The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-03-29
PICKLES..

Her real name was a very high sound
ing one-Arabella De We're Walsingham.
Kitty Nelson was standing at the desk
behind Miss Sands, and looked over her
shoulder as she wrote it down in the
book. But in Madame La Merits school
she was never called, from first to last,
anything but "Pickles" is, by the
scholars.
1t was Belle Archer who gave her the
name of Pickles in the first place. Belle
had a way of ridicuiing people; she
thought it made her seem clever and
witty, and all the girls laughed--except
the yictim-because they dared not do
otherwise. for no one knew whose turn
would come next.
Madame La Merit introduced Miss
Arabella to two or three of the girls,
Belle Archer am ong them; but the young
lady seemed to take more kindly to the
younger girls who were in her class.
In the afternoon she devoted herself to
picked olives, and Belle Archer's merrl-
ment knew no bounds.
Not that pickles were by any means
unknown things in Madame La Merits
school-room. But the "Indian Heiress,
es they had called her before she came,
had such serious way of devotinS her.
self to them. as il they were the business
of her life; and then she had such va
riety that it was mystery where she got
them all. So the girls fell gradually
into the fashion Of calling her pickles. !"
Little Sallie Denham: who was her
room mate, told wonderful stories OF the
treasures that were displayed when her
trunks were opened, and showed proudly,
a lovely fan, all of carved ivory, as fine
and delicate as lace, which Pickles had
given her. And so many jars OF sweet
meats as she had! That won Sallie's
heart as even the fan could not, and she
was the new scholars fast friend from
the first mouthful.
A oueer old woman named Metche,
with a skin as yellow as gold and little
swapping black eyes, who wore gay
turban and immense hoops OF gold
swinging in her ears, had been added to
the corps of servants in the school at the
same time that Pickles made her appear
ance, and it was soon discovered that she
had come from India with her, had been
her nurse in childhood, and refused to
be separated from her.
All at once fancy seemed to strike
Miss Arabella that it would be nice
thing to be more finely dressed. She
came into the school room one morning,
a few moments before the bell rang as II
anxious not to make too great sensa.
ton by her appearance, with a dress Of
some lustrous, silky material.
Unluckily for poor Pickles, Belle
Archer was already in her seat. She
lifted her eye-glasses-Belleh had recently
taken to wearing eyeglasses, not that she
was by any means near sighted, but she
fancied they gave her literary look
and surveyed her.
"Is it a rainbow-or-can it be Pickles,
blossomed out like tulip bed? Cleo
pateray, the most fairr henceforth you
never shall be Pickles.
Miss Sands came in then, and silence
ensued instantly; but Belle had discov-
cred Pickles weak point, and determined
to tease her still more about her tinery.
Pickles escaped to her room as soon as
the bell rang for recess, but not to di-
vest herself of her gay dress or her
ornaments; she was too proud for that.
When she came back picture adorned
the blackboard-at the furthest end of
the room from Miss Sands desk, 80 as
to be invisible to that lady, but directly
opposite her own desk-a wonderfully
elaborate picture to be drawn in so short
q time; but Belle Archer's forte was
drawing.
II was the figure of an Indian. with
long hair decorated with plumes and
with his shoulders wrapped in o blanket
30 far an exact copy of the Indian IN the
school geography-but unlike that
specimen of the aboriginals, he wore a
dress with q trail, wonderfully exact
imitation of Pickles gay robe. Pickles
coin earrings hung from his ears; his
arms were loaded with copies of Pickles
bracelets, ridiculously exaggerated in
size, and his fingers with rings; and in
ono hand be held picked cucumber of
unheard-of size. 'Lol the poor H.
dianl' was written under it in large
letters.
1t was silly and senseless as vel As Q
cowardly Joke; but poor Pickle forti-
tude almost gave way, as all tie gals
glanced at it as they came in, and ;urn at
her. And such a hubbub of laughter
and exclamation as there was, But she
struggled bravely to keep back the tears
that rushed to her eyes, and got down in
her seat as quickly az ever. Belle was
rather disappointed in the effect upon
her. and rather frightened at the excite
ment it was causing; for Miss Sands had
heard and was coming down the aisle t.
investigate.
"What does all this noise mean. young
ladies?" she said, severely. And some
body pointed to the blackboard.