The Red Cloud chief., 1886-06-25
TOO LITTLE BUTTER.
Tho Croat Trouble Caused by q
Stupid Artist.

,ttstA' <AitAo~
Yes. certainly did wrong. and tn,
dark day HAT my punishment brougn,
! could not but feel were deserved.
Wiicr | WAS eighteen. father died, and
liz orphan children were LEFT To learn
the meaning Of the dismal word pov-
rr:y. We had lived for MANY wears in
different pii:r, la Germany and
France. an'i had never rcvi,i,o.It.in old
home ia New Iiampshirr. which |
could dimly remember. Father had
been tIcc-Connui aud then clerk in a
bank until mother died. when he
seemed "a los. all i~ntrrcs, in outside
matters. and stayed quietly ut home in
"ur little apartment at Mannheim.
After hi, death, | was obliged To seek
employment. | was well educated.
and ] was engaged a. Govcrncss 10 the
little Counties, Valerie Won (Lilicnbrrg.
She was II beautiful child with rip
pes Of long golden hair tossing in
downy rings over her head like a MIN
bus. and she had Il swift, floating.
noisclc,s way Of walking. that WAS
very sbirit-likc. Valerie was not quite
ten year. old when ! entered the fam
lily. SO my duties with her were not
very burdcnsomc. was Ia teach her
English. talk that language with her
constantly. take her t. 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 yrici
At fathers death than INV other iutlu-
cnch ] can remember. | saw vcry lit
lie of til elder members of the family;
oun Lilicnbcrg had IN important
position at court. and was often alb
sent; the Countess. his wife. vas busy
with the claims of society. and had
time for little else. | knew she was
very foud of Valerie. but save for Il
drive in the afternoon and a good
night kiss aud blessing. she scarcely
ever saw the child.
Part of the second summer of m, en-
cagcmcnt with Valerie we spent al Hell
dclberg Here | will allow myself a brief
:ligrc sion. Ia tell what j. to me by far
the most interesting and most impor-
tant part OF my story. Down at the
End of II pretty. quiet lane. und"r the
shadow Of the old .,SchloSS." was an
artists studio. called the MouSc-NcSt. |
IL was rather crowded. being shared by
. sculptor and painter. but it was a
wonderfully fascinating place to visit.
Ihc pa inter- WAS a German. with an un-
ruly crop of hair and y fine voice for
student songs. The sculptor was Tracy |
Norton. We had met the year before
father dicd. and that summer Tracy
asked me il | would be his wife. Iloycd
HIM. and had accepted him He WAS
poor. but that WAS nothing for a young
mar OF his PROMISE; he had not sold
any statues wet. but he had two gold
medals for industry and talent. and or
dcrs were sure Ia come later.
Once a wjck Valerie and went to
Mouse-Ncst for a brief half hour. !
anu l.think for both Of us this visit Wa,
rhc ,lcasantcst event of the week. Val
erie. for her age. was unusually fond
of PICTURES. and to he able To watch
sncri. from the iirst splash Of pain,
upon TIC canvas. 90 the final touch of
high light. was deeply interesting. All
thi, WAS very innocent amusement to
American eyes. but I knew that nv
employers would regard it in n very
different hight. and that their etiquette
forbade .wo girls going unattended 10
aIartist'> workshop. cvcn though one Of
the girls was \ child. and the other WAS
engaged in marriage TO the artist. They
would .ii>appcovc of it for Valerie. and
for IN. rs Nalcric's guardian.
Here begins my fauit. of which l
have already spoken. Whcn returning
lrorh our fist ,i,it TO the Mou>c-Ncst. |
said to my little companion:
I'VE will say nothing 1t horne of
where We hive been. Valerie. or per-
laps they will forbid our going again"
rTracy Ea> modelling = statue Of
Psyche. which he hoped to send to the
=: Dusseldorf the following
year. The drawings for it represented
the half-lrapcd figure of 4 beautiful
young girl. sitting on a messy bank.
with a clcmP of primroscS growing At
her feet. and her head turncd with
sweet easy grace to = butterfly. perchcd
lightly on her bare shoulder. The fig-
IRE was well en- toward completion in
clay. but Tracy had not vet found the
modcl he fSncied for the face.
Walking y day near the Molken-