The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-02-14
@@0a98849 999@@@89
gMONAN PISPOSGS -
~ HATTIE HoRNER LOUTHAN. G3
8@90@999@@ 9@@D@@09@9
BY HATTIE HoRNER LOUTHAN.
<IVv1 HAT are you going to
N/ do about Mignon, En-
" " nestW asked Guy Ed
gerton, ,glancin2 across

reports of the Picayune.
Farnsworth lifted his dark question
ing eyes, but reached for his coffee
cup in silence.
"Yes. what do you intend doing
about herT persisted the other petu-
Iantly. "Mr. Durande thinks 1T any
thing but wise to bring an unsophisti-
Gated girl here, now that mother Is
dead and we fellows are alone. School
closed last week. you know, and won
dered what you had concluded 10 do"
"Durande be hangedw returned his
companion. irreverently. What has
he to do with our affairs? Oh, You and
Mignon! / wonder you dare breathe
without the parsons sanction" And
he went back to his market reports.
The younger man finished his break
fast In silence, then he arose. found
his hat, and made another attempt,
his hand on the door knob.
II say, Ernest. will you pry your
mind away from cotton and sugar long
enough to answer my question: It's
deuced -blooded, the way you've
shut the little one up In that old con
vent and forgotten her existence, and
she feels cut up about IT, too. Now
Pierre Is going to take me back into
the city, and could bring hcr back If
Mr.. Durande--"
"There are neither IFS nor Mr.. Du
randes at Farnsworth Hall under the
present administration" broke in the
elder brother. decidedly. Certainly
bring her. for come she shall. Why
notp Am not her legal guardian? Is
she not a mere child yet? Have we
not a housekeeper? And are we not
gentlemen. the sons of our mother?
You might confide to the reverend
gentlemltn THAT either one Of us un-
aided is cJpable of protecting an unso-
phisticattl girl from all men"
Except ourselvesw end Guy, laugh
ingly.
Farnsworth looked up quickly, n
shade of annoyance deepening his fine
eyes.
Except no one" he returned sharp
ly, land see that you understand me,
sir, now, in the beginning"
The boy fiourished his hat gaily.
"Avaunt. croakerr' he cried. Back
TO your cotton and sugar! If you i'm.
agine Guy Edgerton, aged twenty and
just out of military jackets. intends
driving all the way from the city,
within the radiance of those violet
eyes, without stealing kiss or two
from that baby mouth"
He laughed merrily, then. banging
the door, went whistling off toward the
stables.
Ernest FarnswOrth pushed back his
unfinished breakfast, dashed down his
paper and began walking the floor.
Cotton and sugar, indeed was the hoy
blind? All, those violet eyes. that baby
mouth-how many, many times they
had risen between him and the printed
page, between him and sleep, between
him and the memory of his mothers
still, white face! Now that she was
coming TO the Hall, could no continue
TO blind his brother. the friends. the
girl herself? Perhaps the clergyman
was right. Perhaps it was unwise to
have her there.
Mignon came TO Farnsworth Han
10 remain until school should reopen
in the fall. The younger brother was
her escort upon all occasions, under
chaperonage, of course. Her vacation
was rapidly passing. and Farnsworth
had kept vigorously away from her
and TO his duties Ia field or library. or
at the militia barracks. for he was n
soldier.
She was secure under this arrange
ment, he kept telling himself, and ap-
peared happy. But she seemed half
afraid OF him since becoming his
charge. For so young n man he was
unapproachable, decisive, even stern
upon occasion. IL was necessary he
should be in the management OF so
large a plantation.
Yes, Farnsworth had fancy that
his little ward had grown to fear him.
Very good; let il rest at that. He
would nurse this very safe fancy.
Yet once and again throughout the va
cation. across the dining room table
about their only meeting place-he
had caught occasional fleetng glances
from the violet eyes. wistful. inquiring
glances that cost him sleep. TO say
nothing OF time wasted in day dream
Ing. For another fancy was growing
upon him. n fancy not quite SO safe
ms the ore that she feared him. fancy
that needed no nursing. lie began q
wonder If And then he suddenly
recollected that the present admins
tratiol recognized no "ifs"
Fate took matters In her ova hands
In an unexpected manner
One evening toward the close OF va.
cation Farnsworth was passing the
parlor when he heard his name called
In frightened appeal. Swinging oper
the door he saw Mignon. pale and in
dignant. struggling from his brothers
arms.
Guy whirled about fercely at the in
terruption. but Farnsworth weni
straight 10 the sobbing girls
What has he been saying-what I'm
suit has he offered you. petite2 Tel
me and / will punish him"
"Always-to be-his wife" was all h.
could catch among her sobs.
And that Is no insult" proudly as
serted her youthful suitor