Aunt Judith: The Story of a Loving Life

by L. Frank Baum

  CHAPTER XIV.

  THE PRIZE ESSAY.

  One day, towards the close of the school, great excitement prevailed inMrs. Elder's Select Establishment for Young Ladies, the cause being acommunication made through the lady-principal to her pupils from agentleman and relative of hers lately returned from India. He hadvisited the school several times within the last few months, and seemedto take an interest in it; but still there was no lack of astonishmentwhen Mrs. Elder announced one morning that her friend, Mr. Corbett, hadintimated his intention of awarding a special prize to the pupil whowould write the best essay on any of the three followingsubjects--namely, Christmas joys, a short account of the FrenchRevolution, and a brief review of one of Sir Walter Scott's novels.The babble of tongues that ensued after this intimation was wonderful.Mrs. Elder laughingly beat a hasty retreat, and Miss Smith layresignedly back in her chair, and waited till peace and order wererestored.

  "Of course Ada will win the prize," was the general comment, "she is soclever, and Mr. King always praises her essays. Nellie can't come nearher in the way of composition; but we must all try to do our best, forthe honour of the school."

  The elder girls, who were not included in the list of competitors, feltinclined to second these remarks, and Ada smiled triumphantly when sheheard them whispered abroad. There was little doubt in her own mind asto who was likely to be the successful candidate, and she only wonderedwhich subject would best show forth her brilliancy of style andcomposition.

  Winnie and Nellie, firm friends still in spite of all restraints,consulted together, and spoke of the utter uselessness of their moststrenuous endeavours. "We've no chance against Ada," they saiddisconsolately, "but like the others we'll have to attempt something."

  "What will you try, Winnie?" inquired Nellie. "I think I'll tackle'the French Revolution.'"

  Winnie's brow was wrinkled in perplexity. "Do you know, Nell," shesaid at length, looking up with a curious gleam in her eyes, "I nevertried very hard in all my life to write a really good essay. I justmixed anything together and popped it down higgledy-piggledy style, asDick would say. Yet sometimes I have beautiful thoughts, and they runtogether in such beautiful words that I think I may manage to produce arespectable paper after all. I know nothing about the FrenchRevolution, simply nothing. I have never read any of Sir WalterScott's novels, and could not criticise or review one to save my life.But Christmas joys--ah, yes, I might attempt that;" and Winnie lookedhopeful at this point.

  "Very well, Win, we've decided," responded Nellie; then, Agnes Drummondcoming forward and addressing them, their conversation was interruptedfor the present.

  Ada Irvine's triumph was by no means so complete as she fancied itwould be, though there was still much to cause her satisfaction.Almost every day she had the pleasure of seeing Winnie grow furious andNellie wince under some cutting sarcasm thrown out with well-directedaim by some of the most fashionable girls in the school, and not eventhe former's reappearance and championship could allay to any extentthe open insults which beset the defenceless girl during school hours.

  "Go! you are not my friends," the stanch little ally had said when shefound how matters stood on her return after her illness. "I hate anddespise every one of you from the bottom of my heart. You callyourselves ladies, but I tell you no true lady would lower herself toutter such words as fall from your lips. I know who your ringleaderis, and if the heartiest hatred will do her any good, she has mine.But act as you please; only remember Nellie is now, and ever will be,the one true friend of my life. And as for her aunts, let me tell youyou are not worthy to touch the hem of their garments."

  "Oh, nonsense, Winnie!" one of the girls had replied, in ahalf-condescending manner; "I am sure you can't forget your mother'sopinion on the subject."

  "And who informed you about my mother's opinion? It must have beenAda; and that throws light on what has puzzled me lately. I think Imay thank her for all this trouble I have been and am stillexperiencing. No, do not try to defend her; one day we shall be quits."

  "But Ada is never rude or disagreeable to you now, Win," pleadedanother girl. "There has been a marked change in her manner lately.She is very gentle and kind to you. As for blaming her about tellingtales, that is hardly fair. She really said very little concerningMrs. Blake and her opinion of Nellie. Where she got her information wedo not know, but she told us decidedly it was not from yourstep-mother."

