Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-04-28
THE SOLDIER
The Story of His Mignonettes.

| uhcctioH VI tuc CHclSeu COIleSe Hul
dens. This shady little nook holds tn
home of some of our old soldiers. Their
they sat, in solemn rows of tours an
fives, on the wooden benches in tn
cool, green avenue, dreaming ava
the long summer afternoon, while the
watched the children at play on til
grass before them.
A great longing came over me t.
learn something of their lives.
If could come across one alone,
thought, there might be chance of II
So, with a lingering, backward look a
the old fellows, l walked on until
came to more secluded part of tn
gardens, where the pensioners cult
waited little plots of ground and sol,
flowers and ferns to the nurses an,
children, the proceeds Of which en-
abled them to buy tobacco and run
and other small luXuries.
1t had been intensely hot, but nov
a refreshing breeze was tossing til,
lilac and laburnum trees, and in TIN
cool Of the day the old men were nj
hard at work, watering, wedding ant
raking away, while they smoked an(
changed opinions as to their respective
nurseries.
Crossing the gravel path, L came
upon bed composed entirely of mig
nonette. Its fragrance was delight
full, and l paused a moment to enjoy
the scent.
This little garden excited my curios.
ity, and looked with interest at the
gardener His face was thin and lined
with an expression of settled melan-
choly on it, but there was something in
the large, dark eyes and sensitive
mouth that took my fancy.
Here is an opportunity" 1 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 up
and fixed his speaking orbs on me.
"What lovely mignonette." l ex.
claimed by way of opening fire.
He smiled, but it was such sad
smile l wished he hadn't. 1t somehow
made me feel sick and sorry.
"Let me cut you some, madam" he
said gravely. Il will in moment, if
you can wait"
please, oh, should like nothing bet
ter" ! answered, seating myself and
looking OH contentedly, while my new
friend went to work with long pair
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?'
"NIay l ask why you cultivate only
one flower:" l inquired, with sudden
inspiration.
He looked at me again in that intense
way of his for at least a minute with
out speaking, then said irrelevantly:
you have a 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 l only
grew one flower. will tell you if you
care to listen"
YES" replied eagerly; 81 am all at
tention."
ut happened so long ago, yet 1t seems
only like yesterday. Mignon, Mignon"
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.
"Iave II" returned, somewhat TAX
en- aback by this unexpected question.
"Well, yes, l have been fond of several
people have met at different times of
my life," was my discreet rejoinder.
"Those two were the only ones l
cared for in this world-Mignon and
Ralph Stanley"
"Who was Mignon?" 1 queried gen.
tly, for the old mans face was full of
emotion when he spoke her name.
Il always called her Mignon and SO
did he," he continued, without needing
me; "the name suited her so well. She
was never without a slip of this
touching the flowers in my lap-"in her
belt or gown. She had a passion for
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 other?" ventured to
ask after a pause.
Again the veteran seemed to forget
my existence as he sighed and said
musingly:
'"ro think that I never guessed it.
And they were such bonny pair too.
She could not help loving him, the gen-
ial, handsome laddie. Men and officers
alike in or regiment simply adOred
him."
"He served with you, then"
Eyes, but I was only in the ranks,
while he held commission"
"Yet you were friends?"
'"Friends-aye, that we We're; from
our schoolboy days we were chums.
When Ralph was sent to the Crimean
war, threw everything to the winds,
enlisted in his regiment and went, too,
and we fought in many a fierce battle
together. But one thought kept us up
all-dear little Mignon, the
wears daughter All, what happy old
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 had
just we four, the scent of mignonette
everywhere. The garden, the windows
and the rooms of the old house were
full of it-mignonette, all mignOnette!'