Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-02-03

Clara blushed, but she was brave
hearted girl, and had the good sense to-
know that deception could avail nothing.
Sc she said frankly:
"The truth is, / have but three dresses
in the world, and those are exactly
alike p
Miss Pleasant looked at her moment,
as If she thought she must be quizzing
but, perceiving the blushes and confusion
of her roommate, burst out laughing.
"Why, Clara It is so comical. You
must excuse me, dear, if I do laugh lit
tie. How does it happen that you dress
SO plainly?"
"Well, my father is very odd in some
things, and it is his will we shall all dress
in prints"
Miss Pleasant went to the closet, and
shaking out plain, but very presentable
black silk, said
"Please wear this, dear Clara. Don't
think but shall love you as we'll in cali
CO, but many of the girls won't and you
are SO sensitive you will be wounded.
can we'll do without the dress the whole
term, and no one will know but it is
yours"
Clara hesitated. She had always de-
sired 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 appear as she
really was?
She did not hesitate long; but putting
her arms about Miss Peasants neck,
kissed her with trembling lips, then said
in quiet, firm way:
"Thank you, thank you a thousand
times. 1t Dies not seem best. My father
would not approve it, nor do I. If 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 rich
est of them in all their silks and fnery."
Nothing more was said. The two girls
went down to the assembly room when
the bell rang, and found the people stand
ing in groups, waiting the appearance of
the teacher to lead them to church.
| "Look will you ?" said Miss Gay to
the Miss next to 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; she had re-
solved not to be made unhappy by what
she could not help.
The assistant entered the same room
with rustic and trail BETTING her sta
ton. She looked the young ladies over
with a sweeping glance, and perempto-
rily ordered Miss Clara Clinton to her
room.
Miss Pleasant whispered word in that
lady's ear; Miss Clara was recalled, and
the profession fell into line. 1t was very
vexatious that all the gentlemen these
young ladies passed seemed to look only
at the calico dress. 1t was so very odd to
see young lady going to church in
print From the dress they looked into
} the face such pretty face as it was, too
so bright, all thinking of the oddity of
J the attire, and wondering who the young
lady could be.
It was not long before Clara became
known as the young lady in calico. Old
} Mr.. Vennet, the wealthiest and most in
fiuential gentleman of the town, having
had his attention directed to her peculiar
dress, discovered that her father had been
a dear and intimate friend in college. He
was self-made, and he and Judge Clinton
had walked hand to glove in the thorny
days of poverty.
Mr.. Yennet, at the first opportunity,
sent carriage to bring Miss Clinton 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 no from time to time sent
bouquets from his rare exotics, and such
abundance of fruit, besides taking her 10
ride occasionally with his family, that the
young ladies in the Institute were almost
in state of envy. Finally, as if to drive
the young ladies to distraction, the Ven
nets gave party, to which the most in
huential and wealthiest families in the
country were alone invited. Even the
Principal of the Institute was overlooked.
To this reception Miss Clara was borne
in her calico dress by iveried servants.
Old Mr.. Lingard was so proud of her
pluck and so delighted that she did not
appear in tulle and silks, that he devoted
! himself to her most of the evening, and
introduced her to his friends with many
fattering expressions of admiration. She
was finally taken to supper by young Mr..
Vennet, who evidently thought more of
cheerful, pleasant conversation than all
the satins, laces, pearls and diamonds in
the drawing room.
As might be expected, Miss Clinton,
from that evening was quite belle, No
one could slight young lady to whom
the Vennets had been SO attentive. Be-
sides, there was something quite novel in
having a beautiful young creature from
the country, and who had a 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 Ia
dies patronized her as an example for
their daughters; the young men respected
her for her pretty ways. her independence
of character, and her ready wit; and the
old men put their thumbs into the arms
of their vests, and gravely announced that
6 she was quite an original and exemplary
young lady, and they wished there were
more like her" Indeed the only trouble
was that Judge Clinton's calico dresses
did not prove his daughters ruin.
The long school session was to close
with public examination, upon which
occasion all the young ladies were re-
quired to wear white, with satin sashes,
and rosette upon the left shoulder. The
principal had an eye to effect, and she
would admit nothing that disturbed har-
Inony.
Miss Cliuton's calico gown was vetoed
at once. at would be very we'll, per-
haps, for Mr.. Vennet's party, but it was
not proper for an examination ~ So Judge
Clinton received very polite note from
that formidable lady, requesting him in
frigid and unmistakeable terms "to allow
his daughter white null"
II the Principal had designed to make
Judge Clinton the happiest Of men, which
she didn't, and to render it forever out of
Miss Clara's power to wear null, she
could no more effectually have accom-
/ II. 4. l. I
this note.
Judge Clinton of Clintonville, declared
that he was not to be dictated to by any
woman, not he; and precisely because it
would oblige her to have Clara dressed in
white, it would disoblige him to do SO.
His rather impolite reply was: "He sent
his daughter to study books, not dress, Ii
she wanted his daughter to wear white,
she was at liberty TO provide that oar. |