The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-07-10
Five Minutes too IIIlc.

Miss Maynard, ut last goaded to desper-
alton, locked the door, put the key in her
pocket, and announced to her captivcs,
Il will release you at eight o'clock pro.
ciscly, and not before"
The statement was received in stubborn
silence, yet the good lady justified herself
Tor the severe measure rs she walked down
to the vilIugc. Her belief, as chief Of tho
Hopvillc Academy, WIS that girls required
to be compressed within rigid rulos OF
discipline, both mentally anil morally.
According to this standard, the Coppe
sisters were very far indeed from the pre-
scribcd path.
The teacher consulted her watch, and
found that she had two hours ut bcr dis.
pnsal. She went to take tea with the
doctors wife-an unusual dissipntion-
and forgot the cares of Office in the dis
cuSsion Of ''flapjacks" dclicatcly favored
with sugar and nutmeg. Imprisonment
had come about in this way: two little
maidcns, exactly alike i'll appearance,
christcned respectively Lofty and Hatty
Cope, Ind been brought 10 lIopyillc
Academy by IN induigcnt father six
months before. Miss Maynard, most firm
and wcll-rcgulatcd of principals, had in
formed her world with justitiable pride
that tho twin sisters had been reared in
the Southwest, Il vague region where they
were hcircsscs, and that their parent, AN
eccentric man, had recently purchased Il
large property in the vicinity of Hop
vile. Very ignorant and wayward, Miss
Maynard WAS expected To polish the new
pupils ~ n state Of dccOrus young lady
hood. She might rs well have attempted
to tame the golden eagle. They liked to
drive, to row. and ronp; their small hands
were toughcned with ball-playing; they
assumed gcntlcmanly attitudes by in.
stinct. Alas, that the siIkcn pillow of
heavy school bills promptly paid should
have so many thorns!
The Misses Coppc had not been domi-
Ciled many weeks within the academy
walls before that portion Of the cream
c0l"rcd cdiiicc in close proximity to their
windows wns discovcrcd;tn have changed
hue in the night. These amateur artists,
having slnuSglcd in paint-pot, had tried
the elect of br0nzc- green in the moon
light Scarcely had they cnndoncd this
otlcnsc when they removed the key. board
Of the best piano, concealed Il in II closet,
md gave as II lucid reason for the extra
ordinary step, that the music. master
would otherwise insist on II lesson, and
they hated scales. The teachers bccnnc
npprclIcnsivc by instinct when two littlo
brown heads WIRE observed laid together,
scholars Eigglcd in antici ipntion of rich
results IN the fields Of mischief and Miss
Maynard WAS grateful for tho day that
witnessed no fresh prank.
One night timid new pupil presented
herself in state of sliivcrins wakcfulncSs
at Miss Msynnrrl's door ~ tho clock struck
twelve.
81 am afraid, ma'am. There's noiso
IN my room," whimpcrcd the new girl.
"What nnnsCnsc" said the teacher, and
went swiftly t0 the scene of disturbance.
Profound silence cnsucd. 4 candle
burned dimly un the table. Miss May.
nard sat bolt upright, picture of rigid
incIcduliiy, and the now pupil lowered
timully near The door. Suddenly tho
whole chamber became pcrmcaicd with
unintclligiblc sound, which centred in the
wall i'll most peculiar grating, grinding
noise. Miss Maynard grew slightly pale
the new pupil crcpt close To her side
There was fall ri rubbish, then ray oi
''tN'' "''Nhh'N' q li'iC III lHt NNll
the end of some instrument was male Wis
iblc rounding the aperture, and little
voice said, "Ilullon. Mary White! WC
brought an nugV from l,nmu 10 l,oru hole,
like tho prisoners in cells, you know, ant
we've tried il on the ceiling, only tn,
plaster fell IN our eyes. Now NC hav,
worked 0n your wall nll study hour
Heres some supper for y0u."
Miss Maynard stood hy tho holo lik,
the provcrbal cat while this guilclcs
confession wns made. Ignorant Of i'm
pending evil, the little voice wont on
while boiled crab, slice of plum cake
aud II small torrent Of Caramcls were pro
PEELED through the opening. Miss May
nnrd smiled sarcnsticaIly; tho new pupi
blushcd. Dismny was pictured on In
t'nccs Of those victims Of misplaced con
idcncc, tho Coppc sisters next door, whc
tlir principal surprised them arranging
train of cdiblcs before tho tunnel in III
wall
81 am simply ashamed Of you," sh
suid Ia the youthful sinners. "ls il no
enough that y"u have ruined the hes
piano nnd attempted To alter the houst
or that you make trumpet Of you