Katherines Sheaves | Page 3

know I should look perfectly killing in it; and--oh! ye
Hiltonites!--she has just bought six of the sweetest corset covers you
ever laid eyes on; think of it!--six! She could spare three just as well as
not, and I'm sure she has at least a dozen pairs of silk stockings, while"-
-with a doleful sigh--"I don't own a blessed one. Then there are ribbons
and laces, fans and handkerchiefs galore. Don't you think it would be
an act of mercy if I would agree to take some of these superfluities off
her hands, rather than have them ruthlessly crushed into half their
allotted space? And--"
"Ollie! Ollie!--what an incorrigible little tease you are!" laughingly
interposed Miss Minot, as she playfully tweaked the girl's ear. "I
wonder how long the things would last you if you had them all!"
"Oh, probably two or three times wearing around, providing they didn't
come to mending before that," mused the "Pet," with a speculative look
in her blue eyes, but with a quiver of the dimples that evoked another
paroxysm of laughter from her audience. "But I say, Sadie," she went
on with the next breath, "Miss Minturn is a downright sweet-looking
girl, and I'll wager a- -a darning needle against a pair of those silk
stockings you'll find her O. K. Maybe she'll let you have an extra
drawer and a hook or two in the closet."
"I don't feel very hopeful, so I won't take you up," sighed Sadie; "for
when I came in from my walk I saw a big trunk, with 'K. M.' on it, in
the hall, and it looks to me as if I--I'm destined to go through a different
kind of 'cramming' process this year, in addition to the usual one."
This self-inflicted shot now turned the laugh again upon the speaker,
for it was an open secret that the Southern heiress dearly loved her ease
and took it, up to the last moment, then had to "cram for all she was
worth" to get ready for "exams."
While this chatter and fun were going on in the recreation room,

Katherine Minturn had been conducted to the study of Prof. Seabrook,
by whom she was received with his customary courtesy.
The principal of Hilton Seminary was a distinguished-appearing
gentleman of fifty years, possessing a strong, intellectual, yet refined
face, whose chief charm was a pair of large, expressive blue-gray eyes
that could be most winningly kind, or most coldly and blightingly stern,
as the case might be.
"Be seated, Miss Minturn," he courteously commanded, as Miss
Reynolds excused herself and withdrew, and indicating a chair near the
table by which he had been sitting when she entered.
Katherine obeyed, feeling strongly attracted to the man by his genial
manner, even though she knew that his keen but friendly eyes were
intent upon reading what lay beneath her exterior.
"I suppose you feel that you have had rather a hard day," he continued,
glancing significantly at some closely written sheets which he had
evidently been looking over when she entered, and which she instantly
recognized as her examination papers.
"Not at all," she quietly returned, lifting her clear eyes to him, and he
marveled at the unclouded serenity in their pure depths.
"Indeed!" and he could not quite conceal his surprise. "It is a rare event
for a young lady to make such an admission after a rigid ordeal like
what you have sustained this afternoon. However, I am happy to inform
you that you are unconditionally admitted to the junior class; your
papers do you great credit, Miss Minturn. I had not expected quite so
much from you, as you had told me that you left school last year, a
sophomore, and have been traveling abroad until recently. I feared we
might have to ask you to review a little, for it is rather unusual for a
pupil to enter an advanced class in the middle of the year."
"But I have not been idle since leaving school," Katherine replied, a
happy gleam in her eyes, for his commendation was very gratifying to
her; "although we were abroad for several months, we were often

located in some place for weeks at a time, and mamma, having once
been a teacher at Vassar, coached me for the junior class."
"Ah! that explains your proficiency. How convenient to have an ex-
Vassar in the family!" Prof. Seabrook smilingly observed. "All the
same, I am sure the daughter deserves some commendation for work
conscientiously done."
"Thank you, sir," said Katherine, a flush of pleasure tingeing her
cheeks.
The principal then proceeded to give her some information regarding
her classes and the ground to be covered in her various studies during
the coming term, after which he asked some questions as to her