The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-06-12
miscellaneous.
PANDORA'S PUPIL.

| IOOr MISS llLIlG GHOuSuG Wueu suc
began to teach Mr.. Slger, gentleman of neg
lected education, how 10 read and write
that her fair fame was in danger. But one
day Mrs. Grimm, her landlady, paid her q
visit; told her she ought to be ashamed of
| herself to behave 30 unladylike-that all the
neighborhood was talking about the scandal
and wound up by asking the poor little old
maid to leave the house.
Poor Miss Pandora As her friend and
landlady walked out of the door with her
handkerchief to her eyes she stood notion
less, as though turned to pillar of salt. She
saw just how this repair of neglected educa-
ton must appear to her small circle OF dis
| carded pupils, and felt a strong desire to
drown herself, or jump out the window, or
| turn on the gas, or take box OF matches in
her tea, and she might actually, it seemed to
her aflerward, 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 waterproof
cloak-for she had been making preparations
to go to bed, announced
"Mr. Sliger."
HE can't come up" said Pandora, lat this
hour of night"
mo, miss, he says for you to come down."
Pandora went down. Mr.. Sliger was at
the door.
something going on in some star or other,
believe. Get bonnet and shawl and come
and take peep. 1t will be lesson in as
tronomy for me. You can explain it, you
know-same terms as the other lessons"
| Pandora without word obeyed
| The door was closed after the two, leaving
Mrs. Grimm staring at Nora.
"Thats the capsheaf," said the lady.
"Shall sit up for 'em ?" asked Nora.
"No," said Mrs. Grimm. Il will"
! Meanwhile Miss Pandora and MIR. Sliger
peeped through the telescope and saw the
rings of Saturn, which Mr.. Sliger supposed
to be phenomenal and temporary, and which
were explained by Miss Pandora to be fix
lures, and then adjourned to an ice cream
saloon of much elegance.
This, indeed, was desperate dissipation,
Miss Pandora said to herself, as she sat before
cut glass goblets ON the damask cloth and
saw the water splashed from the little foun-
| tain in the centre 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 out
OF her lodgings as person who had gone
wrong. She would keep this merry moment
TO remember when she had put an end to all
by saying to the neglected pupil that she
could no longer impart instruction 10 him.
He was ordering every indigestible luxury
on the bill of fare, the diamond on his little
finger flashed like a small sun, obsequous
walters bobbng about behind them. He look
ed kindly at her, and asked her if she like this
or that. He was as simple as an old baby,
as kind as an old lady, and he was nice.
pleasant looking man.
"All over All over!" she said 10 herself.
II might have known what wicked world
this IS, and how i'll it thinks OF innocent
things WhymightI not go on teaching him
| forever without harmS"
People were coming in from concerts and
theatres; tables were filing, but theirs, be-
tween the two columns beyond the FOUNTAIN,
was very quiet.
The walters were gone to execute Mr..
Sliger's behest Suddenly be turned TO her
and took letter from his pocket
Read that, Miss Piper" he said.
Pandora opened the missive and perused
! it.
1t was from firm of lawyers speaking in
plain terms ofMr. st. Lege1 as gentleman
and man of honor and fortune.
II did not need it, indeed" said Pandora
sadly. "And this is the way your name is
really spelled? st. Leger! It's beautiful
name"
at sounds little curious to me" he said.
"My mother wrote it Sliger. l never knew,
but you see was all right. They never took
me without character when Invent for
place-in the old time, and l couldn't expect
YOU to take me without a character either
IL don't know whether you despise me for
my ignorance or not; but if you do not, why
want you 10 take me for your pupil for LIE
to marry me, you know, Pandora. Will
youthful Of it ?"
1t was a dreadful thing to do in such q
public place, but Pandora Piper felt that she
was going to faint.
ut was in my mind the first day came,
he said. 81 had seen you often through the
window, when you gave lessons to that little
girl at Bells. used to watch you with my
opera glasses. felt sure that you were just
the woman for me, and every lesson you
gave me proved. I shall learn everything
from you-goodness as well as spelling. Oh,
say yes"
Pandora said:
Eyes"
Mrs Grimm was sitting up for her, pale
with wrath, when she returned; but Pandora
took her by both hands and said:
"You won't turn me out until after my
wedding day, will you, dearp You'll let me
get married here? It's next week. Mr.. St
Teger won't wait You see, we shall have tc
go 10 England to live on the estate And
aft er all, poor little teacher needs no great
preparation"
Servants and diamonds and country
house and city house-everything hear
could wish," Mrs. Grimm says, in telling bel
story. "a great lady, now. It's like
romance"