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

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to the destinations of the 1dleminster girls
husband, and now died-some versions of
the story said committed suicide leaving
him the charge of baby, etc.
Some people told one version of the story
and some people told another, but nobody
blamed Bottles very much. 1t might be
because he was SO rich and SO handsome and
pleasant; it might be because Idleminstar
society was free from that leaven of CEN
seriousness which causes most people to look
at most things from the worst possible
view.
But Boobies went on his serene way, tell.
ing the true state of the case to every one
who mentioned the affair to him, and al
ways ending, ''And hang it, you know, it's
pretty little beggar, and couldn't send il
to the workhouse"
He made no secret about it at all, and on
the Saturday following the advent of the
Child an advertisement appeared in The
ldlemlnster Chronicle which made idle
minister tongues clack for week:
Wanted, Immediately, highly respect
able and thoroughly experienced nurse Of
middle age, to take the entire charge of
child about year old. Good wages to a
suitable person. Apply to Capt Ferrers,
Scarlet Lancers"
In due time this advertisement produced
the right sort Of person, and staid and re-
spectacle widow of about fifty was soon in
stalled in a room next to Mr. Gray's quar-
tiers, iii charge of Miss Mignon. as the child
bad already come to be called by everybody.
1t was a charming cnild-strong and
healthy, seemed to have no trouble with
temper Or teeth, hardly ever cried, and
might be seen morning and afternoon being
wheeled by its Purse in baby carriage
about the barrack square or along the road
outside the Broad Arrow boundaries And
so, as the weeks rolled by and wore into
months, it began to toddle about, and could
say Boobies as plain pike-staf.
In April the Scarlet Lancers were moved
from Idleminster to ankhampton, where
Bottles had to undergoa new experience, for
every one there took him for widower Oh
account of the child.
Bottles would explain "Tale her about
with me? Yes; she likes it. Always wants
to go when she sees the trap. A bothera
Net it Of it; the joliest little woman in
creation, and as good as gold. What am [
going to do with her when she grows ups
Well, Lacy says he is going to marry her.
If he don't, somebody else will-no fear"
Taking it all round, Miss Mlgnon had re-
markably good time of it, and seemed thor
oughly to appreciate the pleasant places in
which her lines Lad fallen. 1t was wonder
full, too what an immense favorite she was
with 'the fellows" At first she had been
"Bootles' brat" but very soon that was
dropped, and by the time she could toddle,
which she did in very good time, no one
thought of mentioning her or of speaking to
her except as ''Miss Mignon." Scarcely any
of the officers dreamed for moment of re-
turning after few days leave without
'taking along as the Americans say, a box
of sweets or a bundle of toys for Miss Mig
non. Indeed, the young lady came to have
such, collection that after while. Mrs.
Nurses patient soul arose, and, with Capt.
Ferrers' permission, all the discarded ones
were distributed among the less fortunate
children of the regiment.
But Miss Mgnon's favorite plaything was
Bottles himself-after BOTTLES, Lacy. People
said it was wonderful, the depth of the
affection between the big soldier Of IS and
the little dot of child, scarcely 2. Boobies
she adored, and where BOTTLES was she would
be, if by hook or by crook she could convey
her small person into his presence. Once
she spied him turn in at the gates on the
right hand of the colonel, when the regiment
was returning from field day, and escaping
from her nurses hand set off as hard as she
could run in the direction of the band, which
Immediately preceded the commanding off
Ger. Mrs Nurse gave chase, but alas! Mrs.
Nurse was stout, and had the i'll luck, more
over, to come a cropper over a drain tile
lying conven emily in her way, while the
child, unconscious of danger, ran straight
for Bottles. Neither Bottles nor Lacy, who
was on the colonel's left, perceived her until
she was close upon them, waving her small
hands and shouting, in her shrill and joyous
child's voice. "Bootles! Bootles!"
It seemed to BOTTLES, as he looked past the
colonel, that the child was almost under the
hoofs of Lacy's charger. "LacyP' he called
out-"Lacyl' But Lacy was already on
the ground, and caught Miss Mignon out of
harms way; but when he turned round hs
saw that his friends face was as white as
chalk
As for the colonel, when he saw Mrs
Nurse gathering herself up with rueful looks
at the drain tile, he simply roared, and Miss
Mignon chimed in IS if it were the finest
joke in the world.
THAT ,oas a smash" she remarked, from
her proud position on Lacy's shoulder, lust
ike Humpty Dumpty"-a comment which
gave that estimable person the name Of
Mrs. Humpty Dumpty as long as she re-
manned with the regiment.
A few weeks after this the annual inspec-
ton came off, and Miss Mignon, resenting
the heightened absence of her BOTTLES. again
managed to escape from her nurse, and
battered boldly, as fast as her small feet
would carry her, right into the mess-room,
where BOTTLES was sitting, just opposite the
| general, at the late lunch. Miss Mignon,
not seeing him at first, wandered coolly be-
| hind the row of scarlet-clad backs, until she
| spied him at the other side Of the table.
| Then, having no awe whatever of inspecting
officers, she wedged herself in between his
| chair and the coloneFs with a triumphant
and joyous laugh.
The general gave great start, and the
colonel laughed. Boobies, in dismay, jumped
up, and came quickly round the table to
take her away.
''Well, you little rogue" said the colonel,
reaching a nectarine for her. 'sWhat do
you want!'
II wanted BOTTLES, sir" said Miss Mignon,
confdentially. Sand nurse failed asleep, so
l looked French leave" Almost the only
popularity in her speech was the habit of
making all verbs regular
| ''And who are you, my little maidT' the
general asked, in extreme amusement.
''Oh, I'm Miss Mignon," with dignity,
The old general fairly chuckled with de-
light, and as he had put his arm round the
child, BOTTLES, who was standing behind,
could not very well take her away.
sob, Miss Mignon-hey! And whom do
you belong tog'
'sWhy, to BOTTLES" in surprise at his ig-
norance.
'sTo Bootles2 And who is Bootlesg'
'sBootles is BOTTLES and love him." Miss
Mignon replied, as if that settled everything
O.
s. "a