The Wahpeton times., 1904-02-26

CHAPTER I

name will be on the list tomorrow!
Has any one present a single doubt
on the subject?"
The speaker was little redhaired
girl. with small, prettily-tinted face
and a pair of curling. disdainful 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 the classes was
just over, and the students were filing
out.
"Why so positive on the subject.
Tottie?" asked another student. 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 uplifting of her fair eyebrows.
why, the 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! Z"
Miss Tottie nodded her ruddy head in
imitation of the professors solemn
and ponderous manner. "'There is
not one lady whom l can trust in the
whole class-eXcept. of course. Miss
Crawfc"d.' That OF course put the
whole matter in nutshell. Well,
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'll never
have that to fear" cried another shrill
young voice. But, | say"-lowerins
Its sharp tones-"haven't you heard,
girls, that there's something odd-weil,
shady, l suppose, is the word--abou.
Miss Crawford's father::"
"No!" cried half a dozen eager
voices. what is it. Minnie Do tell
US! always thought there must be
some reason for Miss Crawford's aloof
ness" added one OF the voices when
the others ceased.
We'll. it was only by accident
heard it, said Minnie Whyte. glad o.
an opportunity to air her superior
knowledge. ut was through friend
OF the patcr's never mind who. He
began to speak about the big failure
of the Western Bank-you remember
1t, two years ago. They were all a
bad set connected with it, said he,
and the manager of the Glasgow
branch was as bad as any of them.
though he got off scot-frea. His name
is James Crawford, and he's now in
quite an influential position in a Lam
cashire town-Bolton, believe it is
Of 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 tho door, ana
was now walking across the quad
rangle. 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
tle red-haired girl in low tone.
well, We can't help tit isn't our
fault. / really don't see that 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 herr"
TA Ire,
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 a little laugh. At which
some of the girls frowned. for DR.. Paul
Cleland was one of the outside lee
turers, and as he was young and not
unhandsome-half of the girls were in
love with him.
Meanwhile Margaret Crawford walk
ell OH.
The girl was proud, as she had been
Judged; but at that moment her proud
heart felt as if it would break in two.
She knew she was dislked 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 us ready to break. Margaret
Crawford knew the aspcrsions tina,
had been cast on her fathers charac-
ter, ard, though she believed that they
were utterly false-for she loved he:
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.
It was a day in April, and balmy and
warm with the breath of newly-ar-