Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-01-03
The Ugly
Duckling.
y JAMES SPRAGUE.
CopyriF lted, 1907, by P. c. Eastment.

There v as a decided tendency among
the scholars of the summer school to
overlook kttle Miss Smell. But pretty
Miss Bis he defended her.
"She Y be frumpy," she declared.
"and l ,ver saw such clothes, but
she is n when you know her"
Most the scholars at the summer
school Re teachers, who were max
ing up the six weeks course the
deficier of early education or pre-
pairing higher grades.
In W + little Miss Smell taught in
a dist school. Her summer school
expert, marked the first milestone
of ira Never before had she been
out of native township Never be-
fore she met such wonderful girls
as tho Tho came from the big cities,
with he daintiness of city gOwning
and g rooming
At he Miss Smell had considered
her thick suit and two lawn dress
es ficient and elegant wardrobe,
espe& lyI as it was supplemented by
six itI waists, two of which were
enid i'd led by her own hands, one in
a p2 m aisy pattern and one with
chr IAN emums.
al he hummer school, however even
the ynb Sbidered waists seemed made
quat e asy compared to Miss Biscoe's
deb ATE lingerie blouses, with their
short sled ives and frilly effects. Miss
Snblrs Wrists had linen cuffs and stiff
collars, winch emphasized the plain
ness of her nttle, pointed face her
straight banded Sair, her spare, girlish
figure
ITS too bad" MlsA Biscoe said the
night Of the first recitation given by
the faculty to the simmer school
scholars. ITS too bad. ltdon't believe
she is having good time. You go over
and talk to her"
you are trying to get bf me-"
Owen Marvin compliance He was
principal of high school home and
was unmarried. He had Ner seen a
girl quite so knowing AMI engaging as
Miss Biscoe, and he WIS beginning to
think seriously of asking her to marry
him.
mo, az not" Miss Biscoe's blue
eyes sparkled. But l 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 Saell frightened up as they
came toward her. She thought she
had nevei 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 BisdA explained, land 1 think
you ought ~ each other
"Oh," SO Miss Smell. blushing,
Il have 'of you so often, Mr..
He had ~ heard Of her, but he
murmurey polite Acknowledgements.
Miss Biscoe slipped away presently,
and he found himself rather enjoying
the rapt attention with which this
mouse of girl accepted all his state
ments. Miss Biscoe had 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 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 p
he asked, with a decided sense of irri-
tation, as he took Miss Biscoe home
"Oh, you men," smiled Miss Biscoe
as they came to Divinity hall, which
in summer served as the women's
dormitory. ooh, you men! You make
us so frivolous"
"Well," he said, "why can't she have
some things like this" and he touched
little awkwardly the fllmy laces of
Miss Biscoe's wrap.
Miss Biscoe drew back. go way,
little b2ly," she said. "I'll see you in
the n1 ming" And away she ran in
the nooIhlght.
"And lhe needn't think he is going to
make loFe to me-" she confided to Miss
Murray, who roomed with her, be
causg Inn engaged already"
You're a fiirt," Miss Murray told
her.
MOI Miss Biscoe said, "but he
thinisjiBs 81 much of himself, and l like
to tef ase him"
And ne 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"
2 "Well you won't" prophesied Miss
Murray. You will just lead him on"
But tpe next morning Miss Biscoe
announced Il thought of marrying