The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-07-12
HER LESSON.

There were three girls engaged in q
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 q
subject OF great apparent interest to one
of them at least.
20 girls. he was lovely last night"
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 EdQdrdo. In the last scene,
when he uttered the words, Fra peco a
me recorero,' 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 smiler'
HE sings very well,' said Clara
Newell, coolly; ''but he's rather stout,
and think you would look rather fool
ish kneeling before him."
20, 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 nybody."
Nelly coiored to the roots of her hair.
Marcia's satirical speeches always
any love between them.
an "a II L. -T L. ID
If choose?" 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 l have done it, SO that it can't be
disputed
at will have to be very strong proof.
my dear" drawled Marcia, with her
aggravating laugh. you're not likely
to meet him at your mothers house,
and where then, oh where, my lovep"
..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.
..rm astonished, Nellyr' 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 p
sBut certainly do mean it," Nelly
answered. II like to do daring things,
and I'm not the coward you are, my
dear Lady Prude. Where's the harm
of exchanging a few words with Herr
Hernsheim, I'd like to knowp''
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 stranger, and an opera
singer, clandestinely. and you q school
girl, too! Why. Nelly; don't commit
such folly, and such improper one,
besides!''
II thought it was agreed was very
improper GIRL Nelly said, with q
mutinous smile on her pretty lips,
''Then why do you throw the propri
cites in my facep I'm going to win my
wager from that insolent girl as sure a.
my name is Nelly Bascomber'
'sAnd that insolent girl as you call
her, will be rejoiced to pay her wager
when she knows, or suspects, hoU you
have won it. :"
swell, don't know, nor you, either
hoty it is to be won, but where there's a
will, there's way, and I'll find the
way"
10 Nelly! Nellyr demonstrated
Clara.
"And o Clara! Clara! don't make a
trust me to take care of myself.
promise you III be just as particular
in every word say as if the whole
world heard me. IT'S just for froli,
after all, and I'm not going to be q
coward and back out now.
Clara sighed, but she knew her will
ful friend too well to say more at thai
moment. Nevertheless, in spite O
Nelly's boasts, her friends words gave
her unpleasant feelings of uneasiness
She repeated to herself that Clara wa
prudish, and, brought up by an old
maid aunt, had strained ideas of pro
priety; but she knew in her secret sou
that the imprudencc she contemplated
was wrong, and would injure hel
greatly if it became known.
Bat then her silly head was full o
the noble looks and magnificent voice
Of the singer, and she thought how
romantic it would be if he should fal
victim to her beauty, and address hi
impassioned songs from the stage t.
her in the audience. In fact, there il
no telling how many foolish, senti
mental ideas passed through her mind
But how was she TO win her wager
There was no possible chance at Water
town Seminary, where the strictes
surveillance was exercised over thu
girls, for her to meet the singer, bu
Nelly was to return home the followin.
Friday and remain until Monday morn
Ing. There she knew she could do q
she pleased.
Her mother was woman Devoted t.
society, and beyond paying particula
attention to her daughters dress ant
manners, did not trouble herself abou
her moral training. She would hav
been very much shocked had she know
et The oct Nelly contemplated, becaus