South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-10-02
Fannie Comstock 4:
OR, MADAME GAINS POOR SCHOLAR.

what Is It, yon provoking thing Why
don't you tell US, so We can laugh too p
Weil-you-see,' she gaspcd out at
iast, we've got new pupil, the quoerest
looking thing you ever saw. | happened
10 be IN Madam's room when she arrived.
Sue came in the stage, and had q mito Of
an old-fashioned hair trunk, not much big
ger than a handbook, aud she cane into
Madam'sroom with funny little basket ia
her hand, and sat down as If sho had come
to stay forever. She said, are you Madam
GAzIN Yes she replied, that is my
name. We'll, have come to stay year
at your school, And then she pulled her
handkerchief out of the basket, and unroll-
ed 1t until she came to an old leather wal
let, and actually took out two hundred and
fifty dollars and laid it 10 Madam's hand.
saying, That is just the amount, believe;
will you please give me receipt for il p
You never saw Madam look so surprised.
She actually didn't know what to saw for a
minute; but she gave her the receipt, ask
ed few questions, aud had her taken 10
No. 10, and there she is now, this very
minute
well, what was there SO funny about
all that 2
why, this: abe has red hair tucked in
to black pct, and looks just like fright
every way. She had on brown delaue
dress, without sign Of a ruffle or trim
m'og OF any kind, ADD tho shabbiest hat
aud 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 gcatify her
| lot
egantIy dressed for school girl, she was
soppied with plenty OF pocket money, and
being very generous and fdll of life and
fuo, she was the acknowledged leader a
moog Msdam's pupils.
Wbeo the tes.bell raug, tho newcomer
was escorted 10 the diuingoroom, aud in,ro-
duced 10 hot schoo'mates as Nj iss FANNIE
ComsToc6. She had exchanged hcr brown
do'aoe Tor pl'in calico dre,s, with bit Of
white edgiug about The neck Sue did look
rather queer, with her snsli ohio, freckled
lace, a0d her red bair brushed straight
back from bcr face, aud bidden as much as
possible under large black net, aod but
Tor toe presence OF Madam her first recep.
lIonwou'd haseboen CT cceliogly unpleasant.
She was shy ADD awkward, aud evideutIy
| soon as possible she bastcued back TO the
-ecosIon nf bee owe room. Tho next day
-be was cxamioed aud assirued TO Der place
IN 'he d'fereot classes, and, 10 the surprise Of
all, sue was far IN advance Of those of her
age. But this did not awaken the respect
OF her scbOOlnatcs, as it should have doae.
On The couTary, Belle BURNeTT aud Der
especial friends were highly iocensed about
| II, and at once commenced series of petty
aoDoyances, wheOever It WAS safe to do il,
which kept poor FANNIE miserable iodeed,
although she seemed to take no notice Of it.
a few weeks passed by. Her lessons were
always perfectly recited. She made no
complaIot of tue Sights aud snecrs OF Der
companions, bat keDs out Of their way as
m1cb as possible lee thin face grew pal
er, however, ADD there were dark ljues o.
bout Der eyes. A waichfui frieod would
have seeo that all these thi0gs were wear
Jog cruelty upon her youog life. Oue Sal.
urdaY tbo very split OF wickcdoess seem
ed let loose niDOog them. Madam was a
way The other teachers were busy 10 heir
own rooms. FANNlE bad boeo out for q
walk, and was near tic door of he's room
When dCzeu or more Of tbe girls surround
ed Der, ciaspiDg hands together so sue
was prisooer 10 their midst. For mo
mcJt the begged pjteou,ly TO DO released,
but tbey ooy laughed the more, and begao
going ound and arou0d, siogiDe some.
thi0g which BELLE had compos od--eruel,
miserable, iosulung words. She stood for
40 iOsiaot pale and still then with pierre
Jog cry shc bucss thro' the riUg, md rush.
ing toto her room, closed and locked the
door. Through their Wild peals of laughter
Iho girls heard q strange moan and heavy
fall
j believe she has tainted, said BELLE
What sbal wo DO 2 said another
For moment they stood there, sober o.
D0ugb then one Of them ran for the ma.
troO aud told her that FANSIE CoMsrooK,
bad tainted in hor room, and the door was
locked.
She had along ladder put to tho window
and sent the janitor to see il it was true.
Fortunately the window was open, and in
a few moments he had unlocked tho door
from the inside. The girls were huddIed
together 10 a frightened group, while Mad
am lifted the poor girl and laid her upon
the bed. She was in violent spasms. The
doctor was sent for, but when the spasms
ceased alarming symptoms set in, aud he
pronounced II serious case Of brain fever.
/ 1t is possible 10 tell the shame and re-
morse OF the conscience stricken girls They
! were not brave enough to confess their guilt
but hung around the sick room Offering
their services, vainly wishing that they
might atone for it in some way. But their
presence only excited the poor sufferer, 20