The Kalispell bee., 1902-03-12
+
| ~ l11ul
|aIHgs

sSsSs% ematics. Even as a little
kS$N@y child 81 did my sums with
out any conscious effort. Indeed, it
was my we'll known "knack at figger-
in" that induced old Deacon Dudley,
the supervisor, to bestow upon me the
much coveted Center school. 1t was
the largest in town, the hardest and
the best paid. l was only eighteen at
the time, but family misfortunes, fol-
lowed by the sickness and death of my
father, made the necessity for employ
ment: urgent and imperative.
Heavily handicapped by youth and
lnexperience, my first term was a sue
cession of disappointments and disil-
lusions.
Gradually as 1 became acquainted
with my pupils and accustomed to my
duties 1 acquired the faculty Of ad-
justing myself to my surroundings,
after which my work became much
easier and more satisfactory. Term
after term passed until felt my posi-
ton to be assured. For six years l
held it, ciphering annually through the
higher algebra, to the wonder of my
pupils and the satisfaction of their
parents. Being district school, there
could be no real graduation, but grad
ually the day had taken upon itself the
dignity and Importance of an annual
celebration.
At first I had been one of its most
enthusiastic supporters, believing that
Its coveted successes would not only
stimulate ambition and reward indus
try, but would also tend toward the
establishment of a much needed free
high school. Yet 1 now realized, with
pain, that it bade fair to be culmina-
ton of jealousy, unkind emulation and
unnecessary extravaganza. .
The leader in every extravagant de-
vice was naturally enough Muriel Ma
son, only daughter of the richest man
in town. Born to command, she held
her own against all opposition until
the subject of dress was broached.
In her case the important gown was
to be a dainty creation of white lace
and surah; therefore she decreed that
her classmates should likewise drape
themselves in white.
"That is not fair" protested Lura
Haley, who delighted in gay fabrics
and vivid coloring. II am sure don't
want to accentuate my natural ugli-
ness"
1T won't make any difference on the
stage" said Muriel with careless un-
kindness.
After this experimental tilt, as no
further opposition was hazarded, the
white dress rule was supposed to be
imperative. That evening Dolly Kemp
ton came to me, her pretty face cloud
ed, her young arms loaded.
Poor Dolly! OWNED her trouble be-
fore she voiced it. She was delicate
little creature, studious and refined, yet
not exactly popular among her mates
She was poor, undisguisedly and unde-
niably so. She lived with her widowed
mother and an aged woman known as
Aunt Marty, queer, irresponsible old
body, who with the slightest possible
claim had burdened them for years.
With pauperism staring her in the face
she had fed for shelter to Mrs. Kemp
ton, who was herself in straitened
circumstances. The connection be-
tween them was of the slightest and
entailed neither legal nor moral obli-
CATION, yet she cared for the poor soul
kindly, so stretching her meager in
come that it covered the bare necessi-
ties of life for the three-herself, her
daughter and their perennial guest.
Knowing the circumstances, could
well understand what a perpleXing
Il
in that pinched household, but / was
hardly prepared for the solution which
Dolly's big bundle contained. She
opened it, spreading before my aston
1shed eyes garment quantity beauti-
full in tint and texture, but grotesqHe
in figure and design-an ancient dress
of white silk tissue gayly brocaded
with huge garlands of pink roses and
green leaves. The fabric itself was eX-
quisitely fine and delicate, the ground
work time yellowed into the softest
ivory tint; but, alas, the passing years
had wrought no such refining change
upon the overblown roses and over
grown leaves running riotously over
the scant skirt and low bodice of this
impossible gown.
Dear Miss Deacon" said Dolly, with
a little nervous laugh that had in it a
hint of tears, 'do you think that any
circumstances or combination of cir
cumstances could make it ones duty
to wear that for a graduating dress"
/ looked at her in astonishment
Mother wants me to wear it." she
went on, 'and indeed l want to- after
a fashion, yet, all the same. my soul
abhors those ancient roses. You see,
it was Aunt Martyrs wedding gown
and, in her eyes, as fine and valuable
as ever. Through all the shifts and
changes Of her most unhappy life she
has clung to this sole relic of happier
days. l fancy that after her husband S
death his people made much of her for
a time. Her father was wealthy, and
there was always the chance of his re-