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

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FRHNk BHRRETr
FRHNk BHRRErr

pass to the omnibus that is waiting
take her and the rest Of the boarders TO
NE school at Westham. She comes down
after the small fry, with her arm linked
n Miss Tinkleton's.
The full moon Is right overhead; its
light glistens on her white teeth and
sparkles in her dark eyes as she laughs.
she Is clearly trying TO make the poor
governess forget her trouble, and, indeed,
succeeds in raising a faint smile on her
lugubrious countenance. But though she
Is laughing and full Of fun, Mesa is not
hoydenish. Those who have not seen her
before tonight can hardly believe that
1t was she who played Tony. They ex-
pected to find her a red-faced. rOmping.
heavy-sided tomboy; they see pale-f faced
young lady, dressed with striking ele-
yance, whose every movement is graceful
But there's no mistaking those big, fear
less eyes. and that capital ct Of whit,
teeth.
Mrs. Weary Shepherd accepted only q
limited number of pupils as boarders
just as many. in fact. as could be slowed
away in the six rooms on the second floor
Of Eagle House. Among the many duties
Of meek-spirited resident governess,
Miss Tinkleton had each night to see the
young ladies in bed before retiring to her
own. She had visited five Of the rooms
and extinguished the light in them, when
she came to the last in the corridor that
night. That was Nessa's. Miss Tinkle-
ton passed 1t with a slight cough and
went downstairs, Nessa having long ago
emancipated herself from a rule that was
only to be suffered by children
passage began to creak, and heads were
cautiously thrust out; then the white
robed young ladies, seeing the course
clear, crept out, treading on their soft.
bare toes, c!asping the wraps thrown over
their shoulders with crossed hands on
their bosoms, and made their way noise
lessly toward the end room on a visit to
their heroine, Nessa. With infinite pre-
caution, one turned the handle. while the
rest clustered together for common sup
port, and did their best to keep from tit.
tering audibly. But they ceased to giggle
altogether when the door was opened
for there before them was the most unex-
pected spectacle to be found in this world
Of surprises. Nessa, who had never be
fore beer known to cry, was seated on
her bed with handkerchief up to her
eyes, and her bosom heaving with stified
sObs. Her hat and jacket lay on a chair,
but she had not begun to undress. Two
trunks were open, and her room, never
too tidy, was Uttered from end to side
with things taken from the open drawers
and put down anywhere.
Il can't help it, she said, brushing the
tears away impatiently and heaving her
breast with a long, fluttering sigh; land
now it's all over, l wish l hadn't done it.
l like Mrs. Vic and old Tinkleton. Oh,
1 love you all, and there's no one else in
the world l care anything at all for, or
anyone who cares for me. I'm glad you
have come. I've been trying to think
what each of you would like best for a
keepsake. Now you shall choose for your
selves. I know you like that pearl set,
Dolly" She rose in her quick, impulsive
way to get the trinkets, but Dolly re-
strained her. and clinging to her arm.
made her sit down again.
You're not going away, dear" she
said.
"Oh, mol" murmured the others, echo.
ing her tone Of remonstrance.
"Yes. + am" said Mesa; that's why
I'm such a goose. 1 can't bear to think
Of saying good-by, it has been such q
jolly term. hasn't it?"
"Do you think Mrs. Vic will be so very
lngry?"
.'Of course she will. Tinkleton says
I've ruined the reputation Of the school. "
"Oh, but you can make some excuse.
Il never did in my life," Nessa said,
/! bristling up. Il will tell her / am very
sorry-and so I am; but that isn't max.
| ing an excuse.
"Oh, she won't let you go away"
-
won't try to. I'm not a girl now; I'm
a woman, and it's time l left school.
know all the professors can tell me; OF
at any rate all choose to learn; and I'm
! unmanageable. How is Mrs. Vic to pun
ish me when do wrong? She can't pu,
me in a corner. or send me to bed. And
/ always am doing wrong"
The voices mingled in unanimous dis
sent.
Mrs. Vic says 1 am. She tells me
encourage those horrid little wretches
who stare at me in church and throw let.
ters into the garden; and those professors
! are quite as bad-if she only knew it,
worse. hate them. It's an insult te
make love in that cowardly way. think
| all men are mean and hOrrid. don't you
f, Dolly"
"Nearly ALL" Dolly admitted, with re
Iuctance "Of course. papa is nice. and
so are brothers"
| "And uncles," suggested another.
"And some cousins" limited third.
! "Oh, they don't count" said Nessa. =
cannot remember my papa, and l don
think that have a single relative in al
the world"
mot oner
"No. A stepfather is not relative
and" she added, bending her pretty
] brows. "I'm glad Of it, because ! hat'
| him with all my heart.
CHAPTER II.
.Ob. Nessar exclaimed a school cir
chorus.
q" know he is a coward. and I believ'
| ho ie as wicked q man as ever lived. An
IL you only knewP
"Couldn't you tell Us, dearE
"Well, papa was q soldier-a 3enets'
ron know. and he was killed in batt''
when I was quite tiny little thing' any any
mamma was very young and very pretty
land very rich, because papa lett heI es
orvthine. And so, when l was abcu
.iy years old, she married again; ana
bol;eve Mr.. Redmond only marrled 10
her fortune, and really did not love ne
# all. l know she was unhappy; ~
.vhenever she came to see me at schoo'
ha cried over me as she held me in ne
rms She did not live two years are
bar marriage; my stepfather broke ne
heart" -.
"Oh. you don't know, dear.
"Yse do. I'm sure Of IT. nav
o.n Mr. Redmond, and he looks ike /;
seen en Tho would break woman's heart
"Is he very ugiyF .,;,,
hui a he 0AS IuO0a