  Winnie looked incredulous. "That is quite sufficient," she repliedwith dignity; "I would rather hear no more. But you may tell Ada fromme that I am not to be deceived by her new tactics, and have no desireto possess such a treasure as a serpent-friend."

  The subject had then been dropped, and from that time Winnie would havenothing to do with any girl who uttered a single word against herfriend. Ada she treated with supreme indifference, and disdained toaccept a proffered friendship vouchsafed to suit that young lady'samiable plans. As regarded Nellie, she never walked with her afterschool hours, or sought her society so frequently as she had done inthe happy bygone days (Miss Latimer had strictly forbidden that); butstill the love betwixt the two was warm and true, and Ada felt herhatred deepen as she saw how all her endeavours failed to break thestrong bond of friendship binding the one to the other. A certaincircumstance, however, caused her immense satisfaction--namely, Mrs.Elder's growing dislike of Nellie Latimer. The lady-principal was,unfortunately, guilty of favouritism, and ever since Ada had beenplaced under her charge she had shown a marked preference for andindulgence towards her. Such being the case, one can readily imaginehow a woman of such a weak, selfish nature would resent the quietdethronement of her young favourite, and see the honours she had beenaccustomed to take now won by an insignificant girl of no particularbirth or station in society. Ada, not slow to find all this out,viewed it with supreme delight, and was careful to fan the flame byvarious hints and insinuations thrown out with becoming modesty.

  Nellie marked the change, but bore it uncomplainingly, striving to liveit down and let the discipline accomplish its own sharp yet beneficialwork. "I shall withdraw you from the school should you choose,Nellie," Miss Latimer had said once when the girl broke down and weptover the heavy burden laid upon her. "But I would like you to fight itout, and grow better, braver, and nobler under the conflict." That wassufficient for Nellie, who, meekly relifting the old cross, strove tocarry it cheerfully, feeling amply rewarded for her quiet endurancewhen she daily realized the rare love and tenderness that surroundedher in the peaceful home at Broomhill Road.

  The examination day was fast approaching, and the prize essays, whichhad to be given in a week beforehand, were delivered over to thelady-principal's charge--neat rolls of paper prettily tied up withgaily-coloured knots of ribbon. Then followed more excitement, tillthe hour arrived when guests and pupils met together in the largeschool-room, and the usual performance took place before the eyes ofsmiling mothers and friends. At length it was over, and the clergymanstepping forward to award the prizes, Winnie found some leisure to gazearound and scan the sea of faces in front of her.

  There was Mrs. Drummond, calm and placid as usual; her own step-motherand Edith, both looking so fresh and fair in their bright summerattire, and--but here Winnie caught a glimpse of a noble, true facelooking at her from under the brim of a quiet Quaker bonnet, and in amoment her little face was all aglow with a great throb of love.

  What occurred after that seemed a blank. She never heard Nellie's namecalled repeatedly, or noted Mrs. Blake's haughty look as the young girlmodestly received her prizes and blushed under the words ofcommendation uttered by the clergyman. Her thoughts were far away inthe past, and she was living those two happy days over again at DingleCottage, when the world appeared so wondrously fair, and life full ofbright laughing sunshine.

  But now came a pause in the proceedings. The prizes were alldistributed, and pupils and friends wakened to a state of greatexpectancy as old Mr. Corbett stood up by the minister's side andnervously prepared to
make his oration. After a few preliminaryremarks customary on the occasion, he spoke of the surprise andpleasure he had experienced in reading over the essays delivered to himby Mrs. Elder, his old and esteemed friend. They displayed much talentand brilliancy of style, and reflected great credit on the school. Oneespecially amazed him (here Ada's head drooped modestly) by the rich,beautiful thoughts, set, as it were, in such quaint, original language.He was almost startled by the amount of genius shining forth from everysentence; and although the essay was written in a crude girlish style,it was worthy of the highest commendation, and he had great pleasure inawarding the prize to--Miss Winnifred Blake.

