Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-08-02
CHAPTER 1.

name Will be on the list tomorrow.
Has any one present single doubt
on the subject?"
The speaker was a little red-haired
girl, with small, prettily-tinted face,
and pair of curling. disdainful lips.
She was one of a group Of girls who
stood in the quadrangle of the Medical
College for Women in the ancient city
of Edinburgh One of the classes was
just over, and the students were filing
out
why so positive on the subject,
'Tottie?" asked another student, tall
and somewhat delicate-looking girl.
1T isn't always the most likely who
pass"
'Oh. bat Margaret Crawford, you
know" exclaimed pert little Tottie,
with an uplifting of her fair eyebrows,
why, the professors all think she s
unparalleled in the history of creation
Did you hear old Cormall yesterday,
when Mary Cunnynghame kicked up
that awful row? Ladies, | am
ashamed of you-ashamed of you.' ="
Miss Tottie nodded her rudy head in
imitation of the professors solemn
and ponderous manner There is
not one lady whom l can trust in the
whole class-except, of course, Miss
Crawford That of course put the
whole matter in a nutshell. Well, l
must say l shouldn't like to be held
up as the model girl of any class or
Of any profeSsion!"
Don't be afraid, Tot-you'll never
have that to fear!" cried another shrill
young voice. But, | say"-lowering
its sharp tones-"haven't you heard,
girls, that there's something odd-well,
shady, l suppose, is the word-about
Miss Crawford's father?"
MOT" cried half dozen eager
voices. What is it. Minnie Do tell
us! | always thought there must be
some reason for Miss Crawford's aloof-
ness" added one of the voices when
the others ceased.
well, it was only by accident |
heard it," said Minnie Whyte, glad OF
an opportunity to air her superior
knowledge. 1T was through a friend
of the pater's-never mind who. He
began to speak about the big failure
of the Western Bank-you remember
it, two years ago. They were all a
bad set connected with it, said he,
and the manager of the Glasgow
branch was as bad as any of them,
though he got off scot-frea. His name
is James Crawford, and he's now in
;,H oil in 7
cashire town-Bolton, l believe it is.
OF course that Miss Crawford's faith"
"Hush-sh!" ran through the little
group, and the speaker sank into sud-
denly confused silence
A girl emerged from the door, and
was now walking across the quad
rangle, close to where the group of
girls were standing. She looked at
them as she passed and nodded, smil-
ing; but there was something forced
and unnatural about the smile, and
every girl there felt certain she must
have overheard what was said.
"She heard every word" said the lit
"Well, we can't help tit isn't our
fault. l really don't see that a girl
with disreputable connections should
put on the airs that Margaret Craw-
ford does. To see her walk across the
quadrangle one would think that the
whole college belonged to her!"
1t is wonderful how unjust and I'M
charitable women can be to each
other.
For some reason or other Margaret
Crawford was not liked at the college,
and her fellowstudents were ready
enough to believe anything to her dis
credit, or that of her people, without
making any effort to find out the
truth.
"She thinks at least that DR.. Gle
land belongs to her!" said Minnie
Whyte, with little laugh. At which
some of the girls frowned, for DR.. Paul
Cleland was one of the outside lee
turers, and as he was young and not
Gnhandsome-half of the girls were in
love with him.
Meanwhile Margaret Crawford walk
ed on.
The girl was proud as she had been
judged; but at that moment her proud
heart felt as if it would break in two.
She knew she was disliked and dis
trusted by her fellows, and why?
Because her position was one which
compelled her to keep at a distance
from them, and to avoid making any
of those friendships which girls are
always ready to make. and sometimes
just as ready to break. Margaret
Crawford knew the aspersions that
had been cast on her fathers charac-
ter, and, though she believed that they
were utterly false-for she loved her
father as few children do--yet, in her
proud, independent way, she resolved
that she would never allow these as
pensions to be shared by any one else
save only herself.
She walked through the quadrangle
and out into the broad, level street.
1t was a day in April, and balmy and
warm with the breath of newly-ar-
rived spring. The sun shone warmly
in Margaret's eyes as she took her
westward way, and for moment the
girls heart thrilled with the hope and
Joy that the mere sense OF living
brings to all young creatures in spring.
She had gone to the end of Forest
read, and was just turning into the
meadows, whose budding trees ana
greening grass seemed to Margaret the
most beautiful thing she had ever
seen, when rapid step sounded be-
hind her, and the next moment voice
spoke her name.
you are going home, Miss Craw-
ford, see. Is it not charming day."
Margaret might be proud and self