Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-12-12
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER ].
The Lecture Hall and Literary Iusti.
tute. Moukton-a long, rectangular rom.
ht with six gas jets on hanging T-shaped
fittings; the drab walls decorated with
half dozen maps; the coloredrepresenta
ton In sections of a very early steam
engine; an chronological chart; and other
Instructive works Of art. At one end
small stage, opening fourteen feet b,
eight. aanked BY red curtains, and fur.
nished with six footlights and q drop
scene. showing Athens, the worse foi
many falls; grand piano below the pros,
cenium by way Of orchestra. The body
of the hall ranged in parallel lines with
red-cushioned seats. on which are closely
pressed the relatives and friends Of pupils
connected with Mrs. Weary Shepherds
High School and Academy for the daugh.
tiers Of gentlemen An overflow Of bash
full youths line the walls right and left
Three very warm-looking gentlemen, each
with a packet Of programs in his hand
and a white favor in his buttonhole, are
endeavoring. with smiling assiduity, to
lind places for q crowd of late comers.
There is q general inspection Of pink
programs. and buzzing is heard. Even
the professors speak in hushed tones, for
the general effect Of the hall. despite the
stage, Is that of q Methodist chapel. A
lady explains to q gent.eman-who seems,
by some accident, to have come there
without knowing why-what is toward:
Its a High School, you know. Mrs.
Weary Shepherd-Tm sorry to see that
she's not here; she is indisposed, I'm told
this entertainment has been got up to
demonstrate the advantage Of the elOcu'
don and department class"
"Oh. l see."
"She wrote to the great tragedian-
what is his name?-on the subject. Here
II his reply on the back of the program.
1t was he who suggested what should be
acted"
You don't say so! And what is the
play he recommends?
"'She Stoops to Conquer My little
Milly takes the part of Diggory. She's
only twelve, you know. Mrs. Weary
Shepherd assured me that, if she had
only been a year or two older, she should
have asked me to let her play old Mar
low"
"Ah. indeed. Then all the performers
are-eh-young ladiesT
"Oh, Of course: and. naturally, Mrs.
Weary Shepherd has carefully revised
the play for the use of her pupils. All!
that is Miss Tinkleton. the music mis-
tress- It's going to begin now."
Miss Tinkleton plays an elaborate SON
alta Of Schumann-brilliant, but rather
long. An awkward pause. In which the
hurrying Of feet, some giggling, and a
confusion Of whispering tongues are
heard coming from the other side Of Ath-
ems. A voice from the same remote part
asks. Are you ready now. young ladiesT
to which a general reply of "No. no! not
Jet. not yet" in accents of terror, creates
q litter among the audience. Miss Tinkle-
ton, with admirable presence Of mind, at
tacks another sonata; but before she gets
to the foot Of the page a bell rings, and
the curtain rises in three spasmodic jerks.
Applause from the parents and friends
Of the young ladies, who are discovered
In the characters of Mr.. and Mrs. Hard
castle, facing each other. and in doubt
whether they ought to begin before Miss
Tfnk,eton has gone through her sonata.
Then Miss Tinkleton stops in the middle
Of a bar with confusion. The play pro-
cseds, the rigid Mr. Hardcastle and the
dgid Mrs. Hardcastle exchanging their
ouid pro auos with the regular intonation
Of q we!!-learnt lesson, and the audience
already assuming an air Of calm repose
and hesi9nation, when a vociferous halloo
beyond the red curtain, followed by the
brisk entrance Of Tony Lumpkin on the
scene, fairly galvanizes the audience Into
life. The entrance is clearly unrehears-
ed. for Mrs. Hardcastle incontinently for
gets her part What does that matter! !
Everyone is occupied with Tony, and he
has the sense to turn the silence to effect.
There he stands, a strapping, black
eyed young fellow with red wig. stand
ing looking audaciously at the audience
as he cracks his riding whip and whistles
through a long row Of white teeth. Sud
denly, as IL recollecting an engagement,
be SAYS, I'm off," and crosses the stage
with an unseen wink to Mrs. Hardcastle,
and a quickly whispered line that she Is
10 take up. As he goes of. battling stout
ly with Mrs. Hardcastle at the end OF the
scene, everyone in the audience consults
the program. Surely that cannot be
Miss Vanessa Grahame" is on every
one's lips. But it is, though-Nessa her
self, who, taking advantage Of Mrs. Vic
ary Shepherds absence, has determined
to play the part as she conceives Gold
smith intended it to be played. and, in
defiance Of Mrs. Weary Shepherds ex-
press injunction that she should not dis
6pure herself, has painted her pretty face
ochre and rouge, and hidden her pretty,
waving, chestnut hair with red wig sent
down with the costumes from Bow street
What is more, she has got hold Of an un-
abridged copy Of the play, and 10 deter.
mined to say every word Of 1t.
The second scene is set. And here, to
the terror Of Miss TinkletOn at the piano
Nessa introduced the song Of the Three
Jolly Pigeons" which Mrs. Weary Shep-
herd had cut out, without a moments
hesitation. Moreover, she introduced
stem dance in the final chorus of Tor
eoddle. torroddle, torrol," as if unable 1.
contain the exuberance of her spirits.
The act finished. and Athens is once
more in view. There is commotion IL
lhe auditorium. The ladies are SURPRISED
rhey cannot understand how Mrs. Vicary
shepnerd could allow sucn performance
q be given. Department and eiocutioi
xere all very well in their way, ana Oh
,er Goldsmith was, undoubtedly, yer!
,xceIlent writer, but really such Ian
mage! And how Miss Grahame, youni
adv who. in a few years. would have
,osition in society with three thousand
,ear. how could she SO forget hersen
LITTLE Milly's mamma Is quite sure ina
,er daughter would not have played I'M
aart In that dreadful manner. IL -
nost serious thing to have such perso'
In a school where her example. thouen
II course. contemned, might possibly III
iuence her fellOw-pupiis.
Meanwhile a couple Of young gentle
men who have been madly in love VIII
Nessa for the past two years, and thre
,r four others who have seen her 10
81. o.. ~, S.st limo and have not tha