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[Illustration: Twenty white-robed girls in ghost-like procession headed
for the Fraeulein's room.--Page 189. _Miss Ashton's New Pupil._]
MISS ASHTON'S NEW PUPIL
A SCHOOL GIRL'S STORY
By MRS. S. S. ROBBINS
Author of "Hulda Brent's Will," "Paul's Angel," etc., etc.
[Illustration]
A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER,
52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK.
Copyright, 1892,
By BRADLEY & WOODRUFF.
All Rights Reserved
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. Miss Ashton Receives a Letter. 5
II. Marion Enters School. 9
III. Gladys Has a Room-Mate. 16
IV. Settling Down to Work. 22
V. Mrs. Parke's Letter. 27
VI. School Cliques. 33
VII. Aids to Education. 40
VIII. Demosthenic Club. 46
IX. Miss Ashton's Advice. 55
X. Choosing a Profession. 62
XI. Visit of Cousin Abijah. 68
XII. The Tableaux. 73
XIII. Gladys Leaves the Club. 78
XIV. Kate Underwood's Apologies. 84
XV. Miss Ashton's Friday Night. 91
XVI. Storied West Rock. 98
XVII. November Snowstorm. 105
XVIII. The Sleigh-Ride. 112
XIX. Detectives at Work. 120
XX. Repentance. 128
XXI. Accepting a Thanksgiving Invitation. 136
XXII. Aunt Betty's Reception of Her Guest. 143
XXIII. The Academy Girl's Thanksgiving at the Old Homestead. 150
XXIV. Marion's Repentance. 160
XXV. Diphtheria. 167
XXVI. Christmas Coming. 175
XXVII. Christmas in the Academy. 183
XXVIII. Fraeulein's Gymnastics. 191
XXIX. Women's Work. 200
XXX. Deceit. 208
XXXI. Marion's Letter from Home. 216
XXXII. Penitent. 223
XXXIII. Spring Vacation. 231
XXXIV. Nemesis. 236
XXXV. Farewell Words. 244
XXXVI. Women's Work. 251
XXXVII. Commencement. 260
MISS ASHTON'S NEW PUPIL.
CHAPTER I
MISS ASHTON RECEIVES A LETTER.
Miss Ashton, principal of the Montrose Academy, established for the
higher education of young ladies, sat with a newly arrived letter in
her hand, looking with a troubled face over its contents.
Letters of this kind were of constant occurrence, but this had in it a
different tone from any she had previously received.
"It's tender and true," she said to herself. "How sorry I am, I can do
nothing for her!"
This was the letter:--
DEAR MISS ASHTON,--I have a daughter Marion, now sixteen years
old. Developing at this age what we think rather an unusual
amount of talent, we are desirous to send her to a good school
at the East.
We have been at the West twenty years as Home Missionaries. When
I tell you that, I need not add that we have been made very
happy by being able to save money enough to give Marion at least
a year under your kind care, if you can receive her into your
school.
I think I can safely promise you that she will be faithful and
industrious; and I earnestly hope that the lovely Christian
character she has sustained at home, may deepen and brighten in
the new life which will open to her in the East.
May I ask your patience while she is accustoming herself to it;
of your kindness I am well assured.
Truly yours,
E. G. PARKE.
"The child of a poor, far western missionary, so different from the
class of girls that she will be with here," thought Miss Ashton as she
slowly folded the letter.
She sat for some time thinking over its contents, then she took her
pen, and wrote:--
DEAR MRS. PARKE,--Send your daughter to me. I have great
interest in, and sympathy with, all Home Missionary work. I wish
I could do something to lighten the expenses she must incur; but
this is a chartered institution, and at present all the places
to be filled by those who need assistance have been taken. I
will, however, bear her in mind; and should she prove a good
scholar, exemplary in her behavior, I may be able to render her
in the future some acceptable assistance.
Wishing you all success in your trying and arduous life, and the
help of the great Helper,
I am, truly yours,
C. S. ASHTON.
Miss Ashton did not seal this note; she tossed it upon her desk,
meaning to look it over before it was mailed; but she had no time,
and, with many misgivings as to what might come of it, she allowed it
to go as it was.
Her school had never been fuller than it promised to be on the opening
of this new year. Through the summer vacation letters had been coming
to her from all parts of the country asking to put girls who had
finished graded and high school education under her care. Established
for many years, the academy had grown from what, in the religious
world, was considered a "missionary training-school," and from which
many able and faithful women had gone forth to win laurels in the
over-ripe harvest fields, to a school better adapted to the wants of
the nineteenth century.
While it held its religious prestige, it also offered unusual
advantages to that important and numerous class of girls who, not
wishing a college education, were yet desirous to spend the years that
should change them from girls into women in preparation for a future
great in its aims, and also great in its results.
Miss Ashton, large-hearted and strong-headed, seeing wisely into this
future, had succeeded in offering to this class exactly what it had
demanded.
Ably seconded by an efficient and generous board of trustees, with
ample funds, excellent teachers to assist her, a convenient and
handsome building in which to hold the school, she had readily made it
a success. There were more applications for admittance than she could
find room for; indeed, every available corner of the house had been
promised when she received Mrs. Parke's letter.
Sometimes it happened that a scholar for some unforeseen reason failed
to appear; that might make an opening for Marion. She wanted this
Western girl; the missionary spirit of olden times came back to her
with a warmth and freshness it would have cheered the hearts of the
long-absent ones in heathen lands to know. The crowd of scholars began
to gather. They came from the north and the south, the east and the
west, with a remarkable promptness. On the day for the opening of the
term every room was full, and many who had delayed applying for
places--taking it for granted there was always a vacancy--were sent
disappointed away.
There seemed to be positively no spot for Marion; and, in spite of all
the cares and perplexities which each day brought her, Miss Ashton
could not forget it. It became a positive source of worry to her
before she received a letter stating the day on which Marion would
arrive.
"That's not a good beginning, to be a week after the opening of the
term," she thought. "I hope she will bring a good excuse."