The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-17

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W lS PAV to my mind 1t
Y | AMI .1 seems thata fiighty
lanai lM Asiddy girl. always
fRNN s@ thinking Of h g r
=. |F\ WRRown wax-doll face.
" and the dress for
- CS@ her next dance. and
the now kirtle for
the village feast is not by any means the bost
wife for Woodworking man like Pierre
Leroux."
You arc very harsh on the young thing,
Rose Michel. She is so fair and sweet, and
SO dainty in all her ways, the only wonder is
she is not thousand times moro vain with
NIL the flattory she has received sinco ever she
could run through the village alone"
"She's come Of q bad stock, and will bring no
luck TO any honest mans house," muttered a
brown-faced Norman peasant-woman who
stood gossiping in the market-pla with her
neighbors this fair summer morning.
cay. ny, true enough" exclaimed q fresh
looking country-woman, joining in tho con-
versation with alacrity. ~ remember her
mother; the girl is just like her. She was
beautiful If you like-handsomer far than
evei Ninette will be. They came OF q good
family, and were very proud. Tho girl had
craze for the stage--she ran away to
Puris-'
eyes, yes, we know all that" chimed In the
market-woman.
"Ah, vol, she came back, you rememb ber, so
changed; all her beauty flded, all her gay
bright ways gone. And then the child WIS
h0r l,,,,, H., nl,o
wept over the babe! 1t was so like its father,
she said. And the pretty tales she told it,
OF how he would come to see it, and what
it must do and how it must look She
was such n child herself; and then time
went and he never CAME, and she pined
and faded, and grew pale and so thin
on would not have known her for the sane.''
"And hep" asked the gossips.
"Heof course. never came. She died with
his name on her lips. life thrown away
for Il mau's sake! All, we'll, it is common
enough"
do you believe she was married?"
81 saw her wedding-ring. She always said
he married her but in that great vile city it
would be so easy to deceive, and then-he
never came"
"He has never been near the child, either2"
"No; and the grandmother is so old now.
and the sfrl so fair. All it isa good thing
for all that she will marry SO soon, and have
one so loving and steady us Pierre Leroux to
look after hor."
at is to be hoped Pierre Leroux won't find
.tmore than he can manage to do that" said
the sour-vsaged Rose Michel.
"True," echoed the others; "she is so gay
and tlighty. pity one so well-to-do as
edid not choose steady. we'll ordered
maiden to keep his house and study his wcl-
fare. Ninette will want everything and give
nothing"
You have all daughters more suitable for
Pierre Leroux than the girl he has chosen, is
itnot so2' laughed the cheerful-faced country
woman who had spoken before. "a pity
that he could not see it as plainly as you do p
and laughing and nodding to the knot of
market-women, she passed on, with her
basket poised on her head.
"Hush here comes Ninette herself"
The gossiping tongues ceased. score of
curious eyes turned toward the street, up
which girl was coming-a girl with u face
fair and fresh as spring blossom, and o
figure whose swelling curves and delicate
outlines were shown to perfect advantage
by the pretty Norman costume. She came
Yaily up to the group, nodding to one, laugh
ing to another, chatting to all in her free,
girlish, graceful fashion. Some answered
her cheerfully, others seemed constrained
and i'll at eaSe.
"Sou will wish me Joy for tomorrow, will
you notr" she said, as she turned away at
last. Tomorrow I shall be- Ninette Le-
roux"
NO good comes OF using your new name
before it's your own," said the surly voice of
Rose Michel. The girl laughed brightly.
"You were always one to oroak, Rose" she
aaid, "At all eVonts there's no fear OF you
ever committing that mistake" Tho old
maid looked sourly at the wlnsome face.
"a day may come when you will wish your
self in my place." she cried, with spitefuI
bitterness in her raised and croaking voice.
"It lis not married life that brings the great
est Joy, though tho young and foolish always
think it,"
swell. Mt all events. mean to try" said
the girl gayly. Perhaps you wouldn't mind
being in my place for once, Rose Michel, and
doing tho same;" and without waiting for
further words she turned and went on her
way up the sunny village street.
She did not hear the muttersd eWrae that
followed her. Che did not SEQ the vengerul
expression on the wrinklcd iace.and trembling
lips; but Ninette. in all her fair and happy
life, had never made II foe so fierce, an enemy
so yindictive. us Rose Michel was now,
Pierre Lereux WAS q well.to-do mlller-a
nam young and handsome, and accounted a
great match In this quaint little Norman
town. His mill lay some way out, set am idst
Fields and orchards. and with an arm OF the
river winding through to turn tho great
wheel, whose sound was SO sweet to Ninette's
ear as 1t churned the fohm.bells at her feet,
and dashed the cool shower OF water over her
sweet flushed face.
She stood thare now In the hot summer
noon. her lover by her side, her eyes down.
cast, her little hands clasped round his arm,
her fragile giriish loveliness looking do oubly
fragile and childish in contrast to the stal.
wHrt frame and sunburt iace Of tho young
miller.