The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-22
IN A MIRROR.

IN A MIRROR.
"Come, now, Cousin Esther" we three
girls clamored, "a real story-one about
school-days."
"School-days2' said Cousin Esther,
yielding at once, as she always does
when we visit her. "Well, sit down, and
III tell you one I've been thinking 6
deal about of late" ..
We settled ourselves comfortably an6
Cousin Esther went on:
"You have heard me say that when !
was about seventeen went for year f
Miss Lennox's school, at Burtnet. ]
taught some of the younger scholars and
had good instruction myself, and my best
friend was Alice Arthur.
"The day I arrived Miss Lennox asked
me to be kind to Alice; she was studying
to be teacher, and her life was peculi.
arly trying; her widowed mother lived
in Boston, and Alice had been compelled
to accept home with very disagreeable
relative In Burtnet while she attended
school.
II loved Alice at once; her name,
was so sweet and cordial, and she seemed
such real lady. Though only fifteen
she was taller than I, and I thought I nev.
or saw anything prettier than her wavy
hair and blue eyes.
"She was poorly dressed, but her man
ner was so charming that no one eve,
thought of her dress.
''Our friendship prospered, with but
one drawback. A girl named Louisa By.
we'll insisted upon following us about
like shadow we never sat down for a
quiet talk but we were certain to be in
terrupted by Louisa.
"She was thin, awkward girl, inor-
dinately vain, fond OF dress, but good
hearted in sort of way; yet from the mo.
ment I appeared to be Alice's friend she
seemed foolishly jealous.
call the girls admitted Alice Arthur
to be their superior; she had certain
high courage combined with gentleness
which made her sort of leader among
Us, and it was said no one had ever known
her to prevaricate or even exaggerate in
the smallest degree. OF her home-life
she rarely spoke, yet knew what 1t was.
zone day friend Of papa's, in Burtnet,
. Mrs. Rogers, invited seve6al of us to 20
down to her pretty house and see some
OF her daughters wedding presents and
dnery.
Mrs. Rogers was always particularly
kind to Alice, who was evidently a great
favorite with her. I shall never forget
that day. could not 90, on account of
teaching, but I saw the party set of, ear
" in the afternoon, in high spirits; Louisa
Bywell, LYDIA Samson and Matte Jones.
who were boarders, and Alice, who was
to 60 from the Rogers directly home.
ut was about SIX o'clock when thew
returned, and looking out of the school
room window, knew at once that some
thing unusual had happened. They were
talking eagerly and excitedly; Alice'a
name fell upon my ear, and believing
some accident had occurred, ran out to
meet them. "What is the matter with
Alice7" cried, anxiously.
:Louisa's face flushed. always Alice.
she said resentfully; but Matte Jones in.
'terrupted with
"Why Alice Arthur is a thief! She
stole Miss Sallie Rogers cross and chain
'1~started back as if had been struck
Hush, Mattel" I exclaimed; how can
you say such thing2" .'H
':But it Is true, the girl persisted. I'll
tell you how it was: Miss Sallie showed
us her box Of trinkets, and there was q
iligree gold cross and chain among them
Well, when we came to leave, Alice pull
ed her handkerchief out OF her pocket
the inside pocket of her jacket the
Cross fell OUT
"And yet she Declares said Louisa,
she never put it there ........
"Girls! girlsl" I exclaimed, do stou
talking so loudly; go in to Mirs Lennox,
do; there is some mistake he1e.' -s. -
No. persisted Lonisa, for Miss Sallie
missed the cross almost directly, and we
hunted everywhere, and then it dropped
out OF her pocket, and Louisa nodded her
lead sagely. I could hardly walt to get
down to Aliee's. Mrs. Lee, her cousin.
opened the door for me with very lofty
air. -. : lGa,r" '0>''
"'The wretched girl is up stairs, Miss
Lang she said; you can see her, of
course l'0-
II stopped on the stairs. Mrs. Leel
l exclaimed, you are not cruel enough to
believe this of your cousin2'
"Mrs. Lee only tossed her head, and I
new up to my poor Alice. She was pac-
ing the floor of her little attic room with
. a white face, and scared, strange ex-
preston. ~ ....a .-.s.'- -
"sOh, Esther she exclaimed, this is
horrible, horriblep And then she excit-
edly told me the story.
ut was the same Matte had related,
pot Allce renewed the assurance that she
co9lo not understand how the cross came
to be In her pocket. .~ - ''''o
*be1ore the next night twenty versions
OF 3ne story were circulating in Burtpet,