Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-11-06

t.And%er-ne wIeaily is an aaefM duff
fah" remarked bliss Miglon, in so exact
and so unconscious an imitation OF Lacy's
drawl that her hearers went off into fits of
laughter, and Miss Grace, cla5ping her close
to her breast, bent and kissed the luxuriant
golden curls.
You're crying" said Miss Mignon
promptly, scanning Miss Graces face with
her big eyes.
mo; but you made me laugh" she said
hastily.
''oome people do cry when they laugh,n
Miss Mignon informed her ''Our colonel
does. Now, Maj. Garnet always chokes,
and then Boobies thumps him. dent know
what he'll do" she added in a tone of deep
concern, eff he chol1es while we are away"
Il never saw such an original little piece
of mischief in my life," cried Mrs. Smith
''And how charmingly dressed-is she not,
madame? So sensible of you to cover her
up with that warm serge up to her throat
and down to her wrists. Who put you up
to it,"
II fancy we evolved the idea among us.
You see, she runs in and cut of my rooms,
her own, and Mrs. GTay's, tae adjutant's
wife, that is" Boobies answered. And
barrack corridor; are no. exactly hot
houses. Besides, our doctor keeps his eye
on her, and he blames the wraDping-up for
her never having day; Illness
II believe in it," asserted Mrs. Smith.
"And I-ohi our married ladies tell me
am quite an authority on the subject. can
tell you we get fearfully chaffed about her,
Lacy and ~
"WhyY Miss Grace asked
"Well, because she goes about with us
good deal, and people seem to find the situa-
tion 6iffiol1It fo Ea tool IL fo,.
granted that she knew all about Miss Mig
non, and she did not press the question fur
ther. But half an hour LATER when Mrs.
Smith was thinking of dressing, Miss Grace
tapped at her door and entered.
"Could you lend me few black pins?" she
asked Madame and have both forgotten
them"
Certainly, my dear-talze the box"
But Miss Grace only took a few in the
pink palm of her hand.
''What pretty child that isl she said
carelessly. ''Did the mother die when it
was born%
'oh, my dearm cried Mrs. Smith, ''she is
not Capt. FerTers' child No relation
whatever"
s'No? Whose thens'
''Ah! That is a question" Then she
briefly told Miss Mignon's history, ending:
But he will never part with her now. He
is so fond of her. and she adores him.
''He is fine fellow said Miss Grace,
toying with the pins in her hand
s'A fine fellow! He is splendid char
acter,n Mrs Smith cried warmly. II as
sure you have studied that man-and I
have known him for years-and [ cannot
find fault in him. Years ago, when we
were in great trouble, my mother and I, at
the time my sister died, oh, he was so good
so-well," with quick sigh, 81 cannot ex-
plain it all, but he was such a comfort to
us, and she died, poor darling, under very
painful circumstan ces, especially for me-
Oh, there are very few in the world like
him-not one in ten thousand. Take his
action as regarded that dear little child, for
instance. His brother officers wanted him
to send her to the workhouse but, as he
wrote to me, Some day l may meet the
mother and how should I face herg"
''Ah" murmured Miss Grace and Mrs.
Smith went on.
''It was no small undertaking for a man
in his position, for he has not left her to the
entire care of servants-she is continually
with him and Mr.. Lacy, who is also very
fond of her. Do you know, he pays her
nurse fifty pounds a year. In fact she is
just as if she were really his own child But
it is just like him"
And they would have sent her to the
workhouse"
Zone or two of thena-not Mr. Lacy, of
course"
Miss Grace was silent for few moments
Then she reused herself as from brown
study,
''Well, I am OBTAINING you, Mrs. Smith,
and shall be late myself. Thank you very
much" Then she went away, passing
softly down the corridor, and entered her
room, locking the door behind her. But
once in that safe shelter, she flung the pins
on the table and dropped upon her knees,
burying her face in her hands, while the
scalding tears forced their way between her
fingers, and the great sobs shook her frame
Some day he might meet the mother,'';
she sobbed, g and how should he face herg
Oh, my child, my little child, how shall I
face him? How shall bear it? How shall
live in the same house with him without
falling on my knees and blessing him for
saving my little child from-God knows
whatl'
h. I