News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-11-06
HANNAH BROWN.

Ethel Wentworth reclining in a
hammock swung between two great
chestnut trees on the grounds of
"Hope Seminary" listened silently
to the talk of three of her compan-
ions of the graduate class.
1t was the hour after tea, which
these young ladies had quite to them
selves. Scattered about the place in
little knots or groups, they were en-
joying it. One girl only sat alone.
A little brown figure scarcely visible
in the twilight, bending over some
thing that she held in her lap, in
rather melancholy fashion.
1t was lovely evening. All nature
seemed in tune. In the sweet, pale
sky a silver crescent moon and one
soft star were barely visible. The
perfume of roses filed the air, and
drifts of music from the neighboring
church, where the organist was
practicing for some grand occasion,
came to them at intervals.
And these four girls upon the bench
how charming they were, how clear
their eyes, how 'srfsootn their softly
plenteous their hair, how fresh their
simple yet stylish costumes! They
were quite angels in their appear
ance, but, sad to say, the gossip in
which they were indulging was
neither sweet nor elevating.
"What is her name?'' asked Ade-
laide Lee
"Miss Brown" replied Sarah Off
GER, the eldest of the party.
"She looks it, said Lilly Bell. 81
should take her for a house-maid."
"Oh, girls!' p cried Sarah Officer,
81 have found out what her dress is
made of.
"I thought it was coffee-bagging,"
said Lilly Bell, with her irrepressible
litter.
81 said dish-towels dyed" sneered
Adelaide Lee.
"It's that cheap tufted worsted
stuff, turned wrong side out, said
Sarah Officer,
"OhP groaned the three together,
in horror.
And those big morocco boots
with cord lacing,'' giggled Lilly
"You've noticed them p
Yes" said Sarah. "And the
coarsest white cotton stockings, and
such common black lace mitts. She
has the best frock, though .
"Oh, what is it?" laughed Bell
Something made of two old black
silks that don't match" replied
Sarah, with such funny ruffies at
the neck and wrists. What time
she made hanging it up and pinning
an old piece of silicia about it, lest it
should catch the dust, she said. :"
They all laughed at this. Little
silvery, well-trained laughs they
were; and Adelaide, tanning herself
gracefully, went on: "Well, / hope
she enjoyed walking by herself to
day. The girls of the class have al
shown proper spirit. | think that
We have proved that we can turn the
cold shoulder to that sort ofpersOn.'
How did she manage to be taker
, in?" asked Sarah.
"Ok, believe her father wrote tC
Mrs. Hope or the professor about hi
, daughter4 and -sept her- on : : sail 4Ad
elaide. II am slss5 they never saV
tie paper-covered trunk and carpet
, bag"
! "Not really cdrpet-bag?' crie'
Lilly.
Yes, indeed" said Adelaide
''Well, fancy she'll not stay long. y
+" She shallnot!" said Sarah. " But
Lilly, how did you manage to rave
out that worsted work of hers, an
what on earth is it?'
at looks like a rag bag" said Ii
ly. "As for raveling it, of course
caught my foot in the worsted by az
cident at first, and then | could nc
resist the temptation of walking o
as if | knew nothing about it. Oh
z did you hear her? 'Oh my poe
y work! Oh! pray stop, pray stop'
y am afraid the rag-bag will never |
l. finished. She is weeping over it's sa
, remains now. Oh, Brown won't sta
long, | assure you"
At this while Ethel Wentworth ha
- not uttered a word, but her though
had been very busy. She was a gi
= of great refinement and good feelin,
As the daughter ola clergyman ofhig
position, whose fortune made it poss
TX BILE for him to use most of his lars
n n salary in deeds of benevolence, 81
e. held a social position second to mol
"a in the school.
rk Her tastes were fastidious and cl
n tivated. The stocky little figure
" the queer brown gown did not Q
= tract her, but she had noticed t
VI contemptuous glances, the UNI
III strainted sneers, the absolute rue
iii ness with which Miss Brown had be
q treated, with Indignation. The e
ii had done nothing to merit all thi
II the Sights, the guying, had all be
n bestowed upon her poor, though til
clothes.