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

''Perhaps it will grow" suggested Boot
les.
stAh! pewraps it will, and pewraps it
won't. The worst of the affair is that it is
cwreating a pwrecedent'-no for worlds
would he have admitted to his friend that he
thought him the fine fellow he had declared
him in the mess-room that morning-''and il
we are all inundated with babays wreally
don't know" plaintively, "what the wreg-
ment will come to-"
'Gar-ah-gar-ahr' chuckled the subject
of this speech over the gold knob at the top
of Lacy's whip. ''Cluck-cluck-cluc
Little beggah seems to find it a good
joke, any way" Lacy cried. 'Im gwreat
hand at nursing. Our adjutants wife in the
White Dwragoons had thwree-aU at once.
say, Mrs. Gwray, stick something on it,
and I'll take it out and show it wround."
'Dare you?' she asked.
'sDawre II Just twry. By-the-bye, it's
cold this morning-vewry cold"
Mrs Gray therefore fetched the child's
white coat and cap. and those other white
woolen articles, which Boobies now discov-
cred to be leggings, and quickly transformed
the little woman into sort of SNOWFALL
The two men watched the operation with
intense interest.
LA fglio del aoreggin,ento," laughed
Lacy. II declare, BOTTLES, she's quite
credit to US. l never saw such a petite
mudemoiselle."
Boobies started It reminded him who
had been Tilted by his friend and died for
love- He had always called her Mademoi-
selle Mignon.
''Mademoiselle Mignon," he said, care
lessly; mot bad name for herr
''Vewry good" returned Lacy, preparing
to present arms.
He proved himself much better nurse
than Bottles He gathered the child on his
left arm and marched off to the anteroom,
in front of which the officers were standing
about, waiting for church. They set up
shout at the sight of him, and crowded round
to inspect the new importation. Mademol-
selle Mignon bore the inspection calmly, con-
scious perhaps-as she was such a knowing
little person-of the effect of her big, blue,
sar-like eyes under the white fur of her cap
what a pity she amt twenty years
older!o was the first comment, and it was
said in such tone of genuine regret that all
the fellows laughed again. Miss Mlgnon
gobbled with satisfaction.
ssSeems jolly little beggar," said another.
s.Chut-chut- chut" remarked Miss Mig
non.
''Never saw such jolly little beggar in
all my life,' asserted another voice.
''Pretty work she'll make in the regiment
sixteen or seventeen years hence" grumbled
old Garnet.
s'Ah, well, nevah mind, Garnet-nevah
you mind, Maj. Garnet, sir" cried Hartog,
1--WE shall all be dead by them" but this
being an exceedingly old and threadbare
regimental joke was instantly snubbed IN
the face of the new and substantial one.
HAS it any teeth?" demanded Miles, the
orderly officer for the day.
''Dont know. Open your mouth little
one," said Lacy, gravely.
At this point Miss Mignon made de-
lighted lunge in the direction of the belt
across Miles breast. Lacy shouted, whoa,
whoa" and Miles Immediately backed out OF
reach. Miss Mignons mouth went dismally
down, until Lacy remembered the knob Of
his whip, and held it up for delectation.
''Boo-boor' she crowed.
"By Jove! She can half say Boot > al
ready" calculated Hartog ''And b IRE he
comes"
''Now, then,'' BOTTLES called ont, shave
any of you fellows made up your mind to
own this little baggagew
mo; none of us" they laughed; but one
man, Gilchrist by name, said, with sneer,
he should rather think not, and added two
unnecessary words 'workhousey bratp