isa-normaladvance-1903-00133

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE.133Miss McRenzies Story.The supper bell rang a half-hour before theregular time for the evening meal at Miss Mc--Kenzies boarding school. It caused quite a commotion among the girls of the institution andquite a bit of speculation as to what new grievanceMiss McKenzie had now to charge to their account and gave rise to varied feelings of fear, disgust, or amusement in the hearts of the twentygirls who hurried through the halls to the chapel.It was a long established custom here that whenanything of importance demanded Miss McKen-zies attention she would call the girls together atthis hour and in this public meeting reprimand theculprit, commend the worthy, or present any matter of business.This evening as she entered the chapel, whitherall had preceded her, with a strange young girlleaning on her arm, she heard a general but suppressed exclamation of surprise.A new girl, poor innocent child, whisperedone girl to her neighbor. She doesnt know whatshe is entering upon. Id like to have given her awarning before she signed Miss McKenzies contract.For its as binding as the laws of the Medesand Persians, finished the second girl. Thechild is dressed all in black, can you see ?I thought this school was full, said a thirdgirl who turned around to add her comment.I suppose shell have to take the tower-roomand have ghosts for room-mates, suggested thefirst speaker.Miss McKenzie had seated the stranger on achair near the front door and was standing silentby a small stand below the pulpit, She waiteduntil the girls had ceased whispering and assumedmuch of the same prim aspect as she herself.Young ladies, she began, perhaps you havesurmised my reason for summoning you here atthis hour. A stranger has come to make her homeamong us and I shall be glad to have you interestyourselves in her welfare and try to make her stayamong us both profitable and enjoyable. Shepaused a moment, then said abruptly, You aredismissed.After she had left the room with the new studentleaning on her arm, the girls lingered about theroom in groups of four or five to discuss the meeting. Even the teachers who remained seated intheir accustomed chairs at one side of the platformexchanged comments in low and wondering tones.They overheard a girl remark that she forgot totell us to be sure to wash well behind your cars,young ladies, and dont forget to clean your fingernails. This omission was indeed a significantone for in all her talks, especially at times whennew girls entered the school, Miss McKenzie seldom failed to remind them of these personalduties.She forgot to introduce her, too, added another, and its fortunate that she did for I dontbelieve that innocent slip of a girl could have survived our united stares. The comments continued until the bell rang a second summons towhich the girls hungrily responded.Upon entering the dining room they were againsurprised to see the stranger seated next to MissMcKenzie at the head of the table, where thatworthy lady was wont to preside alone. They atethe meal in accustomed silence except for an occasional whisper between neighbors and the necessary courtesies in passing the food. The girlswere always glad when each meal was over for thestrict decorum required of them at the table wasscarcely in keeping with their usually gay spirits.When supper was over and the quietness in thehouse indicated that all the inmates were eitherresting or busy with their lessons, two girls stolethrough the long hall, passed the room at the end,climbed a short flight of stairs, knocked at thedoor of the tower-room, and entered without waiting for an invitation from within.The dim light revealed a figure, huddled uponthe cot. It straightened itself into a sittingposture and drew down a black bordered hand-
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/33906
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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