The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-02-06

He made no secret about it at all, and on
the Saturday following the advent of the
child an advertisement appeared in The
Idlemlnster Chronicle which made idle
minister tongues clack for week:
'Wantei, immediately, highly respect
able and thoroughly experienced nurse Of
middle age, to take the entire charge of
child about year old. Good wages to
suitable person. Apply to Capt. Ferrers,
Scarle. Laucers.'
In due time this advertisement produced
the right sort Of person, and o staid and re-
spectacle widow of about fifty was soon in
| stalled in a room next to Mr.. Gray's quar-
ters, in charge of Mis-, Mignon. rs the child
had already come to be called by e ervbody.
It was charming child-strons and
healthy, seemed 10 have no trouble with
temper or teeth, hardly ever cried. and
might be- seen morning and afternoon being
wheeled by its nurse in n baby 'carria::s
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 as pikestaff.
In April the Scarlet Lancers were moved
from idleminster to Blankhampton where
Bottles had to undergoa new experience, for
| every one there took him for widower on
account Of the child.
BOTTLES would explain. "Take her about
with met Yes; she likes it. Always wants
| to 90 when she sees the trap. A bothers
Not bit Of it; the jolliest little woman In
creation, and az good as gold. What am
going to do with her when she grows upa
Well, Lacy says he is going to marry her.
II be don't, somebody else will-no fear"
Taking it all round, Miss Mignon had 10
markedly good time Of it, and seemed thor
oughly to appreciate the pleasant places in
which her lines had fallen It was wonder
full, too. what an immense favorite she was
with 1.-THE fellows" At first she had been
'Bootles brat" but very soon that was
dropped, and by the time she could toldle,
which she did in very good time, no one
thought Of mentioning her or Of speaking to
her except as miss Mignon." Scarcely any
turning after q few days leave without
sstakine along as the Americans say, a box
of sweets or bundle of toys for Miss Mig
non. Indeed, the young lady came to have
such q collection that, after a 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 Mignon'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. BOTTLES
she adored, and where BOTTLES was she would
b., if by hook or by crook she could convey
her small person into his presence. Once
she spied him turn in at tho gates ON the
right hand Of the colonel, when the regiment
was returning from u 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 hal the i'll luck, more
over, to come clopper over drain tile
lying conveniently 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!'
| 1t seemedto Bottles, as he looked past the
colonel, that the child was almost under the
hoofs of Lacy's charger. Lacy" lie called
! Out-"Lacy!' But Lacy was already Oh
the ground, and caught Miss Mignon out of
harms way; but when he turned round he
saw that his frie IDS fac, was as white as
chalk.
As for tho colonel. whelr> he saw Mrs
Nurse gathering herself up with rueful looks
at the drain tile, he simply reared, and Miss
Mignon chined in as II it were the finest
joke in the world
THAT ,c0s a smash" she remarked, from
her proud position on Lacy's shoulder, ''just
like Humpty Dulnpty"-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 of, and Miss Mignon, resenting
the heightened absence of her Bottles. again
managed to escape from her nurse and
battered boldly, US fast as her small feet
would carry her, right into the mess-room,
where Bottles WIS sitting. just opposite the
general, at the late lunch. Miss Mignon,
not seeing him at first, wandered coolly he
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 wetlged herself in between hia
chair and the c0lonel's with triumphant
and Joyous laugh
The general gave great start, and the
colonel laughed Boobies, in dismay, jumped
up, and came quickly round the table +.
take her away.
''Well, You little rogue" said the colonel,
reaching nectarine for her. ''What d.
YOU wants"
Il wanted BOTTLES. sir" sail Miss Miguon
ccnfdentially "And nurse failed asleep, st
looked French leave" Almost the onl,
popularity in her speech was the habit o
making all verbs regular.
land who are you. my little lnaid!' tn
general asked, in extreme amusement.
'Oh. I'm Miss MiSnon," with dignity.
The old general fairly chuc!!ei with lie
light, aud as he had put his arm round tn
, child. Bootles, who was standing behind
could not very well take her away
'Oh, Miss Mignon-hevs Aud waon 4