Democratic messenger., 1888-04-07
TIE PRINCESS MOLL.

Il was not very deep laid, and Il did not In
the end prove altogether successful, but no
ing n scheme, and devised by the Princes
ytoll, her brother has chosen to record IL.
She came TO us rather late In our lives. and
found, II not exactly n welcome. at least a
pcrambulator in our halls and q bib at our
table.
There were four OF us in or just out Of col
lego when, at the beginning Of a long vaca.
tion, wc were called upon To rejoice at her
arrival. "Quitc littlo princess" mother
remarked, when for tho first fimc VIC stood
in a row before her, and presented our CON-
mcnts, or what mother was pleased to tern,
rs such, 10 the roll Of muslin and lace In q
bassinet; and somehow from that hour our
sister was known as "the Princess Moll."
Tom was in uniform, and in cap and
gown. rrd for this reason we beloved tho
Princess selected US as her favoritcs from the
FIRST. "Gad!' said Tom. with a mixture Of
horror and astonishment, "look ut her make
eyes ut mt! Do they do that usually at her
agc!"
But Tom is inortlinately vain, and tho
"eyes" Of which he spoke were tho nero
lansuid roll Of q pair Of blue optics that
might quite Is well have Glanced upon me
rs him.
Well, Nio!l had come to stay, We discovered,
Int with the exception of an occasional cry
from the nursery or tho roll Of tho pcranbu.
iator under our windows, We heard nntl saw
litilo Of hcr. Tom wen; Lack 10 West Point
and Winthrop joined tho sophomorcs Of
Cornell. To Malcom and me, who were en-.
sascd in chosng profession. remained the
privilege OF becoming better acquainted with
the Princess Moll.
She had reached the ago Of IS months whci,
! was first callc;i upon TO rescue her from q
position o: peril. Gradgrind, the maid-my
mother is English, and calls her American
servants by their surnamcs, to their own
rys:!iica:ion and rcsontmcnt-had stepped
Or a piece" and left the perambulator oscil
latin; on n ledge OF rock at Newport
II was charming day, AMI the Princess
was. observed, ms gathered her from the
sand into which the pcrambulator hal cvcntu.
nlly plunged, arraycd in her best She wore
n little ccat Of silky cloth, and white plush
cap that reared up In tho crown in nh alto.
sc;her fetching manner.
Happily no one but Gradgrind, who was
instantly threatened with dismissal, received
any injury from this nishap; but it WAS the
with the Princess Moll.
In the extremity OF my wrath banishetl
Gradgrind from the spot. Sho camc back,
however, or rather she did not actually 20,
and besought ne, with wringing OF hands,
not to report her carelessncSi TO my mother.
In vain. was ntlamant-until she began Ia
cry. when told her that tho thing must
never be repeated, and myself adjusted Moll
in tho coach.
The Princess seemed instinctively to rar.
ceivc that GradSrind, whom she never ap-
rrarcl Ia love, had in somc mysterious way
come or conqucror in this affair. and poutcd
her disapproyal at both mo and the maid.
When slapped back to allow tho coach 10
prccc'lc me, she made frantic gestures with
her hands, which were cncas.d in small white
mittens. and fairly drove Gradgrid from her
post. She then bent her eyes upon mo In an
imperious manner, which caussl mo "a
cringc.
"Ah, hut. dear princcss,"I mentally OK.
postulatel, 1--WE are on tho avenue, and Il Is
the hour for Miss Rcardon's ride. You
turn nursery maid hcrcf"
But tho mittens continued 20 beat tho air,
until muitcring TO Gra'lgrind, keep closa
mscrably trundled the coach. Moll gurgletl
triumphantly, rs well shc might, for IL was
IA" successful preface to her scheme. Daily
after that she contrivcd 10 attach mo to her
train, until one morning Malcolm, encoun.
icring the interesting trio ut tho gate, do
mandcd.
II say, is Il Gradgrind or Moll."
Vow Gradsrind, who had face Of the
haa gx.fsa ansl
cyclopasla. was not tho sort OF person "a
call forth that kind OF remark, and could
n!Io.d - laugh good humorcdly.
Don't YOU SEQ the fix I'm in-thc kind OF
prisoner Of Chillon I've got To bel It's d
scheme of Moll's to enslavc me, and there's
no morc escape from her than from Morn,
shcs hnd mo at the casino and ON the ave
nu,s till I'm the figure of the day. She stops
at the bazar and calls my attention 10 the
rugs. and she even went 50 far as 10 demand
Persian lamp, which-hcavcn help mel
bought for her AMI permitted her TO carry
humr"
Malcolm grinnel AS II she didn't try her
little game ON me, and as IL Id allow myself
g. L., cullc-l that way! Gralgrind 10 tho
Princess Moll. AMI the Princess Moll Ia Grad
Grind. In the slave OF no infant so
was slavc-Anl a. AN infant. Well, had
alspectctl Il. Eut why should Malcolm stand
there tapping racket ON his arm and grin
mag like n garsoylc! suppose the fellows oi
my club looked that way when paSSeSl-and
Miss Rcar,lon.
hal discovered tho intention Of the Prin
c,,ss Ia thwart all possibility of a match b.
tween mo AMI tho latter, for which she had
taken the popular method Of making me mp
pear ridiculous in the eyes Of the one woman
bcfor,. whom desired 10 shine. Only that
ycry morning We had paSssd her, the Princes,
imhibins the juice Of an orange through a
column u striped candy, while wiped the
escaping nectar from tho front Of her coat
with Iny handkerchief Gradgrind contrived
o. look provokinsly det. che'l from Us mt that
I moment to.
Nj Rcarlon, sweet girl, never 80 much nj
smilcsl, hut bowel graycly, and with lingcr
ing expression which would, under other cir
cunlssanccs, have fllled me- with happiness
Tho Princes frowne,l, Withdrew the striped
column from her lips. and said. go way =
In unmistakablc accents 20 the lady who pro
posed To do her tho honor Of stopping TO iool
at her.
"Pray don't notice hor ilt.humor,r I urged
terrible abashel for Ph. ID. and club man
''Shc hasn't learned TO mako distinctions yet
She regards all young ladies as her natural
enemies Would you believe mc. Miss Rear
don, she Is frightfully jealous Of met
Miss Rcarion smiled. "Of youi How sin
gular!"
"Yes. Aud she absolutely will have m'
ga,lling about with her. You can't fancy
The kind of machine am reduced 20. I've
hcanl-ryc read about tho tyranny ol
woman, hut shouldn't have believed that q
commenc~l ai the ase of II monthS"
turned to the maid. "Iierc, Gradgrind
take my sister over 10 Violet Patch, and tel
my aunt
''N-o-oi Iso-ol n-ooI" shriekcd tho Prin
o.~