The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23

considered in the last degree reprehen-
sible and unladylike. Several OF the
other girls exclaimed over it: Il
wouldn't have thought she would do
such thing. would you?' when up
spoke dear friend Of hers:
II don't believe it. There's some good
explanation for it. won't believe that
Jen did such a thing as that, until she
tells lnc so herself
As they were speaking, in walked the
s'Jen under discussion. She was told
the story and asked If il were true.
Her eyes danced with mischief, she
stood with her arm about the waist Of
her friend who had defended her, and
said: ''That kissed a gentleman on the
corner of Henry and Pierpont streets
yesterday morning. yes, it is trne-but
that gentleman was-my handsome and
young looking Father, Now you girls
need not be setting your caps for him,
I tell you-for he's already spoken
for!''
The girls all laughed, except the one
who had started the gossip, and she
SUNK out of the room.
A former student at Brooklyn Heights
seminary (lct us call her Alice,) happi-
~ married to man of means and leis-
ure, was one day riding down the Ave-
nue. de l'Opera, in Paris. In the course
of their way the crowd Of vehicles caus-
ed their prancing horses to come to a
standstill opposite number of little Ia
bles on the sidewalk. just outside we'll
known cafe.
Seated at one of the tables. dressed in
:: striking. snowy toilette" was a
handsome woman. with beautiful large
eyes and t,axen blonde hair. Her COM
panions were three Frenchmen, dressed
in the height of fashion. Wine was in the
glasses before hem-they were laugh
ing and talking with much gaiety and
enioyment-a and all four were smoking
cigarettes. 4 second later. and our stu
dent friend recognized Mamie ",
whom She had often walked arln-in-arm
with to school not SO many years
before. The recognition was mutual.
Alice bowed in slow, amazed fashion,
wondering if she were not in some
strange dream But Mamie's wits were
sharper.
The red flush of shame sprang to her
fair face, her cigarette dropped from
her fingers, and starting suddenly. she
knocked over one of the wine-glasses
and it fell to the pavement with a crash.
simultaneously. the crowd of vehicles
moved on a space. and chirruping to his
horses, the driver Of Alice's carriage
passed on quickly. and trotting down
the smooth boulevard, they were soon
lost to sight.
The next day, by some strange chance
of Providence. they met again in the
Magasin du Louvre. Each was alone
shopping. Alice saw Mamie first. With.
out stopping to reflect. she walked
right over to her old schoolmate and
said Mamie. don't you know me?'
Again the tide of crimson surged over
the fair face. .Yes. of course do. but
shouldn't think that you would want te
know me-" why not? Surely 20,
can not have done much wrong, Mamie
You have only been foolish. that is all
| can not think very badly of you." Tc
her surprise. Mamie burst into great
sobs right then and there.
She led her away to quiet spot. and
little by little, soon knew all her sac
story.
She had married q Frenchman, a con
firmed absintheur. and that. as you arr
aware. brings many evils in its train
lie had been a gambler and scoundrel
and all her associations through him
had been Of a dcbasing sort She hat
never done any thing really evil herself
all her natural instincts having beer
good and true. 1t is too long story t,
! tell you all the details of it. but the re
suit OF this chance meeting was this
Mamie is now teacher in one of on
own American cities, loved and respect
ed by many. Would the ending Of thi
''o'er true tale" have been the same j
the one schoolmate. prosperous. happ,
! aud safe, had ignored her weaker sis
ter?
No doubt you all can join with me il
recalling many such incidents as these
for in the turning Of the wheel Of for
tune marvellous changes in lives ar
wrought.
/ And they are not all sad. thank God
| Many timid, silent girl. that in he
school days showed no signs of the gif
| within, has developed into strong an,
! noble character. One who stammere,
nervously over her lessons, is a brillian
conversationalist and a most charmin,
! hostess in her husbands home to-day
Another-her paintings bring hig|
prices. and she is known and praised Q
all men.
Another. unmarried, who repudiate
such a thing rs a husband and children
has written poems of love and home
| that have touched the heart of thou
sands Another is a physician with
large practice. Her sweet, clear eye
ever see the best thing to be done, he
kind heart ever does it tenderly, an
her strong. firm hand ever does it wei
I;ut the majority of us, married or sir
gle, live just quiet. plain home lives
with no pretense of helping along wit
the stronger and harder things of tn
world But that is no reason for fee
ing that our lives are colorless and dul
Every one is of use and value in hi
own place, if she will but fill that plat
royalty and true.
And SO, dear schoolmates, If we spea
of the days that are passed, and tho'
that lived then, let MS be loyal to eae
other. If we speak words in the pre-
cnt, and of those who live now, let I,
be loyal to each other!
And in the days to come, wheth'
present or absent, whether ''in the cit,
or "out of town" in deed and
thought. let us be loyal to each other!
Isabel Henderson Floyd.