The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-11-12

tuiShch W Hopt buile0 discourage
ment. Few girls have ever again so
many people to whom they may be
"neighbors.
But Orpha, blind to all the beau
tiful opportunities, resented the
smallest hindrance to her chosen pur-
pose. She shut herself away in her
room behind the sign, Engaged, "
and even regarded the necessary con-
versation at meals as an intrusion on
her time and thoughts. Every day
she grew less of loving, lovable girl,
and more of a selfish pedant.
She had gathered up her notes for
the English lecture this particular
afternoon, when some one knocked.
She stared as Keith Mcknight en-
tered.
There's a cut in English" began
the visitor, for Orpha looked ready
to flee.
Orpha stared more than ever.
Miss Ainsley, I--ah--will you do
me a great favor? I'm the head of
our Sophomore Dramatic Committee,
you know, and l want you to be one
Of the members. Please bel We must
have this play fine, our freshman one
was such a disgrace. You are so
clever and SO well-read, you'll know
about all the old dramas and be able
to tell what sort of costumes people
wore, and--oh, help every way!"
Keith ended with a smile that never
failed to win whoever saw it.
This invitation was one of the hon
ors and glories of college, had Orp3a
known it. Her only feeling, however,
was one of rage that any one could
for a moment suppose she would be
drawn into such silly waste of time.
Yet when Keith left, after a weary
half-hour In which she was unvary-
ingly sweet, but persistent, and Orpha
by turns scornful or appealing, the
latter had yielded reluctant promise
to come to the first meeting. The
committee were all present when
Orpha entered Keith's room that
night. Her first look told her that
the girls were the brightest in the
class, those whose scholarship had
gained even her critical admiration.
How can they waste time so?" she
thought, scornfully.
A thorough look about the room
showed Tilly Ingersoll curled up on
the couch. Orpha despised Tilly as a
mindless person who could not lead
even the simplest problem in "trig" to
a triumphant issue.
Great use she'll BET" she thought,
with scorn.
The rest of the committee were
busily setting forth a feast, of much
size. evidently. Keith was nowhere
to be seen.
Il beg pardon" began Orpha.
Come in,' hailed Tilly, ""we're
just waiting for you. Keith smashed
the olive-bottle minute ago. She's
in the bathroom, picking out the
glass from the olives"
Il think these are undamaged,"
said the hostess, entering. "Good
evening, Miss Ainsley. It's ever so
nice to have you here.
What promiscous kind of food are
we to have tonight, Keith" asked
Marcia. "You remind me of the Kip
ling man who 'clawed together a meal
he called dinner
Don't cuarrel with your food!"
Tilly. "The rest of us
haven't had supper in town. We're
thankful for anythingi"
Anything! My beautiful oysters.
my tasty chicken sandwiches" cried
the giver of the feast. "The last time
came to one of your balls l had two
crackers and an orange."
Orpha sa' very stiff and prim. For
the first time in her self-satisfied life
she felt inadequate to the situation.
She could not sing, or tell funny
stories. or make witty replies She
could not even laugh in that easy, in
fectious way the others did.
When the girls began the discus
sion of the play, she was no happier.
Her knowledge of the classic drama
did not seem especially helpful in
staging a college play. She went
home determined to ceme to the next
meeting and show tho girls how really
superior to them she was.
She came to, the next meeting, and
to rehearsals in the hall. She did
not grow any more comfortable, how
ever. The girls were so capable, SO
tactful in managing one another! To
Orpha, coming dazed from world
of books, they seemed marvellous.
Even the despised Tilly showed an er-
traordinary resourcefulness in all diff,
hculties. There was another side to
the girls that made her oddly un-
happy. This was the sympathy and
owe which existed among them, some
times as between friend and friend.
'ometimes-andth this seemed strangest
of alias a bond to be expested
among members of the class.
This friendship showed itself In re-
joicing over any good luck that came
to any OF them, and in constant readi-
ness to help one another.
How ridiculousl" Orpha would
say to herself, as she watched the
girls prance about some friend who
had said a clever thing In class or re-
ceived bit OF praise from q pro-
fessor. what she did I've done
twenty times beforelD
Once when she saw the girls fairly
overwhelming memoer of the class
With their congratulations she asked:
What's she done?"
"Oh, haven't you heard? Her IA
ther's going to take her to Europe for
the whole summer. Isn't that oav9p