The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-09-23
SOPHIE'S ORDEAL.

White" said Eleanor Kelsey, "with
broad, blue sashes, and forget me -nots
in our hair. Every graduate to wear q
turquoise locket around her neck, and to
have six-buttoned white kid gloves
stitched with pale blue on the backs
Madam Imogene herself showed me the
design"
won't it he exquisiteP" said Fanny
Wiloughby, clasping her plump hands
The seven young girls who were thai
day month To graduate from Clarendon
Hall, were sitting, schoolgirl fashion
under he bow cry beeches on the lawn
seven fair, human pearls, happily un'
conscious of all the pitfalls and trials Of
the life that lay before them seven half.
opened blossoms, basking in the sun.
shine of school life, whittier, as yet, nc
haunting shadow had followed them
While on the shores of the calm river
below, the other children played and
shou' ed, care. vi not to disturb the pri-
vacy Of the Graduating class"
But" said cautious Rosa Hillgrove,
"will it be eXpensiveP'
"Not ut ALL" said Eleanor, loftily.
"Imogene will furnish them for hun
dred dol lars each, as there are seven OF
US. And"
Just then, Sophie Seyton, who had
been absorbed in letter which the
blue-ribboned parlor- maid had brought
her. looked grave'y up.
"Wait a Minute, Eleanor" said she,
I'll am afraid l cannot afford SO ex-
pensive dress"
"What nonsense, Sophie" called Out
Miss Kesley. You, the heiress, to
talk about not affording paltry hun
dred-dollar costume"
sG Dt,A I hatr 10,,
said Sophie, with curious quiver in
her voice. "This letter is from my
guardian, Colonel Moody. 1t seem:
something is wrong about some invest
ments that have been made, and-and
am as poor as any factory-girl! must
60 out as governess, suppose, or com
panion, or something of that sort.
don't know that | can even stay here
long enough to graduate"
She burst into tears, with her fair
face hidden in her hands.
For a second or two the other six
members of the graduating class sat
looking at one another in dire dismay
Then Eleanor Kelsey sprang up and
threw her arms impetuously about
Sophie's dropping neck.
You shall do nothing of the sort
darling!" she cried. "You shall come
and live always with me. never had
a sister, and l shall treasure you with
the fondest affection"
But Sophie shook her head.
mo, Eleanor" she said; 81 must &C
home at once"
And she went; and Mrs. Clarendon !
graduating class only numbered six tina
year.
Colonel Moody was grim and uncom
municative. The loss of the invest
ments, he stoutly maintained, was no
body's fault. No one could have fore
seen the shrinkagc of stock; no human
provision could have guarded agains
the calamity. 1t was the fortune o
war, neither more nor less.
Sophie Seyton went to her aunt, {
Mrs. Medbury Moore, who had alway!
declared that she loved her darling
niece as il she were her own child.
Dear aunt" she said, "you will q
least give me lomem
=" I'm very sorry, my DEAR" said Mrs
Medbury Moore, . but your uncle ha
been unfortunate in business, and W.
are compelled to retrench in every pos
sible way. An additional member O
our family, just at this time, would b,
an absolute impossibility."
"But what shall 1 doP" appealed poo
"Oh, get a situation somewhere, m,
DEAR" said Mrs. Medbury Moore, smii
ing sweetly. Amy girl who has re
ceived so expensive an education a
yours ought to be independent of tn
world"
"Shall advertiser" said Sophie.
"My dear, really know nothing {
the way people do such things" sal
Mrs. Medbury Moore, beginning t
grow impatient.
So Sophie advertised, but apparentl
no one wanted either a governess or
''well- qualified ladies' companion"
Her little stock of money began
dwindle. Her earnings failed her. NJ
one of her relatives cared to assume I'll
burden of her support. No one ell
took the responsibility of advising hel
One day she timidly entered the plat
glass doors OF mammoth fancy stor
and asked Tor the proprietor.
f" Miss Seyton, isn't itP" said M
Makemoney, who had sod many a bi
OF goods to the heiress. "Pray. wh,
can ! do for you this evening, Miss Sc
torp"
Perhaps" hesitated poor, shrinkir
Sophie, you can help me 10 situatio
II there should be a vacancy anon yo
lady clerks :"
"How-hal' said Mr.. Makemone
tN.aw - n Ia L.. x.l.r l.f =