Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-05
lcontnusdf from sunday, February AM

H paopls DO cry when they laugh
Miss lignan informed her. 'Our colonel
does. Now, Maj Garnet ALWAYS chokes,
and then Bootles thumps him Idant know
what len do she added in a tone Of deep
concern, III be chozes while we are away"
SInsver saw such an original little piece
Of mischief in M life" cried Mrs. Smith.
sand how charmingiy dressed-is she not,
madamei So sensible Of you to cover her
up with that warm serge up to her throat
and down to her wrists. Who put you up
to itr
'Ifancy we evolved the idea among us.
You see, She runs in and out Of my rooms,
her own,a and Mrs. Gray's, the adjutant's
wife, that is" Bottles answered 'And
harrack corridors are not exactly hot
houses. Besides, our doctor keeps his eye
on her, and he biame5 the wrapping-up for
her never having a days illness"
II believe in it, 2 asserted Mrs. Smith.
Sand I-ohl our married ladies tell me l
am quite an authority on the subject. can
tell you we get f~earfully chaffed about her,
Lacy and L.
"WhyF Miss Grace asked.
"Well, because she goes about with us a
good deal, and people seem to find the situa-
ton difficult to understand He took it for
granted that she knew all about Miss Mig
non, and she did not press the question fur
ther. But half an hour later, when Mrs.
Smith was thinking Of dressing, Miss Grace
tapped at her door and entered.
"Could you lend me a few black pins?' she
asked. MADAME and l have both forgotten
Them
Certainly, my dear-toke the box"
But Miss Grace only took a few in the
pink palm Of her hand.
''What a pretty child that is" she said
carelassly. Did thu mother die when it
was bornT'
'Oh, my dearr' cried Mrs. Smith, "she is
not Capt. Ferrers child. No relation
whatever"
''Nol Whose, thsnY'
"Ahl That is a question: Then she
briefly told Miss Mignon's history, ending:
But he will never part with her now. He
is so fond Of her, and she adores him.
'He is a fine fellow" said Miss Grace,
toying with the pins in her hand.
"a fine fellow! He is a splendid char
ACtrlg AASs. 0An4lu AItcl WARMLY. Il as
sure you I have studied that man-and 1
have known him for vears-and l cannot
find a fault in him. Years ago, when we
were in great trouble, my mother and /, at
the time my sister died, oh, he was so good,
so-wel,n with a quick sigh, II canno; ex-
plain it all, but he was such a comfort to
us, and she died, poor darling, under very
painful circumstances, especially for me.
Oh, there are very few in the world like
him--not one in ten Thousand. Take his
action as regarded that dear little child, for
instance. His brother officers wanted him
to send her to the workhouse, but, as he
wrote to me, Some day l may meet the
mother, and how should l face herY"
"Ahy' murmured Miss Grace, and Mrs.
Emith went on.
ut was no small undertaking for a man
IN his position, for he has not left her to the
entire care Of servants-she is continually
with him and Mr.. Lacy, who is also very
fond of her. Do you know, he pays her
nurse fifty pounds a year. In fact, she is
Just as if she were really his W child. But
it is just like him.
"And they would have sent her to the
workhousef'
''one or two Of them-not Mr.. Lacy, Of
course"
Miss Grace was silent for a few moments.
Then she reused herself as from a brown
study.
swell, l am OBTAINING you, Mrs Smith,
and shall be late myself. Thank you very
much Then she went away, passing
softly down the corridor, and entered her
room, locking the door behind her. But
once in that safe shelter, she flung the pins
on the table and dropped upon her knees,
burying her face in Der hands, while the
scalding tears forced their way between her
fingers, and the great sobs shook her frame.
Some day he might meet the mother p"
she sobbed, : and how should he face herr
Oh, my child, my little child, how shall |
face him! How shall Ihaar itl How shall
1 live in the same house with him without
falling on my knees and blessing him for
saving my little child from-God knows
whatl'