The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-07-03
TOO LITTLE BUTTER.
The Great Trouble Caused by a
Stupid Artist

Yes, I certainly did wrong, and the
dark days that my punishment brought
! could not but feel were deserved.
When l was eighteen, father died, and
his orphan children were left to learn
the meaning of the dismal word pow
erty. We had lived for many years in
different places in Germany and
France, and had never revisitedthe old
home in New Hampshire, which |
could dimly remember. Father had
been Vice-Consul and then clerk in a
bank until mother died, when he
seemed to lose all interest in outside
matters, and stayed quietly at home in
u little apartment at Mannheim.
After bis death, l was obliged to seek
employment. l was well educated,
and was engaged as governess to the
little Countess Valerie Won hilienbero.
She was a beautiful child with rip
pies of long golden hair tossing in
downy rings over her head like a nim-
bus, and she had a swift, floating,
noiseless way of walking, that was
very spirit-like. Valerie was not quite
ten years old when l entered the fam
lily, so my duties with her were not
very burdenSome. l was to teach her
English, talk that language with her
constantly, take her to walk, and
watch over her when others were not
In charge. We grew very fond of
each other, and her sweet, loving ways
helped me more to overcome my grief
at fathers death than any other infu-
ench can remember. l saw very lit
tie of the elder members of the family;
Count LiIienberg had an important
position at court, and was often alb
sent; the Countess, his wife, was busy
with the claims of society, and had
time for little else. | knew she was
very fond of Valerie, but save for a
drive in the afternoon and a good
night kiss and blessing, she scarcely
ever saw the child.
, Part of the second summer of nv en-
gagement with Valerie we spent at Hell
delberg, Here l will allow myself a brief
depression, to tell what is to me by far
the most interesting and most impor-
tant part of my story. Down at the
end Of a pretty, quiet lane, under the
shadow Of the old '.Schloss," was an
artists studio, called the Mouse-Nest
1t was rather crowded, being shared by
q sculptor and painter, but it was a
wonderfully fascinating place to visit.
The painter was a German, with an IN
crop of hair and q fine voice for
student songs. The sculptor was Tracy
Norton. We had met the year before
died, and hat summer Tracy
asked me if | would be his wife. Iloved
him, and had accepted him. He was
poor, but that was nothing for young
nan of his promise; he had not sold
my statues yet, but he had two gold
Medals for industry and talent, and Or
lers were sure to come later.
Once a week Valerie and I went to
be Mouse-Nest for a brief half hour,
md l think for both of us this visit was
he pleasantest event of the week. Val
rie, for her age, was unusually fond
f pictures, and to be able to watch
hem from the first splash of paint
pom the canvas, 10 the final touch of
Ugh light, was deeply interesting. All
bis was very innocent amusement to
american eyes, but 1 knew that my
Employers would regard it in a very
ifferent light, and that their etiquette
'rbade two girls going unattended to
n artists workshop, even though one Of
lie girls was a child, and the other was {
ngaged in marriage to the artist. They I
ould disapprove Of it for Valerie, and s
n me as Valere's guardian. t
Here begins my fault, of which l S
already spoken. When returning a
ON our first visit to the Mouse-Nest,
id to my little companion: S
1--WE will say nothing at home Of
here we have been, Valerie, or per- ii
'ps they will forbid our going again" p
Tracy was modelling a statue of n
yche, which he hoped to send to the
position at Dusseldorf the following 81
ar. The drawings for it represented "
Q half-draped figure of a beautiful IL
ing girl. sitting on a messy bank, II
a clump of primroses growing at 81
r feet, and her head turned with 81
Get, easy grace to . butterfly, perched HI
htly on her bars shculder. The tg-,
, was well on sowsrd completion in H
but Tracy had not yet found tho th
'del he fancied for the face. be
Walking enc day nsa tAe Molksn- di