The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-06-19


sired silk dress. She had been think
ing all the morning of the ridicuIe OF
her schoolmates. Should she accept
this offered kindness? Or, wonld it be
better to wear her own clothes and ap-
pear as she really was?
She did not hesitate long; but put
ting her arms around Miss Pleasant
neck, kissed her with trembling lips.
then said, in a firm quiet way:
''Thank you, thank you thausand
times. 1t does not seem best. NV ia
Their would not approve of it, nor do L.
If you love me, that is enough"
Miss Pleasant patted Clara's cheek
gently, and murmured:
''You are right, Clara, and you are
handsOmer in your calico than the rich
est of them i'll all their silks and finery."
Nothing more was said. The two
girls went down to the assembly room
when the bell rang, and found the pu-
pills standing in groups, waiting the APP
pearance of the assistant teacher to
lead them to church.
Look, will you," whispered Miss
Gay, to the miss next her, ''if that girl
isn't going to church in that old calico -
Miss Pleasant frowned, but Clara
smiled. She had conquered her pride
that morning on her knees, and she had
nO5 10 De l11uc unhappy DIV
what she could not help.
The assistant entered the room with
a rustic, and a trail BETTING her station.
She looked the young ladies over with
a sweeping glance, and peremptorily
ordered Miss Clara Clinton to her room.
Miss Pleasant whispered word in
that lady's ear. Miss Clara was recall
ed, and the procession fell into line. 1t
was very veXatious that all the gentle
men these young ladies passed seemed
to look only at the calico dress. 1t was
so very odd to see a young lady going
to church in print. From the dress they
looked into the face-such pretty face
as 1T was, tOo-sO bright, peaceful and
loveable. Then they passed on, think
ing of the oddly of the attire, and
wondering who the young lady could be.
1t was not long before Clara became
known as the young lady in calico. Old
MIR. Vennet, the Wealthiest and most
influential gentleman of the town, hav-
ing had his attention directed to her
peculiar dress, made the discovery that
her father had been a dear and intimate
friend in college. He was self-made
man himself. and he and Judge Clinton
had walked hand to glove i'll the thorny
ways of poverty.
Mr.. Vennet, at the first opportunity,
sent his carriage to bring Miss Clara to
dine with his family, and told her many
stories of which Judge Clinton was the
hero, and was evidently very proud of
his pretty daughter
Afterward, he from time to time sent
bouquets from his rarest exotics, and
such abundance of fruit, besides taking
her to ride occasionally with his family,
that the most exclusive young ladies of
the institute were almost in a state of
envy. Finally, as if to drive the young
ladies to distraction, the Vennefs gave
a party, to which the most influential
and wealthiest families of the county
were alone invited. Even the princi-
pal of the institute was overlooked.
To this reception Miss Clara was
borne in her calico dress, by liveried
servants. Old Mr.. Vennet was so proud
of her pluck, and so delighted that she
did not appear in tulle and silks, that
he devoted himself to her much of the
evening, introducing her to his friends
with many flattering expressions of
admiration. She was finally taken to
supper by young Mr.. Vennct, who ev-
identity thought more of her cheerful,
sensible conversation than of all the
satins, laces, pearls and diamonds in the
drawing-rooms
from that evening, was quite belle.
No one could slight young lady to
whom the Vennets had been so attent-
i've. Besides, there was something quite
novel III having Il beautiful young crea-
ture from the country, who had rich
father, and wore calico because she was
not poor. The young ladies petted her
because they had nothing to be jealous
of; the old ladies patronized her as an
example to their. daughters the young
men respected her for her pretty ways.
independence of character and ready
wit; and the old men put their thumbs
into the arms of their vests and gravely
announced that ''she was quite an orig
inal and exemplary young lady, and
they wished there were more like her.
Indeed, the only wonder was that Judge
Clinton's three calico dresses didn't
prove his daughters ruin.
The Ions school session was to close
with public examination, upon which
occasion all the young ladies were re-
quired to wear white, with artistic sash
es, and a rosette upon the left shoulder
The principal had an eye to effect, and
she would admit nothing that would
disturb harmony.
| Miss Clinton's calico gown was We
tOed at once. ut would do very well
perhaps, for Mr.. Vennet's party, but il
was not proper for an examination
So Judge Clinton received very polite
note from that formidable lady, request.
ing him in frigid and unmistakablt
terms. Ito allow his daughter white
NULL"
If the principal had designed to max,
Judge Clinton the happiest of men
which she didn't, and to render it for
ever out of Miss Clara's power to wear
white null, she could not more effect
ually have accomplished her purpose
than i'll writing him this note
Judge Clinton, of Clintonville, de
clared that he was not to be dictated t.
by any woman-not he-and precisely
because it would oblige her to have
Clara wear white, it would disobiig,
him to have her do SO. His rather i'm
polite reply was, HE sent his daughtel
to school to study books. not dress. /
she wanted his daughter to wear white
she was at liberty to provide that gar
ment for her. For his part, he did no
know what right teachers had to de
eide what colors or goods pupils shoulI
wear. Ifshe was not willing his daugh
ter should appear in print, she was a
liberty to say so, and he would remoV,
her at once from the school"
The principal, as may be supposed
was as indignant as principal couIt
well be. But what would the Vennet
say, and the wealthy persons whom
they would influence, if Miss Clara wa
banished for wearing the dress they hat
condescended to honor?
Besides, Clara was the best writer, tn,
best singer, the'best dialogue maker o
the whole school. She was necessary