The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1885-01-16


had improved In pronunciation, but
Miss Piper felt herself to be humbug.
What they really did was to spend tho
day together exactly as he chose. Play
ing with educational books, humping
tho piano, daubing bristol-board with
impossible flowers, scrambling through
the. lessons in French, of which Miss
Piper had had q quarter from Swiss
gentleman. For long time she was
alone on Sunday, and usually went to
tho Methodist church to which she be-
longed; but Mr.. Sliger soon altered
that. He began by asking her whether
they had "thcsc vespers of theirs at the
cathedral on Sunday morning." And
when she instructed him that ''vespers'
were in the latter part Of tho day, said
he would call for her.
Accordingly she went to yespcrs at
the cathedral in tho afternoon, and after
that regularly three times q day TO diff
ferant churches.
1t was then that the landlady thought
1t her duty to call.
She appeared in Miss Pandora Piper's
apartment at the awful hour of 10, ma
jestic in her crimping pins, and with a
very serious countenance, and was well
coined in with smile by the little music
teacher.
Good evening, Mrs. Grimm" said
she, 81 haven't had call from you for
very long while"
mo, 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.
GrimmF' calculated Miss Piper.
Can you ask, Pandora Piper?"
answered the landlady in her deepest
chest-note. 'The whole neighborhood is
talking about YOU"
about me.' 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, | shall
be obliged to put up a bill for my Sec
ond floor. You've got to CO."
"Oh, oh, oh"' cried Pandora. 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
correct person as ami"
1T isn't me, Pandora" said Mrs.
Grimm, quite melted. Its the neigh
borhood. The church going Gf it is
church, finished 'em. You're of age
this long while, my dear; you ought to
know how to behave; but l can't coun-
tenance this. l shall put up the bill.
Oh, oh, oh, Pandora that it should
come to this.''
Poor Miss Pandora!
As her friend and landlady walked out
of the door with her handkerchief to her
eyes, she stood metionless 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 af-
forwards, have died of modification, but
that the gong at the front door, pulled
violently at this moment, startled her,
and Nora, running up, wrapped in wa
terproof cloak, for she had been making
to go to bed, announced:
"Mr. Sliger''
"He can't come up" said Pandora,
"at this hour of night"
mo, miss, he ask for you to come
down." said Nora.
Pandora went down.
Mr. Sliger was at the door,
There's telescope at the corner"
he said; something going on in some
star or other, l believe. Get bonnet
and shawl, and come and have peep.
1t will be lesson in astronomy for me.
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.
Shall l sit up for them?" asked Nora.
mo, V said Mrs. Grimm. 81 will"
Meanwhile Miss Pandora and Mr.. |
Sliger peeped through the telescope and
saw the rings of Saturn, which Mr. |
oliger supposed to be phenomenal and |
and which were explained by
Miss Pandora to be fixtures, and then I
adjourned to an ice cream saloon of |
much elegance.
This, indeed, was desperate dissipa- |
ion, Miss Pandora said to herself, as
she sat before the cut-glass goblets on
The damask cloth, and saw the water
splash from the little fountain in the
center into the aquarium and over the |
glossy plants, all reflected in the long
mirrors. However. what did it matter!
She was already talked about" turned
'ut of her lodgings, as a person who
had gone wrong. She would keep this
merry moment to remember when she
lad put an end to all by saying to the
pupil that she could no longer
mpart instruction to him.
He was ordering every indigestible
luxury on the bill of fare, the diamond
IN his little finger flashing like a small
Jun, obsequious walters hobbing about
behind them. He looked kindly at her,
md asked if she liked this or that. He