The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-07-12
HER LESSON.

There were three girls engaged in
confidential chat in one corner of the
French classroom in the Watertown
Seminary for young ladies. At that
hour-noon recess they were compar-
atively alone, and were discussing a
subject of great apparent interest to one
of them at least.
80 girls, he was lovely last nightn'
cried pretty Nelly Bascombe, clasping
her hands and raising her eyes theat-
rically to the ceiling. "You know the
opera was Lucia di Lammermoor,' and
he was EdgardO. In the last scene,
when he uttered the words, 'FTu peco q
me recorcrO,' in that sorrowful, de-
licious voice of his, | felt like kneeling
down at his feet and crying my eyes
out. But threw him beautiful bou-
quet. all Cornelia Cook and Mareschal
Mel rosebuds, mixed with stephanotis,
and he looked up at our box with such
heavenly smilen'
"He sings very WE'LL" said Clara
Newell. coolly; but he's rather stout,
and | think you would look rather fool
ish kneeling before him."
80, but then, you are not a musical
enthusiast and full of intense sentiment,
like Nelly here" said Marcia Stanley,
with her provoking satirical smile. ''Of
course he's adorable and all that on the
stage, and as Nelly is not likely to see
him off it, perhaps she can cherish her
sentiment without harm to anybody"
Nelly colored to the roots of her hair.
Marcia's satirical speeches always
rasped her, and there never had been
any love between them.
"Why can't | see him of the stage,
If i choose?n she cried, angrily. "rll
wager two pairs of gloves that before
the end of this week [ will speak to
Herr Hernsheim, and [ will bring proof
that | have done it, 50 that it can't be
disputed"
at will have to be very strong proof.
my dear" drawled Marcia, with her
aggrayating laugh. ''You're not likely
to meet him at your mothers house.
and where then, oh where, my love?"
"Never do you mind about where"
Nelly answered, angrily. "Please get
the gloves ready for me by next Sun
day
Marcia laughed and sauntered out of
the room.
'Tm astonished, Nellyn' said her
friend Clara, when they were alone.
you allow that girl always to provoke
you into saying and doing imprndent
things. That's what she wants. But
this has been the worst of all You
certainly did not mean what you said.
know you are rash and imprudent,
but you can t mean to seek an inter-
view with an opera-singer ~
'But | certainly do mean it, Nelly
answered. 81 like to do daring things,
and I'm not the coward you are, my
dear Lady Prude. Where's the harm
of exchanging few words with Herr
Hernsheim, I'd like to know"
'If you spoke to the man when with
your parents, or at your fathers house,
there would be no harm; but he is not
likely to be invited there. Only think
of meeting q stranger, and an opera
singer, clandestinely, and you school
girl. too! Why, Nelly; don't commit
such folly, and such an improper one,
besidesr'
81 thought it was agreedI was very
improper girl" Nelly said, with a
mutinous smile on her pretty lips.
''Thep why do you throw the propri-
cites in my faceP I'm going to win my
wager from that insolent girl as sure as
my name is Nelly Bascomber'
"And that insolent girl as you call
her, will be rejoiced to pay her wager
when she knows, or suspects, hon. you
have won it.
"Well, don't know, nor you, either,
hon. it is to be won, but where there's a
will, there's a way, and I'll find the
way"
so Nelly! Nelly" demonstrated
Clara.
"And o Clara! Clara! don't make a
mountain out of mole-hill! just
trust me to take care of myself. [
promise you I'll be just as particular
in every word 1 say as if the whole
world heard me. IT'S just for frolic
after all, and I'm not going to be a
coward and back out now"
Clara sighed, but she knew her will
full friend too well to say more at that
moment Nevertheless, in spite of
Nelly's boasts, her friends words gave
her unpleasant feelings of uneasiness.
She repeated to herself that Clara was
prudish, and, brought up by an old
maid aunt, had strained ideas of pro-
priety; but she knew in her secret soul
that the imprudenco she contemplated
was wrong, and would injure her
greatly if it became known.
But then her silly head was full of
the noble looks and magnificent voice
of the singer, and she thought how
romantic it would be if he should fall
victim to her beauty, and address his
impassioned songs from the stage to