Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-05-25
MI0NONNE

Il
"Your sister, Philip vsnderven,sI
looked at the bi, Of paper little mor'
in,sn,ly. "Not much like you Chsndran
wh., q pretty bsbyi'h look there Il
abou, IT,"
"she |, scarcely more than . baby
said Jack. stepping back few PAGES
With hi. bead held critically on one side
to observe the effect Of the late ie~
touches. "Only little girl. you know;
bu, an uneommonly nice one. There
she is now-in some muddle over the
accounts I suppose. We have oceans ol
fun ou, Of our housekeeping. and Poo'
old Beekie does the work"
And then the door swung back fore.
IDLY. and . young girl. plsn,ifally adorned
With blo,ehss Of ink In every direction,
made her appearance.
"Oh Jsek!" she cried. "Te been
bO,herins over this thing al the morn.
ing. and il eon't CON, out right. Can,
you help me ?" And then she stopped
abort, for she saw ths, Jack VAS no,
alone
"Ne,er mind. sirlis." said Jack. zee.
ing her distressed face. "This u Mf.
vandsrven,sr-my little sister. air. Too
bad sboa, the account; bat I've no head
for figures. you kno-. Let Il 90.
"Msy try TO help you''
Had Philip vsndsrventer been equal
to the msn,al effort. he would have Won.
dervd ., his Own resdins" hut he
wasn't. IL did strike him - little odd
when he began HE task. thu, he should
have offered Ms assistance but the cen
sa,ion Of being useful Vas something
novel; bat IL pleased him for the time
being. And besides. !, vas such prs,.
" girl who lean, over him. hindering
him in the NOS, unconscious and charm.
ing manner.
"0st IL wrong again - quickly -
possible" when the victory vss voa over
the obstinsts fsurvs. "snd then apply to
me. feel quite rfrsshsd By my s1.
sr,ions. Doa't thank me. BEG Of you !;
I consider il . privilege" And then be
began lsnEuidly to eoaI on his gloves.
looking eover,ly q, Misnoane. 81 shall
come in ofisn. II I may. Chandran. he
said: IL. dull in town nov. and | An
bored to death" And 90 he departed.
Il vu odd hov thu, ehild's face
haunted him. the great, wide-opsn. dark
sye., with their long. straight lsshes {;
The clear. bsbyish eomplsHoa the deli.
cate, sensitive mouth and the long
heavy brsids OF golden hair. "Saeh =
pretty. pretty sirl! he said. half un.
oon.eiously. "sueh . pretty little child!
The nsI, day he Vas G Chsndrsns
studio again. aud the next, and 20 on.
II. had suddenly become greatly inter.
es,ed in art: and Jack Chsndr.n vas the
very man to give him ide. on the sub
jeci-.o he ssid-and day after day found
him q, the studio. and be aud Misnonne
we're soon e1cellsnt friends.
"a very pretty little girl. he had
called her. ani this conviction grew
stronger on him daily. "a very. very
pretty little girl" she wNs indeed
"She'll make more than one heart ache
BY and by" be thought. /. be A' 10 the
little si,,ins-room one day lhe Vas I'd.
mi,isd "behind the scenes" now; Jack
had "tsken . fancy" TO him, and showed
!, mos, empha,ieAliy.) looking at her I"
she knel, before the small grs.e trying
to COAX the FIRE Into eheeriness. "Chsn.
drsn will have his hands full; and l
doa, envy him"
And then Misnonne. sitting down ell
in heap on III. dinsy hssr,h.rus. turn-
ed around upon him. "whai Are you
thinking Of. that you look 90 cross ," she
said: "it must be something dreadful" "
"Only Of you. little girl" he answered
smiling down N her. "Nothine %
dreadful AFTER al. i' i,'"
"And VIA, Of me J" the childish per.
.h,sney vn very charming. "whA'
have done p
Nothing. a. yet. l,'s VIA, you will
do. OF which I vas thinking-when you
are . grown young lsdy-vhen yor be-
gin to think OF leaving lack"
81 shall never leave Jack J" The prei.
,y h.nd-pre,,y although !, VAS dark.
ened here and there In the argument
With the fre-esms down forcibly on the
aoor beside her. "Never. Mr.. Wander.
ven,er ="
"Bat II you cared for any ons-u
you will some day. my dear ehild-snd
Jack. knowing that you would Be happy
With him. should be willing. then IL
would be different, you know"
But the pretty head still shook in .
mos, decided negative. "Jaek would
never be willing. I know. And-there
Vas . sudden little aush OF temper In the
girli,h voice-snd don't like you talk
ing sbou, my caring for any one except
Jack and"
"And whom" said Mr.. Wander.
ven,er. lsrily admiring the heightened
color and brish. eyes. "And wh'm.
Mignonne
"And yoa.' she said. looking up to
him in her frank. childish way. "l like
you. Mr.. vsnderventer."
lie laughed . lazy little laush-shs
Vas such pretty little girl. and % child.
ishly honest. 81 Am very glad you do"
be said. "Bat Why"
because you don't wear vslvs,sen
coat; because you don, smoke hotrid
| pipe; because you don't talk slang; be.
cause you keep Jour hands nice ; and be-
eause-becsuse I do r.
"Thanks." How refreshingly candid
she Was. "And I like you. too, little
girl We are excellent friends. But
you will outgrow it presently; shail be
quite lsh behind when yoa Are . young
lady"
He had offended her now; be saw IL
In the droop Of her eyslids and at the
corners OF her mouth.
"Iis like once, like always. with US.
Chsndrsn." she said. risins. and stand
ing with one hand resting on the mantle.
looking dsvn intsn,ly ., the fire; and
then for time they were silent The