Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-07-18
Heredity or Sell,
NoRips, Which ?
BY Kate Gannett Wells.

| Marcella had never TorBoJLen tne
day she discovered she was only an
adopted" She could still hear the
scornful tone with which Jimmy
Jones, in showing her sled down the
Long Path on Boston Common, had
announced the fact to group OF
boys. She remembered also that a
tall, handsome lad had offered to
drag her sled up the hill, and had
told her she'd come out all right in
the end, which ever since she had
been trying to do.
On that day she had gone home
sorrowfully, and asked what 1t meant
to be adopted, only to be petted in
reply, and made happy for the 40
ment. Yet she had lain awake at
night wondering and vowing to her
little self that never again would she
go coasting, and she never did.
Marcella had long memory, hot
temper and an investigating turn CT
mind. So she looked up the word
adopted" in the dictionary, and de-
ciared to herself that Jimmy Jones
had told her such an awful lie he
ought always to be punished for It,.
| Then she began to fancy that people
pitied her instead of loving her as
they did other girls; and she felt
"riled," to use her own expression.
Everything seemed to grow worse
and worse for her, until one Spring
day on account of her carelessness
at school she was sent upstairs to
the sub-master for admonition.
"Poor child" she overheard the
teacher say, "she may not be wholly
to blame; for no one knows what are
her inheritances."
my, mamma will give me Just as
much money as other girls have" de-
clared the child, indignant at misap-
piled compassion. The sub-master,
an excellent man without magma
ton, was shocked, and passed her
on to the master, who had no time
for little things, and sent her home
until he should have leisure. AS
Marcella left the office, she turned
on him, with all the latent wildness
of her nature, and the pent up woes
Of her heart bursting from her child
Ish control, exclaiming: II hope you
never will have time, for shall pray
God to get you drowned in vacation.
You don't know how to keep school. y
Before the master could summon
his wits to reply, she had rushed
downstairs and out into the street,
hatless, to run home. But police
ofiicer espied her, and caught her by
the arm. AS she tried to escape, her
boy protector of the winter seized
the hand, which she had thrust for
ward for a pull at the officers sleeve
strap, saying, Let her alone, Cop;
she's a neighbor of mine and all
right"
AS the lad was rather a favorite
of the policeman. who knew boys
better than often did their fathers,
he consented, after few words, to
leave the frightened child in the
boys care. She refused to go home.
So Hal took her to a vacant lot, and
in a place dear to all children's
hearts they sat down, Marcella find
ing comfort in stubbing her boots
into the sand and refuse. Hal, how
ever, was embarrassed, and fervently
hoped that no one would discover
him with a pretty, hatless girl. The
silence between them had lasted long
enough for him to insist on speech.
whats up?" he asked.
II don't know" answered Mar
celia, recklessly. Things always
have to begin; and it. began, you
know, that day last winter" Hal
nodded. well, it's spread. I'm not
popular. I'm an adopted. The die
tionary and mamma and papa don't
agree. When l used to get mad
just got marked like anybody else.
Now they take to excusing me, be-
cause of what they call heredity.
Everybody has got that, only mine is
different. Miss Smith said | could
not help being careless, and called
me poor child / told her l could
help it, but | wouldn't. So she sent
me upstairs to the sub-master, and
he sent me along to the master; and
just up and at him. That's all"
And she swallowed hard, for she did
not want to cry before a boy.
Then Hal did just what he had
had no notion of doing three mo-
ments before; he put his arms round
her, and she laid her head down on
his knees and cried, just what she
did not mean to have done. But both
of them started up as they heard the
well-known whoop of boys coming
round the corner, and each NODDED to
the other, confederation, and dis
appeared at opposite ends of the
parkway. Marcella went home, and
said nothing. Hal went down town,
and called on Marcella,s father at his
office. its none of my business,
he began in 'helter-skelter fashion.
What isn't?" asked Mr.. Lord
with whom Hal was on friendly
terms
why, whether she is adopted or
not. i am going to marry her just
the same as soon as I'm in business;
but you ought to, tell her. she's an
adopted. and not. Jet the story sneak
out the way it does and have her
pitied when she gets mad just as II
she couldn't help 1t. for of course
she can"
What are you talking about?'
asked Mr.. Lord, so sternly that the
boy quickly recovered his senses and
manners, and begged pardon. but
with grim inslstence told what he
know-how Jimmy Jones hated Mar
celia, because she snubbed him and
would not take his spruce gum, and
that somehow he had found out from
the aunt with whom he boarded. who
had once lived in hospital and hat
taken care of babies, that Marcells
had been one of,them, So Bob whis
pered it, all round. just to spite Mar
celia.
And you believe the story?" sait
Mr. Lord.
yes, and Marcella believes II. too