The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-10


Presently some one touched her on
the arm. A girl was standing beside
her; she was much larger than Ann
Sophia, but she had vacant, childish
face. Her eyes we're blue and promi-
nent, and her mouth hung open. Ann
Sophia looked at her and then shrank
back; the full, wandering blue eyes
made her SILVER.
whats your name7" asked the
girl.
Gam Sophia Emmons."
Ann Sophia spoke in faint voice
and drew away against the wall; but
the other girl did not notice.
mines Susan Mowbray," she said.
Say, do you know any one here9"
Ann Sophia shook her head.
81 know 'em all. I've been here
ever so long-'most ten years, guess.
I'll make you acquainted.
81 guess-I don't care about get
ting acquainted" faltered Ann So
phia.
"Come and choose your seat then
I'll show you a real good one"
Ann Sophia looked around desper-
ately, but every one seemed busy; so
she followed her guide across the
room to vacant seat.
cts right next mine," said Susan,
cheerfully. "We can whisper across
and have real good times"
~ can't whisper" said Ann Sophia.
II promised Miss Emmons l would
not"
Susan looked at her with faint
tinge of amazement. No emotion
could make more than feeting inn
preston on her face; it seemed as if
the vacancy of her mind swept over
it like tide, leaving it always blank
and expressionless.
"My laws! amt you queer!" she
said. "But 1 don't care-we'll be
friends; we can have good times at
recess and all. Here, you can hang
your sunbonnet next NINE"
Ann Sophia miserably did as she
was told; and then very soberly began
taking things out of her bag. Susan
leaned over her desk, talking inces-
sanity. Presently the two girls in
pink sunbonnets entered the room
and were greeted with shouts of well
come. Ann Sophia heard them call
the brown-eyed one Rose and the
other. Celia. Suddenly Celia whisp-
cred to Rose:
"There, what did I tell you7 Did
not say Miss Emmons's Ann Sophia
would be friends with Susan Now
bray!"
Susan grinned and nudged Ann
Sophia.
"Say, they're talking about US"
she said. "They're saying what good
friends we are-I know what they're
sayingl I've heard 'em talk, years.
They think l don't know, but 1 do
lotsw
Ann Sophia bent down under her
desk and pretended to be looking for
something while she wiped her eyes
on corner of her green tier. 1t was
too dreadful; she had never imagined
school was anything like this.
A sudden hush fell upon the room.
Ann Sophia looked up. The pupils
had slipped into their seats as if by
magic and all their faces were turned
curiously toward the door, where a
long, lanky man was entering with a
pretty young lady; even Ann Sophia
knew that he was the selectman and
the young lady was the new teacher.
The man cleared his throat and looked
around with an important air; his
vioce sounded very loud in the sill
ence.
"Boys and girls, this is the new
teacher, Miss Larkin," he said. Then
he turned to Miss Larkin with bow
that Ann Sophia thought very grand,
and added; Il wish you good-day,
Miss" and the new teacher was left
alone with her school. She colored
under the curious gaze of fifty pairs
of eyes. She looked very pretty when
she colored; Ann Sophia was quite
sure she would love her dearly.
Miss Larkin went to the big desk
and picked up ruler.
"Now I'll ask your Names" she
said, pointing with the ruler over in
the corner. "You first"
Some of the big boys and girls
laughed; but they all answered. One
big girl drawled out her name as
Lady Judith Rosabella Miller; she
said the Lady" in low voice, but
there was laugh all over the room.
The teacher looked at her with a pc
culiar expression, but said nothing.
Ann Sophia had been so interested
oil 4ho4 Oh