The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-23

| at the first opportunity. Nothing stronger shall ever pass my lips. have heard about the temptations that assai1 young girls on the stage
 stOh. hush" admonished Violet, look | ing her over anew. Somebody's been strfngfng you. If you find any tempta- l tfons you'll have to overtake them,' conclusion at which Miss Tripp vfsi- 1 bly, bridled "John, take Miss Tripp's things to the Looey Cons room and bring some tea and wafersi Where's your luggage. pFofessorP'
 T regret that cannot remain,s re sponded the professor tI merely came to see my star pupil launched upon the successful career that am sure she will attain under your patronage. For three years Miss Tripp has been taking weekly lessons at my academy in,stage | and society dancing, fancy steps, par Tor department, conversation and per sonaI charm. 'LissaF' and he archIy held up warning finger. 'Lfssa l promptly uncrossed her feet. .'To be quite frank with you. Mrs. Daw, it would mean a great deal to me to have a success graduated from my acade- my. Many young ladies have come ont Of Squamosett equipped with all l the graces and arts which the F9opsie academy of dancing and department could bestow upon them, but none of them, so far, has seemed to possess the force of personal character neces- sary to create furor in the dramatic 1 profession and so render the Flopsie academy a recognized preparatory school for Thespian laureIs," and into l the professors old eyes-Which, alas, could not, like his hair and beard, be br1lliant1ned Into youthful gloss there came Ia wistful look, which Violet Bon- nie could interpret much more accu- rately than she could his speech
 -.I get you,s she said with quick sympathy for all the polite ffttas mans 1 weary, ploddfng, waiting years. -If l all the stage struck Tesstes and Ma mics in Squamosett county and as far i over the county lines as Hookersyilia i and Snag bay and Fiddler's mills will streak for the Flopsfe academy and pay fancy prices to be turned into real actresses. z
 The modest little professor b1ushed to 61d his plans stated so crudeIy, but he did not deny the accuracy of Violet Bonnies deduction.
 'WelI, I'm for your announced vio- let heartily ..I'II do the best can,S and she studied Miss Tripp with more sober calculation than she had yet be- slowed upon that young woman. There's one thing in Melissa's favor she ain't cross eyedT'
 .Tm not old. retorted Melissa, with a sntf.
 'I should like to remain until you, have seen Melissa dance, hastily said i the professor, his heart sinking against the time when he should leave these | i between them. Perhaps Violet Bon nie will be good enough, 'Ldssa, to have l you shown to your room and excuse i you long enough to put on a dancing skirt ?
 "Sure,'' agreed Violet. ~She never could dance in that hobble thing. Be sides, they've gone out, Melissa
 T know it takes certain type of figure to wear them,1 responded Meiis- sa complaeently. You probably would not dare. can wear almost anything By the way, I suppose shall have to wear tights. I ann willing.
 You'll have Go put shapers under them stated Violet, not as retort, but in mere critical Judgment s~You've got skinny legs. I can tell from your arms. But don't worry about that, child. If you can get the dance across we can fix you all up so that from the front you'll look like the first fairy. I'll tell you what I'll do, professor. If 1 Melissa can show me anything at all that looks like the goods I'll make life miserable for the managers in this town till they give her tryout Then 1 it's up to her. If she falls down I'll go on record that learned to dance in the F1opsie academy myself, though I really learned to dance by following the hand organ, and I got double shuttle by the throat while churned eight pounds of butter a day with an old fashioned dasher ehurn-''
 q wish that were true.'' sighed the professor. stIt would be the making of me to have the impression abroad that Violet Bonnie learned at my humble school''
 We'n have it true, then.'' declared Violet graciously. "Ae lie like that won't hurt my conscience three min utes I guess I've told a million to accommodate my friends, and st1u have a hearty appetite"
 seYou look hearty, . admitted Melissa, who stood waiting in the doorway.
 q got my fingers crossed, kid. Let's can the dressing room asides," laugh ] ed Violet, laying away her rancor as suddenly as she had conceived it GA uCLle SPuuk d SOO0 LA1AAss tO AAV0S DuL, | Lord, we have to live together awhile, so what's the use of being catty :? Come on I'll introduce you and the professor to the jury before you go up to dress. hope we got some of your music on the player piano; but, if not, BIackie can pound the piano till it hol- lers for mercy. You ought to hear him turn The Holy City into ragtime.''
 Blackie played. Melissa danced, the l professor beamed, and the 1ury repress- ed it's emotions; then Violet Bonnie, ac- knowledging the dances to be ~scream" and burning to shriek, bun