New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-15

seen turn of affairs She had anticipated an
enormity of fun out of the new scholar. She by
nature cruel and arrogant, and she now affected
as some feline creature that has been cheated Of the
prey it has meant to maui and main.
Her reddish-hazel eyes, that showed so little
white as to look like two large beads of clouded
amber and were frnged with scant lashes of lighter
red, kept up a persistent scrutiny of Claire She
was sitting not far away from the latter who
caught now and then watt of the delicate violet
perfume which exhaled from her fine foreign ap-
parei. She occupied with her epicurean repast,
whose dainties she devoured with q solemn glut-
tony but this did not prevent her from keeping up
a little fusillade of whispers to friend whom she
had given one or two bites of luscious cake as
mark of peculiar clemency.
The converse was Mt first low-toned. Claire had
finished her ljrief refreshment. She had opened
book and maintained at least the semblance of be-
ing engaged in its contents. Suddenly she heard
Ada Gerard speak these words. in voice lifted
above her former key. though doubtless meant
solely for her companions ears:
Il don't care how much she knows She's c
common little thing, and wouldn't notice her if
she got on her knees aud begged me to-"
Claire waited O few seconds. with head lowered
above her book. She trembled while she so waited.
The tremor was half from anger, half from ntimi-
dation She felt, lii every fibre of her being the
coarseness of this speech, but through her sensitive
soul had shot pang OF false shame, dealt by the
piercing sense of contrast between her own humble
state and the probable grandeur aud comfort of
life which had fed Ada Gerrard's present super
ciliousness. But anger conquered. She ceased to
tremble and closed her book Then she rose.
quietly, and faced her classmate 1t may have
been that the generations of gentlewomen from
which, on her fathers side, she had sprung, helped
H. ..,I
source OF all aristocracy is cogent selfasserton.
and those races alone gain heights overbrowing
their kind whose first founders have had the will
and vgor to push forward resisted claims.
Everybody saw her rise. Ii flashed through the
little throng in an instant. that something had
spurred her into course of retaliation. At least
fifteen pairs of eager eyes were levelled upon her
pale face. But she regarded Ada Gerard only; and
when she spoke with enough clearness to be heard
In all parts Of the room, her first words were ad-
dressed strictly to that special offender
"You say that you will not notice me-" Claire
began, +" aud yet you say it so loudly that can
hear you, and thus you very plainly contradict
yourself; or in other words you try TO attract my
attention By speaking falsehood."
Here she paused. dead silence ensued. Many
bewidered looks were exchanged The presiding
teacher stopped her task, and sat with gaze OF
puzzled alarm fixed upon this resolute young COM
Blatant. Ada Gerard flushed crimson, and ceased
to discuss her savory CONNECTIONS.
Claire's voice quivered as she now pro-
ceeded, but she quickly controlled this perturbed
sign: u do not think there Is much chance OF my
begging you on my knees to notice me-" she said.
/" But might be tempted to take this way Of beg
ging that you would try and help me to forget, rs
long as remain here. how ] have had the iil-luck
of being thrown near any one so unkind. so impu-
dent and so vulgar as yourself"
Ada Gerard sprana 10 her feet as the last calm
word sounded from Claire's lips She had clenched
both of her plump hands. and there was wrathful
scow on her face. Several filters were heard from
her companions; they seemed 70 sting her; IL was
impossible for her 10 fail in perccvng that she had
met an adversary of twice her own proves She
knsw 10 which side the sympathy bad yesred; AZ
her imposing superiority In the way OF dress OF Diet
of home-splendor, of titled kindred were moinen-
tariIy as nothing beside Claires placid antaeonisn
She was only an ugly girl IN an ugly rage. who
had behaved insolently aud been rebuked
with Justice; while Claire. pale, un-
auching, wholly In the right and wholly aware of
it. her draw backs of uncouth costume no longer
present her beauty fact beyond dispute her In
tell;gence recent discovery aud sharp surprise.
stood clad with the dignity OF easy and complete
conquest.
Ada Gerard suddenly burst into tears. They
were very rate tears there was not the least tine
tnre of remorse or shame in them She flung her
self back into her chair and covered her face for
several minutes while she wept
Claire watched her, TRANQUILITY. for little while.
Then she sat down again and reopened her book.
An intense silence reigned broken by the sobs OF
Ada Gerard. Claire leaned her head OH her hand.
feigning abrupt absorption In the page that she
regarded, and fegning 1t very well. But her mind
was In secret wbirl, DOW. She was muteiy out
impetuously asking herself: "Wiil they think
was right VIII they take my partf VIII thoy
treat me any more kindly. or just as beforeT
These silent. pathetic queries were fated to
receive a speedy answer. Before the school
hours of that same day had ended, tho ostracisnl
which had 80 wrung poor Claire's spirit was in
n measure ended likewise. Less than week had
e,apsed before she was on friendly terms with a
nnmber of her classmates A little adverse clique
oon shaned itself against her. Ada Gerard hercey
nnforsivne headed this hostile faction; its remain
inc msmbers were few stanch personal adherent
who had never been able TO resist the dazzling fas
creation Of Miss Gerrard's toilets and lunches But
this opposing element was not actively inlmicai
CIare's party had the strength OF multitude ano
the courage of its opinions. STILL its members were
nv no means ardent devotces; they sometimes hur
her with the sly stab of patronage, ana they oiten
cave her furtively to understand that her claim'
unon their favor were of q sort which they prac
t,caIly recognized without Theoretically approving
II would be hard to define just how they conveyed
this impression. And yet Claire frequently felt III
weight. like that of some vague tyranny whiei
a. no tangible excuse for revolt. She could
liter realize nor estimate the force with which
shs bao been thrown into contact. Her years were
vet too few. her experience was yet too limited mol
was the force manifest in active strength az MIS-
Arcularus's school. narrow enough theatre ior IL
exercise. and one where its full-grown momentum
must of necessity dwiudle into something IKE 'nel
juvenile parody. Claire was yet TO learn WIN NOV
much rank haste Its evil growth nad spluns W =