The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-08-05

it from the coach.window. But soon
the novelty Of her condition overcame
her grief, and she forgot all petty yexa.
tions in the new scenes aud strange
people around her.
Very weary and travel soilcd, she
alighted Mt the end Of her journey, and
was shown into the reception room,
where were seated several stylish young
ladies, evidently uewly arrived pupils
like herself
There was Miss june with her ex-
quisitely fitting gray travelling. dress,
who looked her over with quizzical
look in her dark eyes; and Miss Clara
felt sure that the peculiar smile that
fingered upon those sarcastic lips owed
its existance to the fact that she wore
"calico."
Blushing to her very temples, poor
Clara looked away, only to encounter
the gaze of Miss Gay, who, reclining
upon the sofa in the most faultess attire,
seemed absorbed in studying the pat
tern Of the print.
Miss Gay and Miss Juue exchanged
glances aud smiles. Tears wellcd up
from Caras full heart, but she was too
proud to wipe them away; one fell, then
another, when a soft voice said:
"You are very tired, | am so are we
Gll but We shall be attended to soon"
Clara looked her thanks to the gentle
speaker-a girl very plainly dressed,
and Of a sweet, winsome countenance,
who, bringing her chair nearer, asked
her some trivial questions, and related
some amusing experiences Of her own
iu reaching the institution
Clara felt more at ease, and, being
naturally vivaciOus and intelligent, soon
made friends with the kind stranger,
who invited her to become her room
mate.
The school term soon commenced,
and there was but little time Tor Clara
to think Of her homely garments. But
when Sunday came round, aud she took
another calico dress from her wardrobe,
exactly like the one she had worn all
week, bey roGm mate said
"Miss Clinton, beg your pardou
but wouldn't something else do better
to-day? The young ladies usually dress
good deal here, especially the first
Sabbath of appearing, and am afraid
you will not find ii pleasant to be so
plainly attired,"
Clara blushcd, but she was a brave.
hearted girl, aud had the good sense to
know that deception could avail moth.
ing. So she said frankly:
1.-The truth is, | have but three dress
es iu TIE world, and those are exactly
alike !"
Miss Pleasant looked at her a mo
ment as if she thought she must be
quizzing, but, perceiying the blushes
aud confusion OF her room mate, burst
out laughing!
"Why, Clara! 1t is SO comical
You must excuse me, dear, if | do laugh
a little. How does it happen that you
dress SO plainly?"
"Well, my father is very odd in some
things, and it is his will that We shall
all dress in prints"
| Miss Pleasant went to the closet, and
shaking out . plain but very presenta.
bic black silk, said
"Please wear this, dear Clara. Don't
think but ] shall love you just as well
in calico, but many of the girls won't,
and you are SO sensitive you will be
wounded. can well do without this
dress the whole term, and no one will
know but it is yours"
| Clara hesitated. She had always
desired silk dress. She had been
thinking all the morning of the ridicule
Of her schoolmates Should she accept
this offered kindness Or would 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 s
neck, kissed her with trembling lips
then said in quiet, firm way:
| Thank you, thank you, thousand
times. 1t does not seem best. My
father would not approve it, nor do |.
1t you love me, that is enough"
| Miss Pleasant patted Clara's cheek
gently, murmuring,
"You are right, Clara, and you are
handsomer in your calico than the
richest of them in all their silks aud
finery"
| Nothing more was said. The two
girls went down to the assembly room
when the bell rang, aud found the peo-
pie standing in groups, waiting the ap.
pearance of the assistant teacher to lead
them to church.
"Look will you" whispered Miss
Gay, to the miss next to her, "If that
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; she had
resolved not to be made unhappy by
what she could not help.
The assistant entered the same room
with rustic and trail befitting her
station. She looked the young ladies'
over with sweeping glance, aud per-
emptorily ordered Miss Clara Clinton
to her room.
Miss Pleasant whispered word in
that lady's ear; Miss Clara was recalled,
and the procession fell into line. 1t
was very vexatioas that all the gentle.
men these young ladies passed, seemed
to look only at the calico drcss. Itwas
SO very odd to see a young lady going
to church in print. From the dress
they looked into the face; such pretty