Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-20
MIGNONNR.

H fE
'"That? Oh, that's my small sister,
MignOnRe. An uncommon face, rather,
isn't itg' and Jack Chandran glanced a
the rough sketch which his visitor had
unearthed froman old sketch book, and
then turned back to his work
''YOur sister," Philip Vanderventer
looked at the bit of paper little more in
tently. ''Notmueh like you, Chandran.
What pretty, babyish look there is a
bout it,
"She Is scarcely more than a baby, =
said Jack, stepping back few PAGES,
with his head critically on one side, to
observe the effect of the last few touches.
"Only a little girl, you know; but an un-
commonly nice one. There she is now
in some muddle over the accounts, | sup
pose. We have oceans of fun out of our
housekeeping, and poor old Beckie does
the work"
And then the door swung back forci-
bly,, and young girl, plentifully adOrn-
ell with blOtcheS OF ink in every direc-
ton, made her appearance.
80 jack :" she cried, GIVE been both
ering over this thing all the morning,
and it sC0n't come out right. Can't yOn
help me 90 And then she stopped short,
for she saw that Jack was not alone.
"'Never mind, grille" said Jack, see
lilG nNi ulSAtESSCu ldNCs L his Is +
Vanderyenter-my little sister, sir. Too
bad about the accounts; but I've 10 head
for figures, you know. Let 1t go.'f
''Slay try to help you 80
Had Philip Nauderventer been equal to
the mental effort, he would have wOItler-
et at his own readiness; but he WASH IT
Ii did strike him as 4 little odd, when he
began his task, that he should have offer
c,l his assistance; but the sensation of be-
lng useful w;ls something novel; il pleas
eel him Tor the time being. And besides,
iI was such very pretty little girl who
leaned over him, hiuderinS him in the
most unconscious and charming manner.
Get it wrong again as quickly as 'Os-
sihl2, he said, when the victory was Von
over the obstinate figures, 'and then APP
ply TO me. feel quite refreshed by my
eXertiOnS. Don't thank me, | beg of
you; consider il n privilege" And
tlIen he began languidly to coax on his
gloves, looking Covertly at MignOnue.-
II shall come in often, if I may, Chan
dram" he said; "it's dull in town now,
aud l am bored TO death" And so he de-
parted. ~
lt was odd how that child's face hauu-
ted him; the great, wide-Open, dark eyes,
with their long, straight lashes; the
clear, babyish complexion; the delicate,
sensitive mouth; and the long, heavy
braids of golden red hair. "Such q pret-
~, pretty girl!'' he said, half-UncOnsci-
ouSly. "Snch a pretty little childn"
The next day he Was at Chandran's :
studio again, and the next, and SO on
He had suddenly become greatly inter
ested in art; and Jack Chandran was the
very man to give him ideas on the sub
ieCt-so he Said-and day after day found
him at the studio, and he and Mignonne
were sOOmeXcellent friends.
a very pretty little girl =, he had call7
ell her, and this conviction grew str0n-
ger OH him daily. a very, very pretty
little girl's She was indeed.
''She'll make more than one heart ache
by and by he thought, as he sat in the
little sitting-room one day (he was admit
ted ''behind the scenes" now; Jack had
"taken fancy" TO him, and showed it
most emphatically), looking 1T her as she
knelt before the small CRATE trying TO
coax the fire into eheeriness. "Chan-
dram will have his hands full; and l don't
envy him.
And then MignOnne, sitting down all
in heap on the dingy hearth-rug, turn
ed around upon him. ''What are you
thinking of that you look so cross? she
said. "It must be something dreadful" +"
''Only of You, little girl" he answer
ed, smiling down at her. Nothing so
dreadful after all, is it?"
''And what of me?' The childish per-