Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-08-02
LII (llC \ the Horrors
of War
DS0S4 OSS BY X B. WELSH..
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS;
CHAPTER L

name will be on the list tomorrow.
Has any one present single doubt
on the subject?"
The speaker was little Jed-haired
girl. with a small, prettily-qnted face,
and a pair of curling, disdtinful lips
She was one of group Of girls who
stood in the quadrangle of the Medical
College for Women in the ancient city
of Edinburgh. One of thu classes was
just over. and the students were filing
out.
Why so positive on the subject,
Tottie?" asked another student. a tall
and somewhat delicate-looking girl
1T isn't always the most likely who
pass"
"Oh, but Margaret Crawford, you
know" exclaimed pert little Tottie,
with an qol.fting of her fair eyebrows.
why, W 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', l am
ashamed OF you--ashamed Of you!' y
Miss Tottie nodded her ruddy head in
imitation of the professors solemn
and ponderous manner. There is
not one lady whom 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'n 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. y suppose. is the word--abous
Miss Crhwford's father?"
"No!1 cried half a dozen eager
voices. 'What is it. Minnie Do tell
us! II always thought there must be
some reason for Miss Crawford's aloof-
ness,r added one of the voices when
the others ceased.
Well, il was only by accident |
heard it," said Minnie Whyte, glad OF
opportunity to air her superior
,wledge. 1T was through friend
he pater's-neyer mind who. He
n to speak about the big failure
ie Western Bank-you remember
wo years ago. They were all a
set connected with it, said he,
the manager of the Glasgow
nch was as bad as any of them,
ugh he got off scot-frea. His name
James Crawford, and he's now in
ite an influential position in Lam
shire town--Bolton, | believe it is
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
angle, 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
tie red-haired girl in a low Tone
swell, we cant help tit isn't our
fault. | 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 IN
charitable women can be to each
other.
For some reason or other Margaret
Crawford was not liked at the college,
and her fellow-students 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
turers, and as he was young and not
cnhandsome-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 IL 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 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 day in April, and balmy ana
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 a 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
road, and was just turning into the
meadows. whose budding trees anu
greening grass seemed to Margaret the
most beautiful thing she had ever
seen, when a rapid step sounded be-
hind her, and the next moment voice
spoke her name.
You are going home, Miss Craw-
"a L. q nnt oh tpn 10