The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-18
The EVENING STORY
The Ugly Duckling.
(By James Sprague.)

| There was a decided tendency
among the scholars or the summer
school to overlook little Miss Smell.
But pretty Miss Biscoe defended her.
Sne may be frumpy." she declared.
| and never saw such clothes. But
| she is nice when you know her"
| MOST OF the scholars at the summer
schooI were teachers, who were MAX
ing Is up IN the six weeks course the
pairing for higher grades.
In winter little Miss Smell taught in
district school, Her summer school
| experience marked the first milestone
OF travel. Never before had she been
pue OF her native township. Never
petore mad she met such wonderful
| girls as these who came from the big
cues, with all the daintiness of the
CITY gowning and city grooming.
AT nome Miss Smell had considered
| her one thick suit and two lawn dress
| es sufticient and elegant wardro pc,
especially as it was supplemented by
SIX white waists, two of which were
embroidered by her own hands, one
IN prim daisy pattern and one with
At the summer school, however,
even the embroidered waists seemed
inadequate as compared to MISS BIS
GOES delicate lingerie blouses' with
their short sleeves and friliy enecIs.
Miss SHELLS waists had linen
sized the piainness of her little, point
ed 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 TITS 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 en-
gaging as Miss Biscoe, and he was
beginning to think seriously of asking
her to marry him.
mo. 1 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 went away,
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 pink
rose" she said, as Miss Biscoe drop
ped into a big chair beside her and
introduced Owen Marvin.
HE lives in the next town to you"
Miss Biscoe explained, land I think
you ought to know each other"
"Oh.'' said little Miss Smell, blush
ing. 81 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 he lowered as a
giant of intellect and she seemed to
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 Smell was exceed
ingly unattractive in appearance.
''Why don't she dress herself
right?" he asked with a decided sense
of irritation. as he took Miss Biscoe
home.
"Oh you men," smiled Miss Biscoe
rs they came to Divinity Hall, which.
in summer, served as the women's
dormitory. ooh. you men; make US
so frivolous"
WELL" he said, "why can't she have
some things like this" and be touched
little awkwardly the dlmy laceS OF
Miss Biscoe's wrap.
Miss Riscoe drew back. go way,
little boy" she said. I'll see you in
the morning." And away she ran in
the moonlight.
Ard he needn't think he Is going
to make love to me-" she confided to
Miss MURRAY. who roomed with her,
because I am engaged already"
you're a f1irt.'' Miss Murray told
her.
mo" Miss Biscoe said, "but he
thinks so much Of himself and I 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, "I really
ought to find him another girl, Clara.
and switch him off. you know
well, you won't. prophesied Miss
Murray. you will Just lead him on"
But the next morning Miss Biscoe
him to YOU, Clara, but I knew you
would never give UP your career for
any man. and so L have decided to
hand him over to little Miss Snell.''
morning coffee over an alcohol lamp,
turned around quickly. What" she
said "that frumpy little thing!"
''It's her Clothes Miss Biscoe ex-
planned. you wait, Clara. L going
to play fairy godmother. I owe her
something anyhow. When you were
away last week. and 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 1
turned everybody else out, You know
what a bear I am when I have a head
ache. Clara
Indeed I do said Miss Murray
feelingly.
''Well, she didn't seem to mind. She
hung over me, and sat UP with me.
and 1t was when I made her put on
my blue silk dressing gown and she
had her hair down that 1 discovered
that she was pretty"
ct can't imagine It," said Miss Muir
ray.
"She is. And she has such a pretty
attractive way of listening And she
has been awfully left out by the other
girls here. and I 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