Year: 1874

"Oh. girls! shall just die, know
shall " exclaimed Belle Burnett, going
of into an hysterical fit of laughter. which
she vainly tried to smother behind an ele-
giant lace edged handkerchief


" What is it, you provoking thing
Why don't you tell us, so we can laugh
too -


" Well--you-see." she gaspod out at
last, we've got new pupil, the queerest
looking thing you ever saw. | happened
to be in Madam's room when she arrived
She came in the stage, and had a mite
of an old-fashioncd hair trunk, not much
bigger than a band box, and she came in
80 Madam's room with funny little bas-
ket in her hand, and sat down as if she
had come to stay forever. She said Are
you Madam Gazie ? Yes she replied,
that is my name. Well, I've come to
stay year at your school And then she
pulled her handkerchief out of her basket.
and unrolled it until she came to an old
leather wallet. and actually took out two
hundred and fifty dollars and laid it in
Madams hand, saying, That is just the
amount, believe; will you please give
me receipt for it? You never saw
Madam so surprised She actually didn't
know what to say for minute; but she
gave her receipt, asked few questions,
and had her taken to No 10, and there
she II now. this very minute"


j" Well. what was there SO funny about
all that ?"


Why, this: she has red hair tucked
into black net, and looks just like
fright every way. She had on brown
deainc dress, without sign of ruffle or
trimming of any kind, and the shabbiest
hat and shawl you ever saw You'll
laugh, too. when you see her"


Belle Burnette was an only child, and
her wealthy father was pleased to crafty
her every whim So, besides being far
too elegantly dressed for school girl, she
was supplied with plenty Of pocket money,
and being very generous and full of life
and fun, she was the acknowledged leader
among Madam's pupils.


When the tea bell rang, the newcomer
was escorted into the dining g-room, and in
troduced to her schoolmates as Miss Fan
ME Comstock She had exchanged her
brown delaine for plain calico dress, with
bit Of white edging about the neck She
did look rather queer, with her small, thin,
freckled face, and her red hair brushed
straight back from her face, and hidden as
much as possible under large black net,
and but for the presence of Madam her
first reception would haxe been exceeding
ly unpleasant She was shy and awk-
ward and evidently i'll at ease among so
many strangers As soon as possible she
hastened back to the seclusion of her own
room. The next day she was examined,
and assigned to her place in the different
classes. and, to the surprise Of all, she
was far in advance of those Of her age
But this did not awaken the respect of
her sehoolmates, as it should have done.
On the contrary, Belle Burnette and her
especial friends were highly incensed
about it, aud at once commenced series
of petty annoyances. whenever it was safe
to do it, which kept poor Fannie miserable
indeed although she seemed to take no
notice Of it, A few weeks passed by
Her lessons were always perfectly recited.
She made no complaint of tho sights and
sDeers Of her companions, but kept out of
their way as much as possible. Her thin
face grew paler. however, and there were
dark rings about her eyes. A watchfu
friend would have seen that all these
things were wearing cruelty upon her
j young life. One Saturday the very spirit
OF wiskodHess seened let loose among
them. Madam was away; the other
teachers we're busy in their own ROOMS
Fannie had been out for u walk, and was
near the door Of her room when dozen or
more of the girls surrounded her, clasping
hands together SO she was u prisoner in
their midst. For a monet she begged
piteously to be released, but they only