Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-06-01


Balston and Sophie Narrowly, and theugl
compelled - draw infesences from verl
slight causes, We we're generally agreed tina
Hattie Wilder must bear the palm fo
quickness Of peRetratien. Our teacher re
laxed bis sternness whenever be looked up
on her clear, lovely face, and when she read
with Der natural tone Of incompatible sweet
ness, be listened with an interest ELECTED
frsm no other cause l believe Elmirs
Morse began to divine this truth. the slight
est meDtion Of which, at first. smcte her with
cortsMps A grsa, change Of manner came
ever her about this time the hi.hertG
proud, and exclusive girl, now assiduously
cultivated the friendship Of Sophie Gray
and more especially, Hheuerer.ih be pres
snee Of our teacher.
1t was a wonder for which none Of us
could account, but We were pleased with the
improvement, and decided that the influences
of Mr. Balston must have taken effect in
Esquire Morse's family. But Hattie Wilder
shook Der head ominously, with look " hose
language was, Il bodies no good 2
Sophie's progress in all her studies was
rapid and thorough, and she promised to
compete with many whe were older, and pos
sessed Of better advantages than herself
Especially did she excel in composition
thai difficult and rare excellence amsng
school girls, but one well known I'd rank high
in tue estimation of our teacher In this
exercise, too, Elmira Merse seemed newly
gifted During preceding terms, her pro-
auctions had not attained to anything supe-
rior. So trite and boskish; short essays
upon themes given out in The Young Lady 8
Guide; but at this time they were altogeth-
er new style,-too new for her, some Of
the scholars said, to be original.
As the term waned, and Sophie seemed
more strongly in favor with our teacher. and
more than ever beautiful Through encourage
ment and love, one of our numbet came to
US suddenly, yet Oh how sole nanly one
day. with the whispered words that there
was a bad report ever the village about So
phie Gray And the tale Of sin, black
enough to shadow the name of any with in.
fanny sS.l--cc-, was repeated to US, mere by
inference, however. titan by connected and
reasonable detail
Impossible who could believe that, for
a moment. Of the affeetioDate, amiable girl.
Circumstances are strongly against her,
was venrured BY one who LA4 disputed the
latest class precedence with Sophie
Poor, but beautiful T said another with a
shrug
'And so ambitious was added
But who knows this is truth 2 inquired
some one imperstively
oh they say it's SO and when there s
SO much smoke, there must DO some FIRE,
yes know
From that hour. the girls stunned tho
subject of the .bafreport' as they would a
pesiilence a few of more tender considera-
tion. talked together eff the prepriety of call
ing upon Sophie in her own homo, telling
her just how all the affair was reported, and
thus accounting for their changed manner,
bat no one was found Of sufficient courage
10 venture upon such delicate ground. Her
real friends looked very seriously on their
bosls oce a,io lally brushing away the tears,
and some said it was the most painful event
of their lives to find that one SO apparently
true to all COED things, had been acting such
a part of deception.
At first Sophie was only astonished be-
yond measure to-fnd herself shunned every
where by all her old friends, to receive ne
reply to any observation she CHANGED to
make in the time of recreation, and to OBJ
serve all eyes averted froIA her, some in grief,
some in scorn. At last, when she went out
to tile recitation seat and saw each NJ EN- Der
Of the class cross over to the ether side and
leave her alone, she burst into weeping till
her sobs became audible to every ear For
the first time, Mr Balston looked discern
certed; be paled and flushed alternately,
and then announced that it was his pleasure
the mem bers of the class should resume their
accustomed places. This request was obey
cd in great constraint, which perhaps would
have arisen to some positive demonstrations,
had not poor Sophie immediately arisen, and
with enc look of despair-ef frantic fear cast
hurriedly about her, left the hall But that
glance and the sound Of her grief dwelt with
US like spirit, for days after.
We had scarcely lef. the school that day,
before we met two or three of the spbstan-
tial citizens. foremost Of whom was Esquire
Morse, on their way to wait upon Mr.. Bal
stoa, and inform him it was for the interest
Of his school to request Sophie Gray 10 cease
attendance with respectable yeung people
With, profound surprise Mr.. Balston IN
quired the reason, to which Esquire Morse
replied, They say her character is nsne Of
the best
To this intelligence Mr. Balston made no
reply, but he Immediately said something Of
being fatigued aftef the labors of the day
aud il the gentlemen would excuse him, be
would return to his room
This last pang Sophie was spared, for the
next morning we heard that she was too Ill
to leave her home She came not again into
cur band, aud from that time deeper seri-
business than ever rested upon our teacher s
face be never afterwards was seen 70 smile,
and bis interest in his school was evidently
f,rced from q sense Of duty A few weeks
later. the term closed, and Mr. BalsscD, tho
urged strongly to continue his labcrs in
Cashmere. declined 70 DO SO, and like a
shadow of a Winter afternoon, disappeared
from eur midst About this time Elmira
Merse announced to her confidential friends
that she vas going to spend the Winter in
the CITY. in which was Mr.. Balston's home
and she should probably see great deal Of
him. as he was on familiar terms with the
family in which sheEisited.
We heard from day to day that Sophie
grew sioksr, and the physian shock bis head
when questioned il recovery might be ex
p.cted. Then il was that people began to
feel sympathy where lately was dit rust
The knowledge that one who had ministered
% often al their bedsides in times Of dis
tress, was new herself suffering, going slow
" down toward the dark valley for anguish
Of heart, snote them with new feeling Of com
passion, and th.y tsids IF Sophie Gray hai
.;nnad Ne VIII NOT Let her snffar for mo