Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-08-23
LYDIA's FATHER.

ing either fact. The girls who came
there for a finish to educations obtain
ed in humber institutes of learning
were sure to get what their parents or
guardians bargained to secure.
Perhaps It was because 1t was
fashionable school that the other girls
or a good part of them wondered
why Lydia Graham had come among
them. Not that she was lacking in
any serious element of acceptability.
She was neat, and far from plain, and
perhaps a little more clever mentally
than the average of her schoolmates.
But as Mabel Tolliver expressed 1t,
There wasn't an atom of style about
her" Her manners were quite iT-
reproachable, her ability to engage in
and sustain a polite conversation was
unquestioned, and yet she was lack
ing in style Now this lamentable
absence of style had two distinguish
ing features. Lydia's clothes were
neither numerous nor strictly fashion
able, and she never boasted about her
relatives-from which it was presently
argued by the girl who had had
great-great-grandfath at the battle
of Monmouth, that either she had no
relatives, or else was ashamed of
them. 1t was an encouraged weakness
at Ashmore to brag about ones rela-
tives. Not encouraged by the teach
ers, of course, but established as an
inviolate tradition by the girls them
selves.
And 1t was quite surprising how
many illustrious fathers and grand
fathers were connected by proxy
with this highly favored school. There
was a secretary of state, and a colonel
in the regular army, and a secretary
of legation and leading sugar broker,
and a popular devine, and the mayor
of bustling city, and many other
dignitaries of more or less weight.
Lydia Graham alone seemed to have
no eminent relative.
She had come to Ashmore in
black frock and black hat, and she had
worn garments of subdued tints ever
since that first year. The black it
was understood was for her mother,
but none of the girls could understand
why she should continue in quiet
attire so long after a reasonable
period of mourning had elapsed. They
fancied that a straitened allowance
must be at the bottom of it, and Anna
del Marsh. who was inclined to be
sentimental, invented an aunt, VINO
had deem disappointed in love and re-
manned in perpetual sackcloth for the
faithless one. and so lavished her
affections and her cast off garments
on Lydia.
Yet none Of the girls disliked Lydia.
There was nothing about her that
could possibly arouse dislike. For the
most part they simply ignored her.
That had become a sort of tradition
too. AS for the teachers they one and
all loved the girl.
Lydia herself may have felt at times
the unpleasant stigma which had
been placed upon her, but she was a
sweet tempered, healthy girl and it
really bothered her very little. She
had her books, and the friendship of
those superior women, the teachers.
more especially that paragon of
womanly virtues, Miss Hamlin. the
lady president, and she had Dolly
Maynard. It was Dolly's father who
was the regular army colonel. and
Dolly's grandfather had been gener-
al. and she had all the traditional
rights of family boasting. And yet
Dolly was Lydia's one fast friend.
Dolly leaned on Lydia. and Lydia help
ed Dolly, both in books and manners,
and Dolly was truly grateful and
helped Lydia-much more than she
realized-by her unfailing fund of
good humor and her mischievous
ways. So the girls were fast friends.
and yet Dolly knew no more about
Lydia's family than did the other girls.
1t was dimly understood that Lydia
had a father and that he was a west
erner Lydia received letters occa-
sionally, and quite often a telegram
was brought her. 1t was very unusual
to receive telegram and Lydia had
as many as all the other girls. Tele-
grams were supposed to carry bad
news, but Lydia's seemed on the
whole to be of a pleasant character.
Dolly had picked up one of these mes
sages from the floor of Lydia's room
and thoughtlessly glanced at it. 1t
was just a meaningless tumble of
words. Dolly had looked up in puz-
zled way at Lydia.
"All you need is a key, Dolly" Lydia
laughed, but she vouchsafed no fur
Their explanation.
When Lydia had been at Ashmore
nearly a year she had a caller. 1t
was close bearded man of medium
height and stout build, with very
bright eyes. When Dolly happened to
pass through the parlor Lydia called
to her.
Dolly" she said, 81 want you to
know my dear father"
And the stout man had taken Dolly's
hand and patted it and said: eve
learned to know you very well. nv
dear through Lydia's letters" and
then had stopped and kissed her on
the cheek.
And while, as Dolly explained af
forwards to the girls, Lydia's father
wasn't much of a swell, he looked good
and substantial, and seemed ever so
much like Lydia. "He just had a com
mon cord for watch chain. but his
watch was gold, and l guess that's the
kind Of man he is" said Dolly a bit
philosophiZing, however, which didn't
raise the gentleman in question any
higher in the estimation of the other
girls.
Perhaps he's a city contractor"
suggested the mayors daughter.
"Or something in liquors." said the
clergyman's daughter.
I've read of gamblers who dressed
Just in that quiet way" said Annabel
Marsh.
II don't care what he is" cried
Dolly holly. HE seems very nice and
he's very fond of Lydia, and that's
enough"