Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-09-04
THE STORY OF A FRIENDSHIP.
How II Began, and How Nobiy It De-
veloped.

to school barefoot. The little new
girl was warned that If she played
with her she couldn't play with any
of the other girls She was given tt
understand plainly that the Lees, root
and branch were quite too poor and
too "shiftless" for Pine Hollow to toll
crate. The little new girl was prim
dainty and beruffied, and shrank, in
stinctively, from bare feet and faded
frocks; but her heart was too tender
for harsh judgment.
1t was a drowsy summer afternoon,
with the fragrance of sun steeped
pines floating in at the open windows
of the school-room. The Lee young
one" and the little new girl sat on
front seats. side by side, dangerously
idle. Just before them a large spider
crawled lazily across the floor. The
barefoot girl hastily drew in her toes,
then leaning forward, picked up pine
needle and laid it gently across the
travellers back. A laugh, made
quately smothered, escaped the little
new girl.
What are you laughing at?" asked
the stern teacher. frowning.
| The answer came timidly after a
moment of painful hesitation: She"
with side look and gesture, put a
pine needle on a spider and he carried
it Off"
| Sentence was promptly pronounced:
You may both stand in the floor and
study your spelling lessons"
The barefoot culprit stood uncon-
cernedly before the sly derision of the
school, seemingly engrossed in study.
| She was used to sneers and contempt.
But the little figure at her side droop-
ed pitiably with grief and shame. One
arm was thrown up over her fore
head, while. with her open book in the
other hand, she tried to hide the tears
that We're falling fast.
After school jeering band followed
afar and pointed fingers at her as she
crept dejectedly homeward. "Tattle
tale! Tattle-tale!" they shouted lust
lily, again and again. Anna Willis
s a tattle- tale!" The child was quite
unused to harsh words and unkind
treatment, and she was filed with I'M
happiness. Her arm went up again
to hide her swollen eyes and quivering
lips, and she trembled so with fright
and nervousness that she could scarce
ly stand.
Suddenly she felt an arm about her
waist and firm hand clasping hers.
Don't you mind them" whispered
some one. reassuringly; they always
do that If anybody tells the teacher.
They'll forget all about 1t by to-mor-
row. The little new girl peeped
timidly out at her comforter. 1t was
the Lee young one" Il had to tell"
she protested brokenly. The teacher
asked me.
"Oh, you did all right" answered the
other soothingly. They don't stop |
to think, you see It's just their way.
Most anything's better than telling |
teacher with them"
BY this time the two had left the
hooting crowd far behind. The little |
new girl had grown calmer. and sud
denly she stopped and took the hands
of her companion in both hers.
II like you" she said simply. You
were the one 1 told about, and you had
to be punished for It, and yet you
were the only one in school that wasn't
mad at me for telling. l think you are
good and generous, and I'm going to
choose you for my best friend If you
will let me. l don't care whether the
others play with me or not"
And that was the beginning of
friendship
Fortune, heretofore frowning, had
suddenly smiled broadly upon the
Lee young one" She was now the
wealthy and beautiful Miss Aurora
Lee of the California coast; and she
had come back to the country town
to visit her friend 1.-The little new girl"
Anna Willis had the same sweet,
trusting nature as of old. Her life
had been quiet and uneventful, but
now a new and delightful element had
entered into it. She was the betroth-
ed bride of Clifton West, a man OF
wealth and culture, who had spent the
previous summer in the town where
she lived. They We're soon to be mar
ried and he was to take her abroad
for months of travel and recreation
coveted Injuries which had always
been beyond her reach.
The two girl friends were very hap
by together for a week Then Clifton
West came; and, from the moment Of
when he clasped her
hand and looked into her eyes, Aurora
Lee was conscious of a strange, dis ,
turbing influence in her life and I
thoughts. Il like him." she reflected, :,
but somehow, I can't be
quite myself when he is near. wish ;
4 had not come.
Each day her moods grew more and
more uncertain. You seem in
;pired," exclaimed her friend, admir- ,
ngly after one of her brilliant argu-
nents with Mr. West. But her face
grew grave at the laughing remark, 7
md she turned away without a word.
One day a picnic to the woods was
planned. Several of the young peo-
de of the town with their city guests /
we're going and the party was to be
lutte large. A few moments before I
he time appointed for starting, a mes
age came from Mr.. West saying that
lie should be unable to attend the pic
tic, as urgent business had called him
o the city for the day.
Aurora Lee stood on the farm house r
teps waiting for the picnic wagon,
When the message came. Her arms
ropped Imply to her sides as she A
eard it, and the roses she carried
Tipped slowly to the ground. She was
ngrily conscious that at that moment +
he picnic lost all charm for her, the