The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-05-17
THE SPELLING MATCH.


THE spILLIN0 MATCH
The frsi spelling match Of The seasoi
VI. 10 be held ia the Pickett school hons
snd all tho youpg people 90 the farms 10
i~rniy miles sroued ~sra greatly ereiie'
over IL
4, Rose Adaison's spple irolic The See'
preyi0as. the coming coming contest VA
tho principal subject oi conversation, and
everyone prosen, bad something TO 50,
sbou, IL There Vas no reasonable donb
As 10 the t~o who would be elected ts
''lcsd Sides for George Claiming and
Henry Lisbon bad never failed to receive
the sresiesi number Of votes, aud took
their honors "a matter Of course
But nothing Was knoSn as 10 their fol-
loSers, and some anxiety was felt ou the
subject. particularly among the girls, with
whom George, by reason Of bis handsome
person ana pleasing maaners, vas great
isyorite.
Henry Lisbon was tall, shy, rather
awkward looking young man, who was
elected leader principally because he
was an excellent speller aud inspired his
followers with courage and coBhdeDee. II
was fattering. OF course. to be chosen as
his first assistant; but ii was orsidered a
far greater honor TO be thus favored by
George, aud there we're several girls who
would have iel, very glad had they been
sure OF standing next to the latter during
the N mstcb, the sharer OF his hopes aud
fears as TO its natural result. aud the re
cipient OF his smiles and whispered conf
dences.
George was greatly amused at the nn
usual sttentiou he had received from the
girls at the parting frolic. He knew veIy
well what it meant, and be kept his own
counsel and gave no one any satisfaction
as to his Intentions.
81 haven't made up my mind" be said
to Liddy Wheeler, who, made bold by
anxiety. at last asked him to relieve the
general suspense 1T is very grave
matter, aud requires careful considera
tion. "
The evening OF the match was clear aud
cold. the wheeling was excellent, and as
carriage after carriage emptied its load OF
merry young people at the door OF the
old school house, it became evident to
every one that the spelling match would
be one OF unusual interest and competition.
At eight o'clock the voting began. Ey.
cry Que present was required to write on
a slip Of paper the name OF the one he or
she wished to lead; these slips we're drop
ped into hat. When counted, the two
gentlemen receiving the greatest number
votes we're declared elected
In view Of the popularity Of George
Charming aud Henry Lisbon, this voting
was q matter Of mere form, and George,
sure OF the result, paid no attention to it
after depositing in the hat bis own vote,
which, Of course, was for Henry.
He was mechanically counting the num-
Der OF people crowded on one Of the forms
near him. when it suddenly occurred to
him that 1t would be well for him TO de-
eide whom he would favor with the FIRST
CALL" With this purpose he looked about
him, meeting as he did 30 half dozen |
earnest, almost entreating glances, from as
many pairs OF bright eyes.
His inclination pointed to Rose Ander-
son, but he knew such choice would
rouse great deal Of i'll feeling and jeal
ousy, for be had chosen Rose on several
occasions the previous winter.
"Bother the girls T. be thought; "there
is sure to be fuss, no matter how do
choose"
As the words formed themselves in his
mind his eyes fell on the tall, gaunt form
of Debby Rawley, girl OF about l6 years
OF age, who had never appeared at
spelling match, but whom be knew quite
we'll. nevertheless. having had occasion to
call several times on her grandmother,
with " BON she lived.
Debby WAS called "odd" by her neigh
bors, and perhaps they had some cause to
think her so, for ber poverty obliged her
to dress in sll sorts OF ontlandish garments
which had belonged to various relatives.
and her consciousness Of her g.otesque
appearance caused her to assume cold
and reserved manner. which. while it pro
tec,ed her from open ridcule. was calcu
lated TO give the impression that she was
both rude and sullen.
She was attired to night 10 faded,
shrunken, green worsted dress, trimmed
with shabby ball fringe. About ber
shoulders was rusty black shawl, and
her head was covered with ared WOODEN
hood Of her own manufacture She sat in
! corner OF the room, her bare, red hands
in one corner Of her shawl, and
her feet tucked ont OF sight under her
iress. TO conceal ber worn and patched
shoes She looked ~ she felt, very lonely
and i'll at ease No one present had rec
ognized her by so much as look. aud her
heart was tilled with bitterness aud pain.
She wished most earnestly that che lad
not come. aud not exposed herself to such
soldness and neglect But she vas too
prond TO go home. Tnsi, she thought, /,
would be too open confession OF her pain ]
nd ehssrin.
Georges eyes sparkled with mischief as
ae looked a, her.
"Tll DO il, be thought 1T will be !
,spital joke. aud will give the girls some +,
hing 10 talk about for The next sii weeks"
A, this moment the counting OF the