River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-11-02
The Three InSeparableS
A Boarding School Story.

THE three ''inseparables" were sit
ting in the bay window of Dolly
Rivers room at the Misses Primrose's
boarding school for young ladies and
looking as glum as could be. And this
will seem strange when l tell you that
the Christmas holidays were only ten
DAYS off. and their young heads should
have been full of such joyous things as
visions of home comings, sleigh rides
and plum buildings.
The trouble was this: Both Dolhe
and Julia Norris had received a note
saving that their midyear eXamina-
tions in English history and geography
had been so poor that unless they were
prepared to take another examination
in each study before they went home
for Christmas the Misses Primrose
would be obliged to give them home
work to do.
Now, to have to study during the
HOLIDAYS was too horrible to contem-
plate. 1t would spoil half their fun,
and, moreover, it was disgrace which
both girls would have felt keenly.
Edna had invited both Julia and
Dolly home with her for the holidays,
as Julia's home was in the far west and
Dolly's sole relatiye-her father-was
still abroad.
Isn't it too dreadful for anything!
exclaimed Dolly, with tears in her eyes,
as she gazed blankly at the note.
Il see nothing for us to do but to
burn the midnight oil between now and
the holiday time" said Julia, despond-
emily.
what! Study your eyes red and
worry yourselves half to death just to
please our dear teachers?' demanded
Edna. 'Why, L won't hear of it. So just
put that idea out of your head at once"
Edna was a healthy, robust girl of 10,
and, being older than her two friends,
sic had assumed a sort of guardian
snip over them which they did not dis
pute.
''AIl right, Edna" said Dolly, meek
lv. Il am not oyer-anXious to work my
self sick, but what do you propose to
do?'
Let me have till tomorrow morning
TO think out plan, and I'll promise you
to find a way out of your trouble"
The next morning at breakfast tele-
gram was brought to Edna. She opened
it. frowned and bit her lip. $50 pro-
voking!" she murmured.
Il trust there is nothing wrong at
home, Miss Edna!" said Miss Tabitha
Primrose, looking over her spectacles
at her pupil.
..Why, my cousin Nora, who lives but
a few miles from here, wants me to
spend a couple of days with her. She is
not well and her husband is away on
business. She says the carriage Will be
here for me in an hour or so,'' replied
Edna, as she handed the telegram
across the table to Miss Tabitha.
Il am very sorry to have you miss
any recitations at this time" said Miss
Primrose. "But of course you must go
if you think it is necessary"
YES. think | had better go, replied
Edna, and, hurrying through the meal,
she excused herself, and went 10 her
room and got ready for her departure
you're nice one!' cried Dolly,
breathlessly. running off in this fash
ion, when you promised to get us out of
our scrape.'
Edna burst out laughing.
MY dear children" she began, this
visit of mine is simply a part of my
little scheme to help you out of your
scrape."
Edna went to her little desk and
picked up some slips of paper.
Here girls" she said, take these
papers. They contain a list of ques-
lions in English history and geography.
Learn the answers perfectly. 1t won't
take you long. Now, my dears,' she
went on, don't be surprised at what
may happen during the next two or
three days All I ask of you is to learn
the answers to these questions and give
them when they are asked of you. And
now, good-by for little while"
But Edna" cried Julia, please tell
us more. What does all this mean?"
THE less you know-now-the less
danger there is of my little plan going
amiss." rotor ed Edna, and not another
word could her friends draw out of her.
That night at dinner Miss Tabitha
made the following announcement to
the school:
II have Just received letter from
Miss Mary Clark, who is $50 she in
forms mel ateacher in a southern school
for girls. She says that she has heard
of our excellent method of instruction
and she is going to take the liberty
as she expresses it--of calling here to-
morrow. She would like to spend few
hours attending our various classes
- 49, al l.
II need not tell you" Miss Tabitha
added, that | shall be most pleased TO
entertain Miss Clark, who, l am sure,
must be a very fine woman, judging
from her nice letter. OF course, l trust
all YOU young ladies will make it your
special duty to be well prepared for to-
morrow's recitations, as | shall natur-
ally feel a pride in your making a good
showing before n strange teacher"
Dolly looked at Julia aud Julia looked
at Dolly. Then they grew red in the
face. Presently they both stole from
the table and went straight for Dolly's
room.
What can it meant burst out Dolly.
"You don't think that--that-"
ION, no! It's just a coincidence!
that's ALL" replied Julia. Just the
same. we had better study the ques-
tons Edna told us to. and tonight"
And they did, working till long past
their usual bedtime. Miss Tabitha, see
ing a chiull of light under Dolly's door,
walked in.
Under ordinary circumstances /
should not approve of such late hours,
she announced to the two girls, but
owing to the fact that you are both de-
ficient and that we are expecting Wis
iting teacher | regard this studiousness
as most commendable." And so saving
she bestowed faint smile on Julia
and Dolly and left them.
Miss Clark did not arrive the next
day, much to the disappointment of the
school, which had carefully prepared it.
self in its studies. The second day, how
ever, the lady arrived shortly after
morning prayers. The maid came in
and told Miss Tabitha. whereupon that
excellent lady hurried down from the
rostrum and made for the parlor She
was gone about three minutes, when
she returned, ushering in a medium
sized woman, in a sober gown. and
whose eyes were rather weak. evident
", as she wore blue goggles. Her hair