"And so, at length, the Summer School drew to a close.
Home went Miss Puff, well primed, to smatter and to pose;
Lightly soar on clouds of blissful exaltation,
And air her fads, perchance (?) in some smart publication.
"Howe'er, dear friends, Miss Puff's career was very brief.
Like all pretentious frauds, she shortly came to grief;
She was found out, you know, and took a strange belief
Which none could heal, and faded like a leaf.
Then, slyly fled the town!—was never seen again,
Though faithful search was made o'er mountain, moor and fen.
"The claim? Ah! that begat long medical debate;
But finally, as I am authorized to state—
For all things mystical must have some kind of name,
And there's no better phrase to chronicle the same—
'Twas—the learned doctors vowed—abnormal mentalism,
The outgrowth of her fads and Transcendentalism!"
Katherine made her bow as she concluded and slipped behind the scenes. But the applause was beyond anything she had yet received and was kept up, with cries of "come out," "come out," until there was nothing to do but reappear, which she did with flushed cheeks and shining eyes.
"Comrades, I thank you all for your hearty appreciation and commendation," she said, when quiet was restored. "It occurred to me that a humorous treatment of the subject might be more enjoyable than any other, and"—with an arch look and nod—"more applicable to your conception of the term. But"—her eyes now brimming with mirth—"I will not take more of your time, as I believe there is a supplement to my programme yet to come."
The president looked surprised.
"I know of nothing more, Miss Minturn," she said; but even as she spoke there was a nervous rustle apparent among some of the audience.
"Still I am quite sure that a ghostly surprise, not down on my pragramme, had been planned for us. Perhaps this will elucidate my meaning," Katherine explained, and, bringing to light something, which she had until then concealed behind her, she shook out and held up to view a white robe, made of a sheet, and also a white mask.
Groans and laughter greeted this announcement and display.
"Oh! who has given us away? Who has told you, Miss Minturn?" came breathlessly from various quarters of the room.