The record-union., 1891-04-12
HANNAH BROWN.


1t was the hour after tea, which these
young ladies had quite to themselves.
Scattered about the place in little knots or
groups, they were enjoying it. One girl
only sat alone. A little brown figure
scarcely visible in the twilight, bending
over something that she held in her lap,
in a rather melancholy fashion.
It was a 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 filled 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 We're, how clear their
eyes, how smooth their softly tinted
cheeks, how beautiful and plenteous their
hair, how fresh their simple, yet stylish
costume! They were quite angels in APP
peaFance, but, sad to say, the gossip in
which they were indulging was neither
sweet nor elevating.
"What is her name? ?' asked Adelaide
Lee.
miss Brown" replied Sara Officer, the
eldest of the party.
''She looks it,'' said Lilly Bell. 81
should take her for a hOusemaid."
'0h, girls" cried Sara Officer, "Ive
found out what her dress is made Of"
II thought it was cot1ee-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 Sara Officer.
"Ohp groaned the three together in
holy horror.
''And those big morocco boots, with
cord lacings," giggled Lilly. You've
noticed them?''
''Yes," said Sara. "And the coarsest
white cotton stockings, and such COM
mon black lace mitts. She has best
frock though"
'Oh, what is it?'' laughed Bella.
Something made of two old black
silks that don't match," replied Sara,
with such funny ruffies at the neck and
wrist. What time she made hanging 1t
up and pinning an old piece of silesia
sbout it lest it should catch the dust, she
said"
They all laughed at this. Little, sill
very, 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 all shown proper spirit. l
think that we have prayed that we can
turn the cold shoulder to that sort Of per-
SON."
Glow did she manage to be taken IMP"
asked Sara.
''Oh, believe her father wrote to Mrs.
Hope or the professor about his daugh-
ter, and sent her on, said Adelaide. L
am sure they never saw her before she ar
rived, with that little paper-covered trunk
and a carpet-bag.'
Not really a carpet-bag ?" cried Lily.
''Yes, indeed" said Adelaide. well,
I fancy she'll not stay long
''She shall notn' said sara. but, Lilly,
how did you manage TO rayel out that
worsted work Of hers, and what on earth
us it?''
''It looks like a rag-bag," said Lilly.
"AS for raveling it out, of course, l
caught my foot in the worSted by accident
a. nrst, and then l could not resist the
temptation of walking on as if l knew
nothing about it. Oh, did you hear her?
oh, my poor work Oh, pray stOpn
Pm afraid the rag bag viii never be fin
ished. She is weeping over its sad re-
mains now. oh, Brown, won't stay long,
/ assure you"
All this while Ethel Wentworth had
not uttered word, but her thoughts had
been very busy. She was girl OF great
refinement and good feeling. AS the
daughter of clergyman Of high position,
whose private fortune made IL possible
for him to use most of his large salary in
deeds of benevolence, she held social
position second to none in the school.
Her tastes We're faStidiOuS and culti-
waited. The stocky little figure in the
queer brown gown did not attract her,
but she had noticed the contemptuous
glanceS, the unrestrained sneers, the
Obsolute rudeness with which Miss Brown
had been treated, with Indignation. The
girl had done nothing to merit all this;
the sights, the guying, had all been
turned upon herpoor though tidy clothes.
Ethel Wentworth was spoken of as 1.-THE
sweetest girl in the GLASS;" but she was
aroused at last.
This is cruel and unladylike," she said,
speaking suddenly, and rising as she
spoke; "unbecoming to the last degree.
j for one protest against it. Until Miss
Brown does something worse than to
wear turned gowns and cheap shoes she
merits our kindness and courtesy" She
paused and stood little flushed and
trembling slightly in the agitation of
having spoken her mind in such curt
fashion, but determined to go on as she
had begun.
Il am ashamed that 1 have not yet
offered the stranger a welcome" she said.
And l shall do it now; she looks very
unhappy" She walked away. Lilly
Bell uttered a contemptuous little laugh.
Adelaide looked offended and Sara
Officer annoyed. She had fancied that a
girl of EthePs social position would think
better of her for her contempt of what
she styled ''vulgarity.'
''Well, we've had sermon" she said,
after a pause.
"Yes, - said Adelaide; ''but remember
we must keep up our proper pride. If
Ethel Wentworth takes that tone she
must go to Coventry with Hannah
Brown
tits too absurd said Lilly Bell. ''But
the angels always show their real temper
at last. 'Unlady-like, unbecoming to the
last degree Dear me-"
Meanwhile Ethel had reached the spot
where Miss Brown sat by herself, and had
taken a seat beside her.
''pve not had a chance to chat with you
yet, Miss Brown" she said. ETHEL
Wentworth is my name."
II noticed it at roll-call; it is a pretty
name," replied Hannah Brown. "They
named me after grandmother, Hannah.
Father says she was the best woman who
ever lived. But still Hannah is old
fashioned. Miss Wentworth, will you
tell me if / have done anything to offend
those young women-seemed rude or of
5ensive in any way? ?"
"Oh, no, am sure you have not" said
Ethel.
"Ah," said Hannah, then they only
use me so because am countrified and
shabby. Really 1 did not know quite
how much so until l saw them ali to-
gether. We are very far from the world
at home, and there 1 am DR.. Browns
daughter whatever / wear. You're sure
I've not hurt their feelings in any way ?
Very well then. j shall not feel badly
about it. They ought to be ashamed,
not IL
She caught up her worsted and began
to wind it rapidly. Ethel saw that it was
dull mixed gray, not attractive to the
eyes.
You've had an accident with your
work" she said.
''Yes," said Hannah. at is not much.
q czfiy Il c,Tl