Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-09
THE NEW PUPIL.
BY MRS. A. w. CURTIS.


"Oh, girlsl | shall Just die, | know
SHALL" exclaimed Belle Burnett, going off
into hysterical fit of laughter which
she vainiy tried to smother behind an
elegant lace-edged handkerchief.
what is it, you provoking thing?
Why don't you tell us, so we can laugh,
too?"
Well-you-see," she gasped out, at
last, we've got new pupil-the queer
est-lookirg thing you ever saw. | hap
pened to be in Madam's room when she
arrived. She came in the stage, and had
mite of an old-fashioned hair trunk, not
much bigger than handbook, and she
came into Madam's room with funny
little basket in her hand, and sat down as
II she had come to stay forever. She
said, Are you Madam Gazin?' Yes
she replied, that is my name well,
I've come to stay year at your school
And then she pulled her handkerchief
out of the basket, and unrolled it until
she came to an old leather wallet, and
actually took out $3.50 and laid ii in Mad
ans hand, saying, That is just the
amount, | believe; will you please give
me receipt for it?' You never saw
Madam look so surprised. She actually
didn't know what to say for minute;
but she gave her the receipt, asked her
few questions, and had her taken to No
III, and there she is now, this very min.
ute"
"Well, what was there so funny about
all that?"
why, this: She has red hair tucked
into black net, and looks just like n
fright every way. She had on brown
delaine dress, without a sign Of rutile
or trimming of any kind, and the shah
best hat and shawl you ever saw. You'll
laugh, too, when you see her"
Belle Burnett was an only child, and
her wealthy father was pleased to crafty
her every whim. So, besides being far
too elegantly dressed for schoolgirl,
she was supplied with plenty Of pocket
money, and being very generous and full
of life and fun she was the acknowledged
leader among Madam's pupils.
When the tea bell rang, the newcomer
was escorted to the dining-room and in
trOduccd to her schoolmates as Miss
Fannie ComstoCk. She had exchanged
her brown delaine for Il plain calico
dress, with bit of white edging about
the neck. She did look rather queer,
with her small, thin, treCkled face, and
her red hair brushed straight back from
her face and hidden as much as possible
| under a large black net, and but for the
presence of Madam her first reception
would have been exceedingly unpleasant
She was shy and awkward, and evidently
| i'll ut ease among SO many strangers. AS
soon as possible she FASTENED back to
the seclusion of her own room. The next
day she was examined and assigned To
her place in the different classes, and, to
the surprise of all, she was far in adj
vance of those of her age. But this did
not awaken the respect Of her school
mates, as it should have done. On the
contrary, Belle Burnett and her especial
| friends were highly incensed about it,
| and at once commenced a series of petty
annoyanccs whenever it was safe TO do it,
and kept Fannie miserable indeed, al
| though she seemed to take 10 notice of
it. A few weeks passed by. Her lessons
were always perfectly recited She made
no complaint of the Sights and sneers of
her companions, but kept out OF their
| way as much as possible. Her thin face
| grew paler, however, and there were dark
rings about her eyes. A watchful friend
would have seen that all these things
were wearing cruelty upon her young
life. One Saturday the very spirit of
| wickedncss seemed let loose among them.
Madam was away; the other teachers were
| busy in their own rooms. Fannie had
| been out for a walk, and was near the
door of her room when dozen or more
| of the girls surrounded her, clasping
| hands together so she was a prisoner in
their midst. For moment she begged
| piteously TO be released, but they only
| laughed the more and began going
around and around singing something
which Belle had composed, cruel, miser-
able, insulting words. She stood for an
instant pale and still, then with pierre
ing cry she burst through the ring, and
rushing into her room closed and locked
the door. Through their wild peals of
laughter the girls heard strange moan
and a heavy fall.
II believe she has tainted" said Belle.
what shall we do?" said another.
For moment they stood there sober
enough then one of them ran for the
matron and told her that Fannie Com
stock had tainted In her room, and the
door was locked.
She had a long ladder put to the win
dow and sent the janitor TO see if IL was
true. Fortunately the window was open
and in few moments he had unlocked
the door from the inside. The girls were
huddled together in frightened group,
while Madam lifted the poor girl and
laid her upon the bed She was in VIC
lent spasms. The doctor was sent for,
but when the spasms ceased alarming
symptoms set in and he pronounced it a
serious case of brain fever 1t is i'm
possible TO tell the shame and remorse of
the MISREPRESENTATION girls. They were
not brave enough to confess their guilt,
but hung around the sickroom offering
their services, vainly wishing they might
atone for it in some way But their
presence only excited the poor sufferer,
so they were all sent away. Day after
day passed and still she rayed in vio-
lent delirium. The little hair trunk
was searched to find some clew
TO her friends, but there was nothing in
il but the plainest, scantiest supply of
clothes. Day after day the doctor came,
looking grave and anxious, and at last the
crisis came. For many hours she lay as
if dead, and not noise was permitted TO
disturb the awful silence while they wait
ed to see if she would live or die. At
last she opanpd her ewes and the aus