The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-11-12
The Ugly
Duckling.
By JAMES SPRAGUE.
Copyrighted, 1907, by P. c. Eastment.

] Copyrighted, 1907, by P. c. Eastment.
There was decided tendency among
the scholars of the summer school to
overlook little Miss Smell. But pretty
Miss Biscoe defended her.
"She may be frumpy," she declared,
'and l never saw such clothes, but
she is nice when you know her."
Most of the scholars at the summer
school were teachers, who were max
ing up in the six weeks course the
deficiencies of early education or pre-
pairing for higher grades.
In winter little Miss Smell taught In
a district school Her summer school
experience marked the first milestone
Of travel. Never before had she been
out of her native township. Never be-
fore had she met such wonderful girls
as these who came from the big cities,
with all the daintiness of city gowning
and city grooming.
At home Miss Smell had considered
her one thick suit and two lawn dress
es sufficient and elegant wardrobe,
especially as it was supplemented by
six white waists, two of which were
embroidered by her own hands, one in
a pri1n daisy pattern and one with
chrysanthemums.
At the summer school, however, even
the embroidered waists seemed made
Quate as compared to Miss Biscoe's
delicate lingerie blouses, with their
short sleeves and frilly effects. Miss
SHELLS waists had linen cuffs and stiff
collars, which emphasized the plain
ness Of her little, pointed face, her
straight banded hair, her spare, girlish
figure.
TITS too bad" Miss Biscoe said the
night Of the first reception given by
the faculty to the summer school
scholars. TITS too bad l don't believe
she is having good time. You go over
and talk to her"
"You are trying to get rid of me"
Owen Marvin complained. He was
principal Of high school at home and
was unmarried. He had never seen a
girl quite so knowing and engaging as
Miss Biscoe. and he was beginning to
think seriously of asking her to marry
him.
mo, l am not" Miss Biscoe's blue
eyes sparkled. But 1 hate to see any
one look so lonely as that poor little
thing. Come on" And she swept
away, all her pink chiffon frills a-fiut-
ter, and there was nothing for him to
do but to follow.
Miss Smell frightened up as they
came toward her. She thought she
had never seen anything so pretty as
Miss Biscoe. you look like a pink
rose" she said as Miss Biscoe drop
ped into big chair beside her and in
troduced Owen Marvin.
"He lives In the next town to you"
Miss Biscoe explained, "and 1 think
you ought to know each other"
"Oh," said little Miss Smell, blushing,
Il have heard of you so often, Mr..
Marvin"
He had not heard of her, but he
murmured polite Acknowledgements
Miss Biscoe slipped away presently,
and he found himself rather enjoying
the rapt attention with which this
mouse Of a girl accepted all his state
ments. Miss Biscoe had a way Of
making him feel uncouth and clumsy,
but to Miss Smell be lowered as a
giant Of intellect, and she seemed to
hang upon his words.
They ate their ice cream together,
and 1t was not until Miss Biscoe came
back, radiant and rosy, that he dis
covered that Miss Smell was exceed
ingly unattractive In appearance.
why don't she dress herself rightr'
he asked, with decided sense of irri-
tation, as he took Miss Biscoe home.
"Oh, you menp' smiled Miss Biscoe
as they came to Divinity hall, which
In summer served as the women's
dormitory. "Oh, you menl You make
us SO frivolousw
well" he said, "why can't she have
some things like this" and he touched
a little awkwardly the dlmy laces Of
Miss Biscoe's wrap.
Miss Biscoe drew back. go way,
little body" she said. 'I'll see you in
the morning" And away she ran in
the moonlight
And he needn't think he is going to
make love to me-" she confided to Miss
Murray, who roomed with her, ''be-
cause am engaged already"
You're flirt," Miss Murray told
her.
"No," Miss Biscoe said, "but he
thinks so much of himself, and like
to tease him"
"And he will fall in love, and then
what?" probed Miss Murray.
"Hum~ unused Miss Biscoe, who was
brushing her pretty hair Il really
ought to find him another girl, Clara,
and switch him off, you know"
"WelI, you won't" prophesied Miss
You viii just lead him on"
But the next morning Miss Biscoe
announced, 81 thought of marrying
him to you, Clara, but l knew you
would never give up your career for
any man, and so l have decided to
hand him over to little Miss Smell"
Miss Murray, who was making their
coffee over an alcohol lamp,
turned around quickly What" she
said, shat frumpy little thingP'
"It's her Clothes" Miss Biscoe ex-
planned. You wait, Clara. Pm going
to play fairy godmother owe her
anyhow When you were
away last week and l had one of my
splitting headaches she came In and
was as sweet as she could be- She took
care of me like a born nurse, and l
turned everybody else out. You know
what bear 1 am when 1 have head
ache, Clara"
Indeed I do" said Miss Murray
Peelingly.
"Wel, she didn't seem to mind. She
hung over me and sat up with me, and
1t was when l made her put on my
blue silk dressing gown and she had
her hair down that l discovered that
she was pretty"
Il can't imagine it." said Miss Muir
ray.
''She is And she has such a pretty,
attentive way of listening. And she
has been awfully left out by the other
girls here, and l am going to take her
in hand"
1t required great tact for Miss Bis
coe to introduce the subject of dress
to Miss Smell. But once done she
found an adoring proselyte.
"Oh, l have always wanted to look
nice" poor little Miss Smell said, "and
have lived so far away from every.
thing, and my people would insist upon
dressing me as they liked things, and
know am different, and l think it is
dear Of you to help me-"
Question one" said Miss Biscoe.
Can you afford to spend any money
on new things?"
Then it developed that Miss Smell