The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-30

voice, with no emphasis on the last -syl-
liable. fTyfa old Vg1a aGA Nv a. .
az wonder whether she'll sit next me 2
said Alice Crawford, a quiet sort Of a
child, with dreamy blue eyes and golden
brown hair. a-ssgss d. .G.-g 90.
"No-me" exclaimed Laura, aMiss
Stone will fill up my seat first-its in
turn a.. ..r-..a r.,r ..a,-,.-g,.s So,
"And she'll be your forty-eleventh friend,
eha" suggested Abby, playing with a
spear of grass. yt- r.E aa.a
"No-you provoking thing!" answered
Laura, good-humoredly. "Wbat should
L want Of more friends than you g' a.
"Oh, l thought it was about time for
you to take new one again-that's all
It's all of a aceek since you and cooked
up crony-ship, and I suspect it is getting
cold by this timer sT r y. EE y
"You never was anybody's friend, Alb
by" said Laura, turning away with re
proachful look and tone.
"Much obliged to you'll Do you reck-
on yourself nobody, thenl"
81 had as lief have new girl, at any
rate" Laura went on, growing quite GRIM
son in the face.
Fortunately, the quarrel that was fast
coming on was nipped in the bud by the
sharp stroke Of the school bell.
There there nine o'clock p they cried,
and away they ran to their seats.
A low hum of whispering died away
on the benches, as Miss Stone came in
leading by the hand girl about eleven
years old. All the scholars held their
breath, and strained their eyes to look
at her; and some even half rose from their
seats to have better view of the stranger.
She was dressed in black, as Laura had
said, with wide tumbled white frill around
her neck !; hair dark brown cut short in
her neck, without curling; and face
so frightened and wo-begone in its ex-
preston as you could find anywhere
You could not see a particle of color in
her cheeks or lips, as she involuHtarily
hung up behind her teacher, shrinking
back from the gaze of so manv pairs Of
blue eyes.
Miss Stone herself did not seem to take
much notice Of her bashfulness, but, al
most pulling her along, pointed to sin
gle desk at the end of the school-room.
"There is your seat" she said. "Your
father wished you to sit alone. Bring
your books TO me after have opened the
school, and will set you at work"
The school was opened by the reading
of chapter in the New Testament
Each of the girls read a verse. Alice,
whose seat was nearest TO Louise's, finished
hers and then there was long pause
Miss Stone looked up impatiently. (,
"Whose turnl Oh, Louise's. Do you
know how to read in the TESTAMENT
Louise made a gesture for AYES,
maam." ....... ..,. .# ...a.
"Well, read then! Stand up child r
Louise stood up as she was biddep, but it
seemed that she could not coax her white
trembling lips to do as they were hidden,
for she made enc attempts between a gasp
and a sob, and then, bursting into tears,
covered her face with her book, and shrank
down into her seat again.
"The next" said Miss Stone, pressing
her fore-fnger tightly on the verse. Alb
by curled her lips, shading it with her
hand, and looked down on the new COM
er with a grimace Of contempt, then drop
ping her hand, read the verse demurely
and correctly as was proper. Louise
had not seen her, neither had Miss Stone,
but two-thirds Of the scholars had and
they, taking the hint from her, began to
try TO despise the bashful stranger in their
hearts. A geography class was the first
one called up, IN which Louise had any
part. .aar.Ear- r.
'I wonder If she'll find her tongue,
whispered Abby to Alice, as they were
taking their places in tho class. Alice
looked straight forward at the blackboard;
for she knew that to whisper in school
hours were contrary to rule. 2
"Louise Stoddard," observed Miss Stone,
bending to put her name on the class list.
The girls looked at each other. a..
'Your places, young ladies. Sit up
right" .a. r-..aa.s .Hg .s .a1
Louise, what is the capital of Maine =
No answer. Louise turned whittier than
ever. . Na 81 n. y ~ n ~
"Do you know louise Then speak.
You must say something. If you do
not know, say so; If you know, tell me-