Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-31
The Ugly
 Duckling.
By JAMES sPRAGUE.
Copyrighted, 1907, by P. c. Eastment.

CopyrlgnJeQ, l5U1, Dy r. V. CaStment. ! @s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s~s~s-s- There was a decided tendency among the scholars of the summer school to overlook little Miss She'll But pretty Miss Biscoe defended her.
 "She may be frumpy," she declared, land I never saw such clothes, but she is nice when you know her"
 Most of the scholars at the summer school were teachers, who were mak- ing up in the six weeks course the deficiencies of early education or pre-. pairing for higher grades.
 In winter little Miss Shell taught in 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 Shell had considered her one thick suit and two lawn dress es a 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 prim 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.
 "It's too bad" Miss Biscoe said the night of the first reception given by the faculty to the summer school scholars. "It's too bad. don't believe she is having a good time. You go over and talk to her."
 "You are trying to get rid of me- Owen Marvin complained. He was principal of a 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.
 "No, I am not" Miss Biscoe's blue eyes sparkled. But 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-fut- ter, and there was nothing for him to do but to follow.
 Miss Shell 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 a big chair beside her and in. troduced Owen Marvin.
 "He lives in the next town to you, Miss Biscoe explained, land think you ought to know each other."
 "Oh," said little Miss Shell, blushing q have heard of you so often, Mir 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 Shell be lowered as c giant of intellect, and she seemed tc hang upon his words.
 They ate their ice cream together and it was not until Miss Biscoe came back, radiant and rosy, that he dis covered that Miss Shell was exceed ingly unattractive in appearance.
 "Why don't she dress herself right? he asked, with a decided sense of fri tation, as he took Miss Biscoe home.
 "Oh, you menv' smiled Miss Biscot as they came to Divinity hall, whicl In summer served as the women's dormitory. "Oh, you men! You make us so frivolousr'
 "Well," he said, ''why can't she hay, some things like this" and he touched little awkwardly the fllmy laces ol Miss Biscoe's wrap.
 Miss Biscoe drew back. GO way little body" she said. "I'n see you il the morning." And away she ran 1T the moonlight
 And he needn't think he is going tt make love to me-" she confded to Mis-: Murray, who roomed with her, "be cause I am engaged already"
 You're a fiirt," Miss Murray tolt her.
 "No." Miss Biscoe said, but ht thinks so much of himself, and I lik' to tease him"
 And he will fall in love, and theI what" probed Miss Murray.
 "Humw unused Miss Biscoe, who Wal brushing her pretty hair. "T reall! ought to find him another girl, Clara and switch him of, you know"
 "Well, you won't" prophesied Nils, Murray. You will just lead him on.
 But the next morning Miss Bisco' announced, 'T thought of marvin. him to you, Clara, but I knew yoI would never give up your career fo any man, and so I have decided t, hand him over to little Miss She'll"
 Miss Murray, who was making thei morning coffee over an alcohol lamp turned around quickly. What" sh' i said, that frumpy little thingr'
 f1ts her clothes" Miss Biscoe ex plained. You wait. Clara. I'm going M to nIav fairy podmofher ovve hal something anyhow. When you wer' away last week and I had one of my splitting headaches she came in ant