The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-02-01

LUZ w nat did youi NiNS>N SNV
Nothing. She was so busy pack
ing and getting ready to go to SAM
tarium that she couldn't sympathize
with me. She'll all worn out doing
housework You see. our maid left
and I've been so busy practicing that l
haven't had time to help her for
weeks"
But your brother-didn't he have a
word of comfort for you?"
81 haven't seen him yet. He's COM
ing home tonight. He's been boarding
with the Claytons since April. He
said he couldn't stand the sound of
that second movement in my piece
and II he heard it any more he would
60 mad. | used to shut all the doors,
but It didn't seem to do any good The
chromatics would get through some
how, so he said he would stay with
the Claytons until the contest was
over
But George-surely he tried to
cheer you up"
Cheer me up!" cried Jessie, tear
fully. HE was brute. Why, when
told him l had lost the medal. what
do you suppose he said?"
"What7"
HE said, That's very strange after
all those evenings you devoted to prac-
tice.' You see, whenever he wanted
to call, I'd tell him he would have to
wait until the examinations were over.
And what do you suppose he's doing
now"
"Wha4?'
Taking Nan Perkers everywhere.
He never would look at her before"
Never mind" consoled Mary.
There are other Georges"
And everybody blames me because
| didn't get the prize!" lamented Jes-
sic. That's what hurts. For 1t wasn't
my fault at all. 1t was my nervous
temperament You see, we were num-
bered. | was No. 3. and when came
into the room to play-we played be-
fore the jury of man teachers, you
know couldn't see a piano at first,
although I knew there were two in the
room. At last my teacher came to my
rescue and led me up to one of them.
and | started off.
81 got along pretty well until saw
one of the men put pencil to his
lips Somehow or other that pencil
fascinated me. 1t was a long, yellow
one and had WORKOUT eraser on one
end 1t got on my nerves. | wanted
to shrek, Put 1t down! Put 1t down!
only my lips were so dry that could
not make a sound.
After a while | felt 6, tap on my
shoulder and, looking up, saw my
teacher. That's ALL he said. You've
finished And he never put it down,
said. Then I wondered why they
looked so strangely at me.
AT last | found myself outside the
door and then | sat down and waited
/ saw another girl, No. 3S, go in, and
| noticed that she looked rather pale
I wonder II she'll see that pencil
thought. But after while she came
out again, paler than ever, but per
fectly composed and not in the leas
| frightened.
"'How did you ever do it?' gasped
she looked at me and smiled
Dope she said
"Dope.' l repeated stupidity. Their
she told me. 1t seems that she tool
three doses of some sort of powde
before going into the examination
room Ordinarily the doses would
have put strong man to- sleep, bu
taken in a moment Of excitement the.
merely Gained the nerves.
We'll, the next day l heard that sh,
had won one of the medals, 80 wen
home and told the family"
What did they say" asked Mary.
They laughed at me. and when
said that next year | was going t,
take dope and try for prize, fathe
said, oh, no! The next time you trI
for prize, the whole family will TAX
DOPE"