Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-07-19
0ur aJnung folks.
The Fourth Vote.
A STORY FROM REAL LIFE.
BY THECKLA WARNER.

The senior class in the boarding school
at NJ was very soon to graduate and
the parts had not yet been assigned
The class numbered seven young ladies,
i" the mystic number, the girls often
said a; seven young ladies-each one eager
for the honor of being Valedictorian. At
length, dies inta1lda aderat, they said
laughingy, when they must soberly ballot
for NaledictOrian in presence OF the prin-
cipal. Again and again the votes were
thrown and counted by the patient teach
er, with no definite results. There are
too many candidates, " said he % we new
er can make decision as we are not to
elect by plurality, until some OF the con-
tending parties unite.
So they we're dismissed for caucus :"
For nearly a week they had met again
and again, and had made no decision
&" The young ladies will be allowed one day
longer, " said the principal. d" At the end
of that time if no choice has been made
among yourselves, | shall be obliged to
take the matter into my hands. One
day, thought the girls as they separated
for the night
Did l say the girls we're equally desi-
rous of the honor? Two of them were
perhaps more nervously eager than the
others One was Florence Perlie, who
had she possessed the amount Of talent
that she did OF wealth, might have boast
ed a powerful intellect. Florence was
proud and conceited in the little knowledge
that she really possessed. The other was
Jennie M'Cosh. a young Scotch girl, only
the daughter of poor Presbyterian min
ister yet she the finest scholar IN the class
Florence went to her room that night
with base plan in her seheming head
When sure that her roommate was sleep
ing, she quietly rose, unlocked a small
ebony cabinet, and took out a roll of bank
bills; twenty-fve-flty-one hundred, =
she whispered. OF course [ cannot buy
off Jennie-or Mary-Jennie wants II
herself, and Mary is Jennie's aly-but
the other girls shall vote for me # have
to give one hundred to EN- lrU have
that valedictory
Jennie, meantime, alone in her sky-p4r-
Tor on the upper floor was waging battle
- 1 want the yaiedictOry 50 mucu, Sobbed
the poor girl, not so much for my sake
as for dear fathers. Mary says YOU
are so much better qualified for 1t than
Florence Is, whispered her tempter
" No, think Mary better deserves it than
any of Us, and that is why have invaria.
by voted for her You don't want
that proud Florence should have the
honor, she will be more concetei than
ever, resumed the tempter; you are
talented she IS not ; you could write a
touching farewell, and your voice Is excel
ently adapted for delivering it finely, il is
a shame if you do not get it. Thus the
tempter reused all the un-Christian feel
ings in Jennie's heart, By these whispered
suggestions. But she battlcd bravely and
had almost said, | will wait patiently
and see what the issue will be, when the
dark one whispered, /" You might ask two
or three Of the girls to vote for you-not
ask them yourself, but beg your friend to
use her influence for you; you are sure OF
her; perhaps you can win the others.
4" That would be mean, | could not do it.
" Florence can have fair play.
The first retiriug bell had struck. In
twenty minutes the second would strike for
. lights out. Jennie rose for her Bible,
and opened to Mark -, and read of the
trial Of Jesus before Plate, Governor of
the Jews. She read with a new insight Of
the inner meaning then, turning the
pages, she read the same account IN Mat
thew, Luke and John. God has an
swered my prayer, she said aloud. " 1t
was just the chapter that | needed to-
night. Plate, willing to content the peo-
y,la bOuo,b+ tb .h h. ,,r
Jesus blood-sold his blessed Saviour that
he might purchase their perishing praise.
Just from his wretched pride and ambi-
tion how terrible a sin From my ambition
what sin might have resulted, had not
God in his mercy quelled it. " And she
burst into tears.
The next morning Florence, as hand
some yet less naughty than usual, was
futteriDg among the girls. Two Of them,
by calling them pet names and tucking the
rustling bills in their pockets, Florence
means of a miserable lie she had extorted
a promise. But the fourth, Kate Groton,
drew herself up with magnificent dignity.
and exclaimed, . Not for all your faith
err 5 money would | vote for you, Florence |
Perie -
Florence left her, muttering with rage, /
Only three votes; four are necessary, OF
course, Oh, dear Well, l know"
What she did not say. She only took her
seat for morning devotions just as Jennie
entered the chapel. Mary whispered to
ler, You will get it, 1 know, dear-the
L mean.
PLEASE don't, Mary; and Jennie told
Ter of her nights experience.
Well, you look just as Jacob of old
must have looked the morning following
he night that he wrestled with the angel
as pale and peaceful" said her friend.
: Florence looks like storm cloud Won
Ter what's the matter"
The following morning the principal an
ounced to the girls waiting in breathless
dispense, " Miss Perlie has four Uotes, and .
onsequently to her belongs the honor of
aledIctorian, will now leave you to c
fer your congratulations and he with /
rev.
Poor Florence Whence came her
1urth vote She had cast it herself. 1t
ad been whispered around, and every girl Z
espised her for it,
Not one from the heart could congratu-