  There was a long silence, followed by murmurs of amazement andcongratulation. But Winnie did not seem to hear them; she only satgazing dreamily, with dim, dazed eyes, as if hardly capable ofrealizing the good fortune which had befallen her.

  "Rise, dear," whispered Elsie Drummond, who was standing close by;"every one is waiting to see you receive the prize. We are all so gladover your success. Now go;" and she gave the child a gentle push inthe clergyman's direction. The words wakened Winnie, and then, with agreat flash, came the realization that she, and not Nellie, hadtriumphed over Ada; and as the knowledge came home with full power toher heart, her great eyes sparkled their mischievous joy, and shestepped forward, a glad, triumphant gleam shining in their depths.

  Few of the onlookers that day ever forgot the scene before them: thelittle fairy figure clad in daintiest summer attire; the flushed gipsyface and dark, lustrous eyes peeping from under the mass of curly hair;and the wondrously joyous smile which broke over her lips as she benther pretty head on receiving the glittering medal from the minister'shand. I think Mrs. Blake was proud of her step-daughter for once inher life.

  A short time afterwards, just as she was preparing to start homeward,Winnie remembered that her music was lying in one of the school-rooms,and bidding some of the girls wait her return she bounded up the steepflight of stairs to go in search of it.

  On reaching the top step, however, Ada met her, and the pale, angryface and haughty mien roused every malicious feeling in Winnie'snature. Looking up with a face in which wicked triumph and delightwere plainly depicted, she said sweetly, "O Ada, would you care toinspect my medal? You have been so kind to me lately I am sure youwill rejoice at my wonderful success."

  Ada returned her gaze with one of steady, contemptuous disdain, anddropping the mask of friendship which had been so hard for her to wear,she replied haughtily, "Wonderful indeed! so wonderful, in fact, that Imay be pardoned for refusing to credit the essay as being your owncomposition. Do you think it is natural for a dunce (I repeat theword), who has been in the habit of writing the most childish nonsense,to break on the world suddenly as a genius, and startle every one withher wonderful thoughts? It stands to reason that some underhand workhas been going on; and such being the case, I prefer to hold myselfaloof from one who could be guilty of any mean, despicable action."

  Strong language to use. Winnie's anger rose to a white heat as shelistened. "Explain yourself!" cried the enraged child; "I fail tounderstand your words."

  Ada's lip curled. "You are an admirable actress," she said calmly;"you would make your fortune on the stage. Unfortunately, however, Iam not easily deceived. You know perfectly well the prize essay is nowork of yours."

  "Whose then?" in a voice of suppressed passion; and the quiet, mockingtones answered,--

  "Suspicions are easily roused, and when one can disobey a parent once,one can easily do so again."

  Winnie looked bewildered. "You are speaking in riddles," she criedangrily; "I demand a proper explanation."

  "Then you shall have it," replied Ada, spitefully enjoying hermomentary triumph. "Mrs. Elder, Miss Smith, and ever so many of thegirls believe that your wonderful Miss Latimer assisted with youressay. Nay, do not interrupt: we give you credit for the bare outline,but the originality and quaint rich thoughts are decidedly beyond thepowers of a dunce."

  Winnie listened in amazement, and as the last words fell slowly fromthe lips of the cold, haughty girl, she cried out in her bitter anger,--

  "It is false! false! and you know that too; but, Ada Irvine, I canalmost excuse your insulting words. It must be humiliating to see adunce, and one towards whom you bear so much affection, win a prize ofwhich you deemed yourself secure. I forgive you when I think how hardit must be to feel yourself the laughing-stock of the school; and Iwould remind you in the future to value your talents at their trueworth."

  Winnie paused, and it seemed, to use a common-place phrase, as if thetables were turned; for the little girl looked cool and calm now, whileher adversary's face was white and set with passion. Springing forwardshe raised her hand, and Winnie, in order to avert the blow, steppedback, forgetful of her dangerous position. Then rang through the housea wild scream followed by the sound of a heavy fall; and the startledinmates, gathering from various quarters, found lying at the foot ofthe steep stairs a prostrate figure with white upturned face andfirmly-closed eyes.

  A prostrate figure with white, upturned face.]