The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-16
A HAPPY OMEN.

Noise, babble, little learning and
learning little, great display affection
and little affection to display-such
are tho evident features of o ladies'
school.
Bon ciety Goodness gracious! Mon
daeu! Oh, Mamie Barker, what have
you doneP Oh, dear, dear! what will
the professor sayp Was there ever such
n mess? Bon cieir' and with slight
variations the babel of tongues went
on, as score of the larger girls at
Madame D'Orsay'o institution, gathered
around box of 'hivered glass, and sur
veyed the crystal atoms.
There was q momentary pause as
Nell Hunter stopped down and gath
cred the broken fragments; but the
solemnity with which she shook her
head and the unusual depth of her
voice as she exclaimed, "All shattered
and shivered and gone to smash" quite
awed the party, and again they resort
ed to the explanatory relief.
"Oh, Mamie Barker! I wouldn't
stand in your shoes! The professor will
annihilate you for the destruction of
his pet instrumcntsr'
ut is unlucky to break glass! I
should expect to hear of the death of
all my friends" whined Jane Morton
in tone decidedly doloroso.
"Fiddle-faddler sneered Hattie
Clark. "Jane Morton, you had better
hang horseshoe over your door to
keep the witches away. Of course, it
is unlucky to break surveyors tran
sit. compass, and all these delicate
instruments, but don't be such fool as
to suppose this accident will influence
Nannic's fate otherwise"
Not word said Mamie Barker all
this time.
ITO think that should do that! If it
were any one else, the professor would
be less severe, for have always been
the most aggravating pupil in his class,
and he likes me least. Only think how
saucy and provoking was yesterday;
and he worships these instruments as
much rs he despises me. Oh, dear, 1
feel like one of the little creatures we
read about, who was going to be eaten
up by dragons. wish j had been a
heather and my mother had thrown me
in the Ganges to q crocodile when l
was an infant, before knew the hor-
rors of mathematics or the terrors of
Prof. Sterling's wrath"
We could not refrain from laughing
at Nannie's characteristic language.
though her sutferings were not in the
least affected, for if Madame D'Orsay
had a pupil who was Professor Sterling's
aversion, that pupil was saucy Mamie
Barker.
"What is their valued" asked practi-
cal Nell Hunter, toying with the bits OF
glass and metal.
"The transit alone is worth more
than twenty pounds" 1 replied. 81
think it was the only careless thing
Professor Sterling ever did, to leave
that case here yesterday. He was
absent-minded all through our recita-
ton"
"More than twenty poundsr' echoed
Mamie Barker. "And the compass
and all! What-oh, what shall dop"
Every girl glanced at Nannie's dress,
the plainest and cheapest in the insti-
tuition; but the clear, sharp ringing of
the prayer bell arrested ali further spec
ulations and comments, and the group
paired off in congenial couples, chat
ting on their way to the chapel, of Nam
ME Barker's wild race through the
study-hall, and her unfortunate stumble
against the table where stood the pro-
fessor's instruments. Such remarks as
these might have been heard:
"Nannic is very poor. Her uncle is
educating her for teacher. She can
never pay the value of the broken in
struments."
In the meantime Mamie had linked
her arm in mine, and we were slowly
bringing up the rear.
"Nhat-oh, what shall l do?' she
was saying. "In half an hour the stern
old ogre will be here. If could give
him an equivalent would be rs defiant
as ever; but have no money. dare
not ask my uncle, and poor mamma
has none. The only article of value /
possess is this watch, mammals. watch.
If Professor Sterling were q woman l
would know how to manage; but l am
afraid of men-I never knew any to
speak of-but they are all so high and
lofty, and are not tender and gentle like
women. l can't understand them, and
l fear Professor Sterling if / am saucy
and contrary"
you do the professor injustice"
1 began. But the chapel door was
reached, and further comment was
checked.
There will be no recitation in Pro.
fessor SterlinC's room to-day" said
Madame D'Orsay rs we left the chapel.
The professors wife is dangerously
i'll. He has sent for a case of instru-
ments he unintentionally left yesterday.
VIII some of the young ladies give them
to his servant?,'
Now was the time for Nannie's con-
fession, and with sobs and tears she
explained to madame the sad misfor-
tune.
"Je nc satS qTy .fatre," began ma
dame; but seeing Nannie's pazzled
looks at her French comfort, she con-
tinued: 1.-The professor loves science;
he loves his instruments. He will be
exceedingly veXed perhaps, but you
had better frankly tell him. He has a
kind heart, assure you. He will ex-
pect his instruments, and it will never
be so easy 10 tell him as now. Twill
excuse you and your friend from morn
ing recitations, if you choose to accom-
pany the professors servant"
An hour later, Mamie Barker and
myself were standing in Professor
Sterling's handsome parlor awaiting
the entrance of our stern old tutor.
did you bring the caseP' we heard
him ask from an adjoining apartment;
and Mamie trembled at the reply, that
some young ladies would account for
his failure.
conduct them here" we heard him
say; and we were ushered into our pro-
fessor's presence.
And not the professor alone.
In tho darkened light of the room
we saw our tutor sitting by low couch,
and supporting with his strong arms q
pale, haggard woman, with gentle
ness and tenderness we had thought
inconsistent with this grave man OF
science.
He greeted me kindly, but looked
puzzled when he saw Mamie.
Only waiting to be assured that her
recital would not disturb the invalid,
Mamie, with a trembling voice told her
story, her sorrow, her incompetency to
remunerate the loss; and then unfolded
her plan of restoring their value when
she had completed her studies, begging
him TO take her watch rs a pledge.
The professor listened quietly, with
his eyes fixed on the pale face at his
side, and when Mamie had finished,
simply remarked: