The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-05-08
THE SOLDIER
The Story Of His Mignonettes.

f.o.so|o.so| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
One dreamy, drowsy afternoon to
ward the end Of June, having nothing
particular to do, sauntered in the
direction of the Chelsea College gar
dens. This shady little nook holds the
home of some of our old soldiers. There
they sat, in solemn rows of fours and
fves, on the wooden benches in the
cool, green avenue, dreaming away
the long summer afternoon, while they
watched the children at play on the
grass before them.
A great longing came over me tt
learn something of their lives.
If could come across one alone,
thought, there might be chance of it
So, with lingering, backward look Al
the old fellows, / walked on until
came to a more secluded part of the
gardens, where the pensioners cult
waited little plots of ground and solo
flowers and ferns to the nurses and
children, the proceeds Of which en-
abled them to buy tobacco and rum
and other small luxuries.
1t had been intensely hot, but now
a refreshing breeze was tossing the
lilac and laburnum trees, and in the
cool of the day the old men were al
hard at work, watering, wedding anc
raking away, while they smoked and
changed opinions as to their respective
nurseries
Crossing the gravel path, / came
upon a bed composed entirely Of mig
nonette. Its fragrance was delight
full, and / paused a moment to enjoy
the scent.
This little garden excited my curios
ity, and l looked with interest at the
gardener. His face was thin and lined
with an expression Of settled melan
choly on 1t, but there was something IL
the large, dark eyes and sensitive
mouth that took my fancy.
Here is an opportunity" l thought
HE looks like a nice, approachable
old man and, dare say, would be glad
to have chat"
At that moment, as if by some sud
den transition Of mind, he glanced Ut
and fixed his speaking orbs on me.
what lovely mignonettew l ex
claimed by way of opening fire.
He smiled, but it was such a sad
smile wished he hadn't 1t somehow
made me feel sick and sorry.
''Let me cut you some, madam he
said gravely. II will in a moment, il
you can wait"
'Please, oh, should like nothing bet
terp' l answered, seating myself and
looking on contentedly, while my new
friend went to work with long pail
Of rusty scissors.
His face interested me, strangely
none the less when l noticed that the
Victoria cross adorned his breast. How
could get him to talk?"
MAY l ask why you cultivate only
one flowerY' l inquired, with sudden
inspiration.
He looked at me again in that intense
way Of his for at least minute with
out speaking, then said irrelevantly:
"You have good, kind face, lady
and"-
He paused.
"Thank you for saying so," rejoin-
ed, somewhat tamely, feeling baffled
and wondering what was coming next.
you asked me just now why / only
grew one flower l will tell you if you
care to listen"
EYES," replied eagerly; 81 am all at
tention."
sit happened so long ago, yet it seems
only like yesterday. Mignon, Mignonp
he half murmured to himself.
coughed softly to remind him of my
presence.
Lady. did you ever love any one
very dearly?" he asked abruptly.
tHave I?'' returned, somewhat tax
en- aback by this unexpected question
"Well, yes, ! have been fond of severa
people l have met at different times Of
my life" was my discreet rejoinder.
'"Those two were the only ones
cared for in this world-Mignon and
Ralph Stanley"
"Who was MignonY l queried gen
thy, for the old mans face was full Of
emotion when he spoke her name.
ri always called her Mignon and sc
did he" he continued, without needing
me; 'the name suited her so well. She
was never without slip of this'-
touching the flowers in my lap-"in heI
belt or gown. She had a passion fol
mignonette, That is why we called
her Mignon and she was as sweet as
the flower itself, with her bluebell eyes
and nut brown hair"
''Who was this otherY I ventured tc
ask after pause.
Again the veteran seemed to forget
my existence as he sighed and said
musingly:
ITO think that never guessed it
And they were such a bonny pair too
She could not help loving him, the gen
ial, handsome laddie. Men and officers
alike in our regiment simply adored
him."
"He served with you, then?"
Eyes, but was only in the ranks
while he held a commission"
''Yet you were friends"
"Friends-aye, that we were; from
our schoolboy days we were chums
When Ralph was sent to the CrimeaI
war, | threw everything to the winds
enlisted in his regiment and went, too
and we fought in many fierce battle
together. But one thought kept us III
through all-dear little Mignon. the
wears daughter. All, what happy ole
times they were at the vicarage!
"Mignon was an only child; her ia
Their, our coach, Ralph's and mine
What merry little tea parties we hat
Just we four, the scent Of mlgnonett
everywhere. The garden, the window
and the rooms of the old house wer
full of it-mignonette, all mignonette!
My glance wandered to the flower
blooming at my feet as l tried to pic
ture the little scene put before me-
"And Ralph loved Mignon as wei
!, as l." he pursued, though neither 0
us knew the others secret. Well
those happy days came to an END
Young Stanley left us to study for tn
army, while remained to stagnate i
my fathers office in town.
allow envied Ralph's luck! No
that grudged him any good thing, bu
my lot in life did seem hard in com
parison to his. As the time passed m
restlessness and discomfort increased
Despite my attachment to Mignon, m
humdrum, monotonous existence wa
SO hateful to me. So, when the wa
| broke out and Ralph was ordere