The Penn's Grove record., 1886-01-23
NINETTE.

cup and down, in and out, round
and round, then up and down agalni
Never allowed to put my head outside
the front gate, except on Sundays when
we hobble off to church once-once!
OIL am weary of it! l wish l were
back in Normandy, listening to fat old
Madame's 'TdiSez UotCSi' OF Monaieur
PIerre's perpetual 'FditeS attention
mesdemO,SelleSi' Anything, anything
but this horrid monotonyl 1 feel like
some captive maiden shut up in a for
tress. Bah, you four high brick things
that bury me here, ard shut out every
thing from me, l hate you!' And mis-
cradle Ninette paused to take breath.
"S:one walls DO not a prison make.
Nor iron bars a cage,
quoted a roice,
NiDette started and looked round.
"Who spokeP" she cried, half frigh-
tened. 81 see no one."
"Raise your eyes, captive maiden.
Your deliverer Is coming over the wall
to your rescue" answered the same
laughing voice. while a shower of peb-
bles came rafting down on the gravel
at her feet.
s'Get off the wall Immediately, you
rude boyl'' she exclaimed. looking up.
''if you come ove here, you've have
a dogi'' she added, at a loss how to in
timidate him.
81 have no intention OF breaking my
neck, even for you, captive maiden;
only, as l heard you storming away, l
wanted to see what unlucky individual
was catching it; and, 10, when | get to
the top of the wall and peep cautiously
over, you are alonel"
Ninette laughed-she coald not help
lt-and the lad joined in heartily.
"Walter, come down. Don't be
rude" said another voice.
"Are you not aloneP" questioned
Ninette, in surprise.
"Not |. I'm under tutors and gov
errors at present. The gentleman with
me is the Reverend Oneslmus2" and
the lad shook so with laughter that lie
could scarcely retain his hold on the
wall. .
"You are very rude to your tutor, :"
she SAID, gravely, opening her brown
eyes wide at the boys free speech.
"Oh, lie quite understands me-" he
answered, going into a fresh outburst.
"Come, Walter, Pm going, said the
tutor; and Ninette heard him walk
away. But the boy kept his seat still,
only calling out
dAdieu, Reverend Onesimus; I'll
join you presently"
"What is your namep" he asked con-
tinuing the conversation.
"What is youIs?" was Ninette's an
swer.
"Walter Stuart Nugent, at your SER
vice."
"Are O Sir Archibald Nugent's
sonp And does your papa's park adJoln
our g~arden?"
overly"
at must be very beautiful, l know;
for / can see some splendid trees from
the house. But then M can see
nothing from here" she added mourn
fully.
81 say. though, what is your nameS
Is Mrs. Bellairs your mamma? She's
precious odd"
my name is Ninette, and Mrs. Bel
lairs is my grandmamma," with digni-
ty.
"Do you go to SCHOOL," asked Wal.
ter.
"SchooI, indeedl Why, l am grown
up; my education Is inishedP'
"But you used to go to school III
France?"
ayes, at Rouen, in Normandy, at
Madame Dupont's penSionnut. What
a pretty sister you have gotl 1 see her
at church sometimes.
"What is her manner"
"Kate. And now I'll vanish, for !
see somebody coming. Goodbye, cap
tive maiden; I'll come again some time, }
and with a great Gathering of loose
mortar he slipped off the wall and dis
appeared.
NInette's shoulders gave another lit
tie shrug as she continued her inter
rupted walk, She was a pretty little
thing, with a small graceful figure, a
head of shining hair, and a pair Of shy
brown eyes that reminded n Of moth
ing 50 much as a startled fawn. Ninette
was an orphan, and had been left when
a child to the care Of her grandparents.
Indeed, it was a dreary life for a i've
ly young girl. No wonder, poor child,
she felt moped to death. But bright
ness was coming IN the person of her
aunt, Lady Sumner, who knew all the
county families tor miles around Abbot's
Home, and WAS as gay a little maiden
as n could wish to meet.
$50 this is Ninette!n she said, the
morning after her arrival, holding the
girl in front of her for inspection.
''What a nice companion to go visiting
with mel Should you like to do SO,
dear2n
YES answered Ninette, with a
rueful look at her washed-out muslin
dress.
Then we will call. on the Nugents
to-day-it IS the nearest, and we are
such old friends.n
NInette's rueful look deepened, and
her brown eyes were suspiciousiy moist.
what is the matter, chlldp You dc
not look as if you cared to CO."
sit is not that, Aunt Adelaide, bat