy
tears, and there In the little, narrow,
deserted street, Philip Vanderventer
bent and kissed her, not once, but many
times.
"Mignonne, my little Mignonne, my
very own always" he whispered, and
sine did not draw away from him, or
answer no"