Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-17
Written for the Intelligencer.l
KITTIE'S STRATEGEM.
BY ELIZABETH MORTON.

1t was the afternoon preceding
commencement Day" at Carlyle
Female Institute, and to any one who
has ever visited such place at
similar time, no description,
of the hustle, which rcigned from
attic to basement, is necessary.
President Carlyle, to begin with
the highest dignitary, was in his
study, giving audience first to q
pdter familias, anxious as 10 the pro-
gress his olive branches were making
i'll intellectual growth, then to Miss
Flynt, his second in command, in
reference to the decorations of the
academy chapel; next to 4 pupil, who
wished his advice in the final revis.
ion of her essay; and, in the intervals
of quiet, going over his own address
prepared for the morrow. Miss
Fivnt and one or two other teachers
with 4 battalion of the most tasteful
of the young ladies, were busy
" "i'h h'"Clo, "liC 1hu GoA
making the wrcathes and fcstoons,
which tomorrow would transform
The old chapel into bower of beauty,
while from the hcighboring music
room came the "thun. thum, thum,'
ofthe piano,telling that the Professor
was drilling for the last time one OF
to-morrow's aspiramts for musical dis.
tinction. In another direction coul.
be heard the sweet voice of All EN-.
bryo prina donna giving the flnsl
quavers and trills TO one or to-mor.
rows songs.
Above stairs the young ladies were
deep in the solution Of sundry inter
esting questions, such as, (which j:
more becoming to my complexion
pink ribbon, or blue?" shall braiC
or curl my hair::' Must my drcs.
be looped with violcts or rose buds"
and with to-morrow's ringlets il
papers, Tomorrow crimps on pins
and to-morrow's white dresses hung
on bed posts and chair backs, to-mor
morrow S. sy!phs looked much lik.
ordinary mortals.
Apart from the confusion, in tn.
recitation room where they had pass
ed so many hours, were tomorrow!
herOines, the senior class. All thei
work was over, their final examine
ton passed with honor to themsclvc!
and credit to their teachers, theil
diplomas, the reward of SO mucl
toll. safe i'll President Carlyle's desk
and there where they had SO Otter
discussed their school girl joys anC
SORROWS, they had met, as one o
their number said, "for . last, good
long talk" But they were not talk
ing much; they were glad that thei
school life was over; glad that to
morrow would witness the attain
ment OF their hearts desire, ant
glad that in short time they woult
be onco moro will, tho l"vod onas a
home; but i'll their joy they reinem
bered that the ties. which had bount
them SO pleasantly together, must b.
severed, that no more would they al
meet around their dear teacher, rs o
old no more listen to his words q
instruction. or encouragement, AM
the thought of parting brought
sadness TO each heart, shallow t
each brow, which not even the antlc
ipation of the meetings lying beyond
could wholly dissipate.
"Whcn shall we all meet again?'on
Of them had asked. assuminga gayct
she did not feel, and instead of
reply came silence, in which tn
mind of each Of them went out int
the untricd future, which she h'
often longcd for, but from which 81!
now shrank back 4 little.
In this silence we shall dcscril
them. The teachers and pupils {
CARLYLE Institute. as well as the cit
Zens of the town where it was lOci
ted, had long since decided that ncvt
had class passed from its class
walls, which, in all respects wonl
. reflect greater honor on their Aim
Mater" First were the beauties-pc'
pie always rank a pretty face i'll
woman above cvcrythin. elsc-Li
lie Gordon and Rose Mitchell; Lilli
tall, and fair as her own flower, wit
great bluecyes, and masses OF yel'o
hair. Rose dark and bright with a r
diant bloom, which had given her h'
name. They were both amiablc al
intelligent in a moderate degree, al
reversed all the rules of rival bell
ship by being the best of friend
They where sitting, school-girl-fas
ion, arms around each other al
hand clasped in hand.
Claribel Morris, the daugter Of
} gcuius aud poet, with. it was sal
poetical aspirations herself, was
slender, quiet looking, rather pla
girl, except in some rare momel
, when enthusiasm brought u glow
, hcr cheek, and light to her haz
: eve, far more attractive than any me
Z physical beauty could be.
Then there was Mary Somers, 4
good girl of the class, to whom Il
younger ones always came when
problem more difficult than usu
taxed their brains. and to whom tn
never came III vain. Now, while h
comrades hands lay idle in the
: laps, hers were busy in faslionil
: out divers pieces of pink ribb'
roscttes, which tomorrow wou
u decorate the shoulders of some of h
sophomore friends.
: Next to her sat Minnie Morga
!, Tiny, as her friends called her. al
" truly with her short statue, slemtl
: waist, and mites of hands aud f.,
II she deserved the name. She was o
J. of those app!e-blossomy women,
;. talking to when one invOluntari
: lowers his voice and assumes a &c
:, tier manner. There were tears
I. her soft eyes. as with Claribel's ha
= rlaspcd close in hers. she thou. Il
=! the parting now So near, Tor ut