The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-06-28
CHAPTER XII.-tContinuedl


door, she and Mary saw coming down
the road at furious rate the old hay
cart, laden with young people from Chic
opee, who had been berrying in Stur-
bridge and were now returning home IN
high glee. The horses were fantasucaly
trimmed with ferns aud eyergreens, While
several Of the girls were ornamented IN
the same way, Conspicuous among the
noisy group was Ella Campbell. Henry
Lincoln's broad-brimmed hat was rest
Ing on her long curls, while her white
sun-bonnet was tied under Henry's chin.
The moment Jenny appeared the whole
party set up shout so deafening that
the Widow Perkins came out in q trice
to see ''if the Old Harry was to pay, or
what" No sooner did Henry Lincoln get
sight of Mary than springing to his feet
and swinging his arm around bis head, he
screamed out: "Three cheers for the
schoolma'am and her handsome lover,
Billy! HurrahP
Wasn't that smartT said Jenny
when at last the hay cart disappeared
from view, and the noise and dust had
somewhat subsided. Then as she saw
the tears in Mary's eyes she added, "Oh,
| wouldn't care If they did tease me about
Billy Bender I'd as lief be teased about
him as not"
at isn't that" said Mary, smiling in
spite of herself, at Jenny's frankness. ut
isn't that. didn't like to hear Ella sing
with your brother, when she must have
known he meant to annoy me-"
thphat aartaiulv xros - rafrrUad
Jenny, "but Ella isn't So much to blame
as Henry, who seems to have acquired a
great influence over her during the few
weeks he has been at home. You know
she Is easily fattered, and | dare say
Henry has fully gratifed her vanity in
that respect, for he says she is the only
decent looking girl in Chcopee. But see,
there comes Mrs. Mason; | guess she
wonders what is keeping you so long"
The moment Mrs. Mason entered the
school room, Jenny commenced talking
about Mount Holyoke, her tongue run
ming so fast that It entirely prevented
anyone else from speaking until she stop
ped for a moment to take breath. Then
Mrs. Mason very quietly remarked that
II Mary wished to go to Mount Holyoke
she could do so, Mary looked up inquir.
ingy, wondering what mine had opened
so suddenly at her feet; but she received
no explanation until Jenny had bidden
her good-by and gone. Then she learn
ed that Mrs. Mason had just received one
hundred dollars from man in Boston,
who had years before owed it to her hus-
band, and was unable to pay it sooner
"And now," said Mrs. Mason there is
no reason why yon should not go to
Mount Holyoke, If you wish to-"
"Oh, what a forlorn-looking placer
exclaimed Rose Lincoln, as from the win
dows of the crowded vehicle in which
they had come from the cars she first OBJ
tanned view of the not very handsome
village of South Hadley.
Rose was in the worst of humOrs, for
by some mischance Mary was on the
same seat with herself, and consequently
she was very much distressed and crowd
ed. She, however, felt a little afraid Of
Aunt Martha, who she saw was inclined
to favor the object of her wrath, so she
restrained her fault-fndng spirit until
she arrived at South Hadley, where ev-
erything came in for a share of her dis
pleasure.
THAT the seminary said she con-
temptuously, as they drew mp before the
building. why, it isn't half as large or
handsome as | supposed. Oh, horror! |
know | shan't stay here long"
The furniture of the parlor was also
very offensive to the young lady, and
when Miss Lyon came In to meet them
she, too, was secretly styled "a prim,
fussy, slippery -tongued old maid" Jenny,
however, who always saw the bright side
of everything was completely charmed
with the sweet smile and placid face.
After some conversation between Miss
Lyon and Aunt Martha it was decided
that Rose and Jenny should room togeth-
er, as a matter of course, and that Mary
should room with Ida. Rose had fully
intended to room with Ida herself, and
this decision made her very angry; but
there was no help for it, and she was
obliged to submit.
And now in a few days life at Mount
Holyoke commenced in earnest Although
perfectly healthy, Mary looked rather
delicate, aud it was for this reason, per-
haps, that the sweeping and busting of
several rooms were assigned to her, as
her portion of the labor. Ida and Rose
Jared much worse, and were greatly
shocked when told that they both belong
ed to the wash circle!
"I declare" said Rose, "it's too bad.
I'll walk home before I'll do it," and she
glanced at her white hands, to make sure
they were not already discolored by the
dreadful soapsudsl
Jenny was delighted with her allot-
ment, which was dish-washing.
I'm glad | took lesson at the poor
house years ago." said she one day to
Rose, who snappishly replied:
I'D shut up about the poorhouse, or
they'll think you the pauper instead of
Madam Howard"
'Pauper? Who's a pauper" asked
Lucy Downs, eager to hear so desirable
a piece of news.
Ida Selden's large black eyes rested
reprovingly upon Rose, who nodded to-
ward Mary, and forthwith Miss Downs
departed with the information, which
was not long in reaching Mary's ears.
why, Mary, what's the matter?" ask
ed Ida, when, toward the close Of the
day, she found her companion weeping
In her room. Without lifting her head
Mary replied, Its foolish in me to cry,
know, but why need always be re-
preached with having been pauper? |
couldn't help it. promised mother
would take care of little Allie as long as
she lived, and If she went to the poor
house had to go too"
And who was little Allie?" asked Ida,
taking Mary's hot hands between her
own.
In few words Mary related her his
tory, emitting her acquaintance with
George Moreland, and commencing at the
night when her mother died. Ida was
warm-hearted and affectionate, and cared
but little whether one were rich or poor
If she liked them. From the first she had
been interested in Mary, and now wind
ing her arms about her neck. and kissing
avaw har sba nrc,,feo,l e., I,-. -.