Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-05
CHAPTER TX.

Oh, but it was a blow for Bootlesl To
find be hal been duped, trickel, made a fool
Of all this time; to remember the anxiety.
the trouble, the expense to which he had
been put; nay, to recall the chaff he had
endured, and then to discover that Miss
Mignon was Gilchrist's child-the child of
the man he went perhaps nearer to hating
than any one he had ever known in all his
life! Everything came back to him then
the dead mans jibe5 and sneers and taunts,
his unwearied efforts to tax him with an Of
Tense which he knew he he'd not committed,
And though he had failed in that, oh, what
a fool Gilchrist had made Of him! That was
the sting Bottles felt most of anything.
For hours after he left the anteroom Boot.
les kept out Of every ones way-indeed until
Lacy came to tell him that Gilchrist was
1eed. Then, it being close upon the hour of
Eeven, he went and knocked at the door Of
Mignon'5 nursery. The nurse opened it a
few inches, and, seeing who it was, set it
open wide.
as Miss Mignon asleepF' he asked.
"Yes, sir; hours ago" the woman an
swered.
He passed into the inner room where the
child was lying. A candle burned on a
table beside the cot, casting its light on the
fair baby face, now flushed in sleep, and on
the taDgle1 golden curls. Both her arms
lay outside the elder coverlet, one hand
grasping the whip with which he had ridden
and ICON that day, the other holding the
card Of the races. BOTTLES bent and scanned
her face closely, but not one trace could he
discern of likeness to the father-not one
and he drew q deep breath of relief that it
was so.
Well he remembered Lccy's puzzled
scrutiny Of tho year-old baby. There's a
likeness, but l don't know where to plant
it." If there had been a likeness to Gilchrist
then, it had now passed. away; and IS
Bottles satisfied himself that it was so, his
love for her, which during the last few hours
had hung trembling in the balance, though
he would hardly have acknowledged it, even
to himself, reas5erted itself, and rose up in
his heart stronger than ever. Just then she
moved ~uneasilY. in her sleep.
"Lal, where is Bootles?' she asked. Then,
after a pause, "Gotted another headacheg'
And an instant later, Miss Grace said
Mignon was to BE- gerry kind to Bottles"
Bottles bent down and kissed her and she
awoke.
"Bootles," she said, in sleepy surprise;
then, imperatiyely, "Tako me up"
So Boobies carried her to the fire in the
adjoining room, where the nurse was sowing
a fresh frill Of lace on the pretty velvet
frock, with its braidings of scarlet and gold,
which she had worn that day.
''Lal said Mignon wasn't togo to Bottles"
she said reproachfully.
''Bootles has been bothered, Mignon," he
answered.
'Poor Bootles!" stroking his cheek with
her soft hand. "Bootles was vexe1; Lal
said so. But not with Mignon. Mignon
told Lal so" confidently.
Never with Mignon," answered BOTTLES,
resting his cheek against the tossed golden
curls, and feeling as il he had done this
faithful baby heart o moral injustice by hiS
hours Of anger and doubt
There was a moment of silence, broken
by the nurse. "Have you heard, sir, how
Mr.. Gilchrist isf' she asked.
BOTTLES reused himself. HE is dead,
nurse, Died half an hour ago"
"Then, if you please, sir" she asked, hest
tatingly, might l ask if it is true about
Miss Mignonq'
eyes, it Is true" his face darkening.
"Because, sir, Miss Mignon should have
mourning" she began, when Boobies cut her