McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-10-09


He had very good ear; he was
anxious to learn. From the ''White
Cockade" he went to ''Life Let Us
Cherish" and poor guilty Miss Piper,
who felt that the notes had very little
to do with his performance, beat time
and counted.
Meanwhile she found that, leaving
education out of the question, the man
was very sensible-that he was very
kindly and amiable. Once corrected in
the pronunciation of a word he never
became backslider on that question.
However, it was he who arranged every
thing, and not his teacher.
AS other lessons were added the
neglected person set the hours for
them; finally he had six hours day.
The spelling lesson, the lesson on geo
graphy; the lesson in history, followed
each other. All the week days were
his.
Poor Miss Piper had no power to say
him nay. He paid well, he treated her
with actual reverence, but the last pu-
pill went when he elected to copy some
very flat Glover pieces" which Miss
Piper had executed in early youth and
call this lesson in painting. He had
all her weekdays at last. He certainly
had improved in pronunciation, but
Miss Piper felt herself to be humbug.
What they really did was to spend the
day together exactly as he chose. Play
ing with educational books, humping
the piano, daubing bristol board with
impossible flowers, scrambling through
the lessons in French, of which Miss
Piper had had quarter from Swiss
gentleman. For long time she was
alone on Sunday and usually went to
the Methodist church to which she be-
longed; but Mr.. Sliger soon altered that.
He began asking her whether they had
''these vespers of theirs at the Cathedral
on Sunday morning?' And when she
instructed him that ''vespers" were in
the latter part of the day, said he would
call for her.
Accordingly she went to vespers at
the cathedral in the afternoon and after
that regularly three times a day to diff
ferent churches.
1t was then that the landlady thought
it her duty to call.
She appeared IN Miss Pandora Piper's
apartment at the awful hour of ten,
majestic in her crimping pins, and with
very serious countenance and was well
coined in with smile by the little
music teacher.
s'Good evening, Mrs. Grimm" said
she, 81 haven't had call from you for
a long while.''
s.NO, Miss Piper, you haven't said
Mrs. Grimm with emphasis. ''You
couldn't expect me to call after such
carvings on
''Why, what do you mean, Mrs.
Grimm" calculated Miss Piper.
'.Can you ask, Pandora Piper?" an
swered the landlaay in her deepest
chest note. ''The whole neighborhood
is talking about YOU"
''About mer' screamed Miss Piper.
you and that man. said the land
lady.
''My pupil, Mr.. Sliger?" sobbed Miss
Piper, now fairly in tears.
''Your pupil? Don't tell me-" said
Mrs. Grimm. '.Miss Pandora Piper, 1
shall be obliged to put up bill for my
second floor. You've got to 60"
ooh, oh, obi" cried Pandora, s'Can
you think any harm of me? Why, you
could come in at any moment. Nora
is in and out every now and then. Such
a respectable elderly gentleman, and
such a correct person as | amp"
cit isn't me, Pandora" said Mrs.
Grimm, quite melted. ''It's the neigh
borhood. The church going Gf it is
finished 'em. You're of age
this long while, my dear; you ought to
know how to behave; but can't coun-
tenance this. shall put up the bill.
Oh, oh, oh, Pandora! that it should
come to this!"
Poor Miss Pandora!
AS her friend and landiady walked
out of the door with her handkerchief
to her eyes, she stood motionless as
though turned to pillar of salt.
She saw just how this repair of neg
lected education must appear to her
small circle of discarded pupils, and
felt strong desire to drown herself, or
Jump out of the window, or turn on
the gas, or take box of matches in her
tea, and she might actually, it seemed
to her afterwards, have died of mortifi-
cation, but that the gong at the front
door, pulled violently at this moment,
startled her, and Nora, running up,
in waterproof cloak, for she
had been making preparations to 60 to
bed, announced:
''Mr. Sliger!'
ssHe can't come up said Pandora,
sat this hour of the night"
s'No, miss; he asks for you to come
Town." said Nora.
Pandora went down.
Mr.. Sliger was at the door. Il
ssThere's telescope at the corner"
ne said; Something going on in some
star or other, believe. Get bonnet |
md shawl and come and have peep.
It will be q lesson in astronomy for
ne. You can explain it, you know
same terms as the other lessons.
Pandora without word obeyed.
The door closed after the two, leaving
Mrs. Grimm staring at Nora.
That's the capsheaf," said the lady: