The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-30

and II was decided that she should go
there as n day scholar.
How she Dreaded 81 she had seen tho
academy girls occasionally though she
knew none Of them: and she recalled
! With apprehension the stories told by
her one friend, Hester Campbell. whom
| ahe used 20 meet at sunday-school
"Oh. n only had a pretty name"' che
sighed 20 herself on the day before che
was to 60 TO the academy Tor eNamiha-
! ton.
Hester told me that they ask the new
! girls their names right before the whole
! school. and that last year. when Bath
sheba Hawkins gave hers. the Horton
girls laughed right out loud"
Nancy did not dread the examination:
for she had been well drilled. and knew
she was far ahead OF Hester, who had
been IN the academy for year
And Oh dear. II only had Tomc-
thing pretty 10 wear until tho girls oct
used to me, go they might like me bet
teri" she continued. thinking. u know
auntie viii make me wear brown-checked
opronsl Oh, II only had some pink rie-
bons, II only had those on the lace
pln-cushicni"
The daring thought made Nancy's heart
beat faster. and soon another came 20
worry her stu more. She had often
thought her name was al right In the
sound OF A. Nancy sounds just as
pretty as Annie or Mamie. " she said
20 Hester once. TITS just because II
looks funny when It's written. ] guess.
Now why shouldn't she write her name
"Nancie' on her examination paper? and
then II would be written so on the
school-list; and then the girls might
write II so IN their notes 70 her-for Hes
1. IL 81. forr 90 81
notes received from the academy Girls
through the year. And yet Aunt Nancy
need never know anything about II. for
Il would sound just the same
The next day Nancy dressed herself
neatly and rodoiced TO find that her aunt
did not insist on the brown-cheoked
apron 'You may go without any nnron
this morning" che said. "But YOU must
begin to wear them when school regular
~ begins and be careful not 70 spot
your dress to-day"
Nancy promised. and then. when her
aunt was not noticing. she took the scis-
sors from her little work-hox. and clip
ped hurriedly upstairs 10 the unused best
room. opened the bureau-drawcr. ana
carefully shipped the stitches that held
the beautiful pink ribbons 20 the PIN
cushion Thrusting thcm quickly In her
pocket. she skipped away down the long
road 10 the village.
when she reached the halfway tree,
she drew from her pocket the gorgeous
pink ribbons. and tied their broad SILKY
folds on her rather thin briadr. They
were too long and too heavy but she ga
not mind Then she fastened the small
est one from the centre Of the cushion
on the front Of her dress, and started
once more, with beating heart. Tor the
academy and her examination.
All the girls stared at her. and seemed
Impressed: but, as she settled herself TO
her work. she forgot all about the RIB
bons. The questions were absurdly easy.
she thought: and only one problem in
the arithmetic test made her wrinkle her
forehead and screw up her mouth in the
endeavor 10 think straight" Finally
she solved II. signed her name. In clear,
bold letters. "Nancie Hewins." on each
Of the papers. and went 10 hand them
TO the teacher.
She was one Of the first TO finish her
paners. and the eyes Of the other girls
followed her TO the desk She was ale
most painfully conscious Of her pink RIB
bons now: and a shade Of doubt crept
over her when the teacher said, Come
back tomorrow for the oral examina-