The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-06-09

she flashed back detiantly. "You set
them at me from the first"
Nov, C'listy," drawled Dave, plant
ing himself before her, "I'n bigger
barker than bitter any day. I've got
to make fun of somebody. I'd guy
Emma Howe herself. And you know
you did look as odd as Dick hat
band that day. But you've changed
nightly and l do admire pluck any
where. Just you stick to it. C'listy,
and you'll pull through. Girls are
queer animals"
land boys, too," Clisty could not
help saying to herself, with q queer
feeling compounded of anger and
gladness. 1t was something at least,
to have gained one friendly word. She
would keep on.
But Belle Price succeeded perfectly
in making her miserable. She looked
upon the despised girl as her rival
now and her influence WAS all-power-
full with the Others.
Then came the offer of prizes to the
girls for the best essay. Clisty knew
that she could write, and the prize
meant so much pecuniarily. So she
set to work. Bell Price was also one
OF the contestants and a determined
rival.
The day was rapidly approaching,
and Bellies admirers took occasion
to state openly that their friend
production was mot to be excelled.
The afternoon before the day set for
the exercises Calista was about dis
'couraged. OF what use to strive
longer?
Suddenly a,cry rang through the
>school-room.
Fire! frev'
There was a mad rush orthe doors.
The teachers presence of mind enabl-
ed them to get out safely the occu-
pants OF the rooms; but, once outside,
1t was discovered that C'listy and
Belle were 1nissing.
For a minute, as the lines passed
out rapidly, C'listy hesitated. She
knew that Belle had slipped, off secret.
~ to the lecture-room on the first
floor for: a final rehearsal by herself.
But what.if she had? It was none of
her business. C'listy thought. Some
one would look her up, and Belle
would not trouble to save her from
anything, she bitterly thought, AIS she
rememb ered 'thermany sights she had
endured.
She had reached the foot of the
stairway with others when suddenly
She darted aside unseen, and 'up the
stairs through the hail. so rapidly fill
Ing with smoke from some unknown
quarter.
"What are you following me here
for?' Belle haughtily: asked, as Clisty
entered the room.
dts a fre!'' C'listy answered, with
a quick clenching' of her teeth at the
tone.
Belle dropped her, essay and rushed
for the door, but C'listy caught her
by the arm, picked'up the paper and
hurried her from the room. At the
door Belle hung back in terror at the
cloud of smoke.
"Come with'me. We can get down
If we hurry. Hold your breath.
Comev' And she fairly dragged the
ternlfied girl after her through the
binding smoke rolling up toward
them, "Get down!' she commanded,
hoarsely: "We've got to go down
backward on our hands;and knees or
We'll choke. Come on!''
Clisty clutohed Belle firmly and
forced her to her >side on the floor.
"And that's the way I found 'en-
half way down the last flight >of
stairs" said the fireman who had
dashed:into the building when the two
| were missed.
''The' only thing that sawed them,
too, in;all that smoke, getting close
to the floor; sensible thing to do, for
smoke alters rises. Mighty lucky for
them the gal thought ont" said an
/ other. -. -s..- g.. -
'"They will come out :aIll right. 1t is
'only the fright and reaction" said
the doctor, as he examined the half
l>stupetied girls, who mere hastily car
ried to their homes.
"Belps essay-it's nm may pocket,
mother" said Clisty THAT night.
"send it right to her. She'll take the
prize: 1t is best, I know, shall not
go. My essay is burned"
"No it isn'tG'' Dave HoweeMelaimed.
bursting in ait the open, door. "The
desks were only just scOrehed and |
found it. Here it is; and tine exercises
will go on at hhe hall, and MR.. Price
told me to give you their thanks, and
he would send for you tomorrow.
That was all, then yet C'listv felt
that it was more than she expected,
even when she reached the hall the
NEXT day late, and was hurriedlv as
SIGNED seat at THE end of the long
row of classmates upon the stage.
Neither could she fail to notice that.
as usual, theseat nextto hers was va.
can't. The girls still avoided her, she
Thought, bitterly, though Emma Howe
smiled pleasantly from the seat be.
yond. Belle was not anywhere to be
seen.
The exercises proceeded, each speak
er being gracefully conducted to the
front by the one at her right. and
Clisty felt lump rise in her throat
as she saw there was no one to per.
form that Office for her. It would be