The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-07-09
THE U TEACHER.

It was the evening OF the commence
ment exercises at Mrs. Weston's large
boarding school.
All was noise and excitement. The
pupils were flying about in a flutter of
anxiety, and in various stages of in
completed toilette.
"What have you done with nv
flowers, Nell? There, how provoking!
You have tipped yer my powder.
Your elbows are always in the wrong
place!" quoth Miss Lydia Holcamp,
n of the older girls, her temper get
ting the better of her. Dear me!
There, I'm ready at last. l wonder
where that Miss Barker is. l want
her to give me another drilling in that
recitation. l dressed early on pur-
pose, and now l suppose she will be
away prinklng her dollyfied selfr'
"Dear me, Lydia. you have had
more instructions on your recitation
than any OF the rest have had on
theirs. l should think it would be
better to study by yourself, and let
Miss Barker have a little rest. The
poor thing is overworked."
"Oh, pshaw." exclaimed Miss Hol-
camp with a sheer; 'tshe likes to show
Oft, that is all. If she didn't like it she
wouldn't be a teacher of elocution."
Thus speaking, Lydia Holcamp de-
parted to seek her ~instructress in elo-
cution-an art upon which the young
lady prided herself.
Lydia was especially anxious to dis
tlnguish herself tonight, for the rea-
son that among those present she ex-
pected there would be a certain Mr..
Harry Quintard, a member OF a
wealthy family whom she had visited
during her vacation.
Her own father was a rich man, and
thef families had always been on terms
of friendship.
Harry and his sister she knew would
come, and failure was not to be thought
OF. But Miss Barker's services were
not to be secured; she was engaged
with SOM OF the younger pupils.
You a not see Miss Barker" re-
marked the p~receptress. "You will
have no difficulty with your piece,
Miss Holcamp, unless you fail 10 re-
member certain passages. Ii [ recol-
lect correctly Miss Barker advised you
to make sure of those points. Have
you done SOP"
''Oh! L remember it perfectlyr' an
swered Miss Holcamp with confidence.
"But l wished Miss Barker to show
me how to fall into that dramatic atti-
tude which L like SO much"
Think of what you are saying Miss
Holcamp, and that will aid you to the
expression. Miss Barker can not give
all her time to one"
Lydia went pouting away.
The evening ADVANCED, the guests
assembled, and at last Lydia's turn to
recite arrived.
She was a girl of most remarkable
assurance. and she went fearlessly on
until suddenly her memory failed her.
1t was what the teachers had fear
ed.
Miss Holcamp had somo ability,
they said, but no application. She
was no student.
She glanced helplessld toward Miss
Barker, who promptep her. Again
she went on. Again she stopped for
want of words.
At last, after several promptsngs,
she came to the end of her selection.
Miss Barker had retreated behind
the draperies, sore and disappointed
that one of her most promising pupils
had thus failed.
ut was all your fault" burst forth
Lydia. ''you hateful, disagreeable
thing! l believe you were jealous, and
meant l should fail, when you went
and hid yourself away with those
children tonight. You knew I needed
another lesson"
The fair little teacher turned pale
and trembled. She was not accus-
toned to such language. Most of her
pupils were kind and obedient.
She was slim, and young, and pref
ty, this teacher and a great student
and worker. All the teachers respect
ed and liked her.
''You have made me fail, and / hope
I may never see your face again!'
concluded LYDIA as she lounced
away.
just outside of the draperies stood
a handsome young man. He heard
teacher, and his lip curled.
.sWho is the tall fair girl in grey"
he had inquired during the evening.
''Miss Barker the teacher of elocu.
ton" had been the reply.
q. He started.
s.Is it possible?" said he. ''She ap-
pears as young as the pupils"
Not n word came from Miss
Bakers lips now, but he heard teach
ers and scholors exclaiming that il was
a shame after the attention she had
lavished upon Miss Holcamp during
the past term.
Mr.. Harry ouintard (for he it was
who had overheard Miss Holeamp)
made his way to the preceptress when
the exercises were over, and asked her
for an introduction to Miss Barker.
s.Ah, you mustn't be making love
to my pet teacher, MIR. Quintard. "said
the lady, with all arch glance and an
admonitory tap of her fan.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Harry Cuintard
was presently seated by the side OF
..pretty Miss Barker as nearly all
called her in the school.