Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-08-03
them medders by yourself, Mignon

thought Huldah could give me work
in her shirt factory p
"You work = cried the Squire.
"Why, | thought they couldn't do
without you down to Ovens"
81 am not so important as that -
answered Mignonnette. with little
hysterical laugh. Il really am going
away !"
liant quarrelled with 'em, nor
nothn' ?"
"Oh, no no, Only want to be
independent"
Well the Squire made answer.
"Huldy did write that she wanted halt
dozen good hands business is look
ing up since the fall in gold, and
don't know why you wouldn't do as
well as another
Would you please write her ad-
dress y asked Mignonnctte.
And she went off home with it
leaving the good farmer in much
amaze as to what had happened to in
spire little lame Mignonnette with so
much ambition.
She did not see Richard Owen until
dusk that evening, when he came in,
stalwart and handsome and erect as
ever.
"Why, Mignonnette. where have
you been hidino all day ?" he asked,
gayly, but Mignonnette slipped out of
his encircling arm.
Is it true. Richard ~
'Is what true.'
"That-that you are going to be
married y
"Who told you y he asked half.
smiling.
rs it true p
"Yes, it is true. l thought you
would have been pleased"
80 l am pleased, Richard. | hope
you will be happy
Il don't think there can be doubt
about that" said Richard cheerily,
because, Migonnette-"
And then Sylvia Martins high
pitched voice was heard, and Aunt
Joanna came in with the light, and
Migonnette crept away to find lone
ly spot TO cry in.
When Richard Owen entered the
old sitting-room the next evening he
had tiny box in his hand, a box lin
ed with velvet, which held ring.
"lts like her, exactly" Richard
said 10 himself, looking tenderly at
the white, pure stone. Diamonds
wouldn't have suited her emeralds
and rubies are too glaring she is a
pearl"
And when Aunt Joanna came in at
the sound of her nephew's footstep. he
looked brightly up.
where's Mignonnette ~ he asked.
/ "Gone -
Richard started Gone, where ?"
And then Aunt Joanna told the
little story of Mignonnette's trials, am
bitions and resolve.
"And you let her 90, aunty?"
What else could | do, Richard
had promised you that | would not
tell until"
"Yes, | know, but. Call Simeon
to get up the wagon may reach
the depot before the train goes off yet;
it is always late on Saturday. Or,
stay. I'll saddle old Bay myself. To
think Of Mignonnette starting into the
world all alone,'
"All alone !" The strange sense of
her loneliness came to Mignonnette
with a stickening dreariness, as she sat
on the bench outside the railroad
station trying to think. She had had
some one to lean ON and cling to all
her life; now the support was torn
away
a tear shining softly in the dusk,
not unlike the limpid pearl which was
in Richards ring, escaped from her
dropping eyelid and rolled slowly
down her cheek.
The great world it looked so
strange and cold and far off, and
Mignonnette felt piteously that she was
so small and weak and solitary.
"Mignonnettee ~
A hand laid lightly on her shoulder,
a familiar voice in her ear, and Mig
nonnette started.
"Mignonnette little girl, were you
running away from me ?"
He spoke with such Il reproachful
tenderness that Mignonnette had to
control herself with strong effort as
she answered
Il have been burden upon you
long enough, and-and your wife
wouldn't like it If | stay on any long
err"
"Who told you so?' asked Richard
with puzzled face. Not the girl |
" -