McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-10-09
MISS PIPER'S PUPIL.

Miss Pandora Piper, teacher of mu
sic, who had hard work to keep sou
and body together, but not unhappy
because she said, she was never lef
without new bonnet for Easter Sun
day, and one black silk somehow LASTED
until she got new one, received ;
very singular note one morning not,
which had been handed in at the door
the landlady's "girl'' said, by an ''eld
erly gentleman.
The epistle was enveloped in thu
costliest and most richly decorated en-
velope to be procured for love or money
anywhere. The paper, nearly as thicl
as cardboard, was to match. A coat OF
arms was in the corner, and the words
were as follows:
Miss PIPER:-A person of negluckted eder
cashun is wistful to be undertook. Will kal
at 3. MISTER SLIGER.
''My gracious!" calculated Miss Pan.
dora; che must have been neglected
that's certain. l never saw anything
like that before in all my life! Fatally
forgotten, | should say. Well, Won
der what he can be like. He must be
rich, suppose, poor people can't af-
ford such stationary as this. And a
coat of arms, too! Shoddy, suppose,
but so that he's respectful why should
care for that? He will probably pay
well, and I've lost Anne Eliza Griggs
by marriage just as she was beginning
to take variations.
Nora, shall be in if new pupil
gentleman-callsa at 3 o'clock -
Nora, who, like Miss Piper, who often
gave her little presents, and who kept
on an upper shelf of her closet some
soothing balsam which she was always
ready to apply to poor girls fingers,
which were always being cut or bnrnt
or pinched in something, gave an anna
BILE grin and offered to polish up the
CRATE when she had a minute, ''seeing a
stranger was coming"
The morning wore away. Two little
girls had gone through their exercises
and a heavy lady who took lessons in
vocal music had nearly burst blood
vessel in endeavoring to gain a certain
high note which was the object of her
ambition.
Miss Piper had been around the cor
ner TO give a lesson there and over the
way to see to another pupils practic-
ing.
She came home in hurry, arranged
her hair, saw that the little parlor was
neat and awaited her guest with fever
ish anxiety.
At last he came.
Nora showed some one up stairs and
there entered at the door an elderly
gentleman of benign appearance,
dressed in the latest fashion, but not
without regard to his age, who bowed
low, remarking:
81 hope am not late, mum. | know
your time must be very valuable"
81 am sure only wish everybody was
as punctual,' said Miss Piper. ''It is
exactly three o'clock"
you're very kind, num- said the
gentleman, seating himself, as Miss
Piper motioned him to a chair. "Im
an oldish pupil, l suppose you think;
but I'll explain, think I've explained
in my note, but I'll explain again. I've
been neglected, not from any unkind-
ness-for my poor mother did the best
she could for me-but we were very
poor. 1 don't wish to mention the
humble position I've always occupied
until a year ago, when somebody came
from England and hunted me up.
Mother was dead, poor dear! but this is
how it was: Father was very rich and
up in the world; mother was house
maid. He married her, and his mother
was furious, and mother couldn't stand
it. She ran away; she came here, and
lived an honest, Woodworking life. 1t
was only when she died she told me my
name was not higgins, but Sliger, and
got some lawyer to write, and he was
dead, too, and came into the property
and left the humble position 1 won't
allude to, and-well, I'm rich, but l
don't know anything, and before | 60
to England want to be educated. You
understand"
cts very laudible ambition, I'm
sure" said Miss Piper. 81 usually
teach music, but, of course, / can I'M
dertake the English branches"
Eyes num-" replied the gentleman,
hastily Il want to begin with music
in this manner. have known no one
in high life who could not play upon
the pyanner. Begin with that and go
on to spelling, which am conscious 1
sadly need. ;"
1t was not the true course, but there
was a serious and dignified manner
about this neglected. person that
made it impossible not to say so. She
mentioned her terms and set the hours
for the lessons, and so skillfully en-
phasized the name of the instrument
that Mr.. Sliger before his departure had
begun to call it ''the pearino" instead
of the ''pyanner.
At the door, however, he gave her
dreadful shock.
Il wish, num-" he remarked, ''to
begin with tunes" ,.,
Miss Piper was conscientious little