WHEEL OF FATE

(Continued from page 2)
the sight of familiar childhood
haunts and of faces of those whom
she would been glad to loved. There
was no one to meet her, and she was
obliged to arrange for the sending of
her own trunk and to carry her trav-
eling bag herself. Along the way to
her home she was greeted with the
friendly nods and sunny smiles of
neighbors, who seemeo to be trying
to welcome her home.

As Adelaide drew nearer and near-
er her home, her footsteps faltered,
for she knew not what kind of wel-
come she would receive; but she was
prepared for the worst. She entered
the back door; there her stepmother
was reading a magazine. Glancing
around the room, the girl noted the
table full of unwashed dishes. the un-
tidy floor and the general disorder of
the room.

Hei mother, taking her eyes iron
the paper, looked over the top of her
glasses and said: ‘““’Pears to me
you're mightty slow about gettin’
here; wasn’t school out day before
vesterday ?”’

“Yes, mother, but I hated so much
to leave that I waited until today.”

“Ah! So you prefer a school to be-
‘ng at home, do you? I always
thought you cared nothing about
your home and parents but I
never knew it would come to~%that.
Well, off with your duds now and get
at this pile of dishes that’s been sit-
ting here since mornring; I simply
don’t have time to wash dishes.”

The old look of terror filled Ade-
‘laide’s eyes, but it was soon rcplaced
by one of disgust, and her bright
countenance fell into stern lines of
determination. - However, more
promptly than usual, she went about
her work and quickly finished the
task.

Soon her father entered. His grect-
ing was one of reproach similar to
her mother’s.

When bed-time came, which was
always nine o'clock at the Frazier
home, she crept wearily up to her
tiny bed in the back part of the sec-
ond story. Her heart sank as she
entered the dark, musty smelling,
dusty room. Her oil lamp was smok-
ing and filling the room with a nau-
seating odor. For a moment she
stood at the door-way hating to en-

THE SLIPPERY ROCKET

ter. Suddenly she erossed the room
and threw open the window. Soon
the cool, fragrant air of the June
night wafted through the room and
made it fresher. The moonlight
streamed in and carried her back to
the days she had spent at Glenwood
and the first pleasant experiences she
had known.

Long she sat by the open window
until there crept into her heart the
light of an inspiration, and on her
lips and brows were written deter-
mination. Now she felt that she could
sleep; so she crept into bed and was
soon dreaming of a happy home
where she was shielded and protected
by a loving mother and indulgent
father.

In the morning she was awakened
by the early rays of the sun stream-
ing across her pillow and the calling
of an oriole from the apple tree in
the yard to its mate in some neigh-
boring tree.

As she entered the kitchen she
was accosted by her mother’s usual
surly salutation.

“Morning,” she grunted.

Soon her mother had Adelaide’s
work mapped out for her for almost
the entire day. She dutifully did
what was required, and then she
went to her room. Her mother had
gone out to the Ladies’ Missionary
Society for the afternoon. So much
the better for Adelaide, for she could
carry out her plan with little danger
of meeting defeat.

For she had decided to leave her
home and go to a beloved aunt who
had always taken the nearest place
in Adelaide’s heart to a real mother.
When her father, too, had been so in-
different to her upon her return, she
did not feel at all guilty in carrying
out such an undertaking.

Her packing was hurriedly yet
carefully done as she had but a half
hour before the train pulled out. The
biggest obstacle in the way \tas get-
ting past her father’s store without
his spying her, but she contrived a
plan; she would go through the alley
to the station.

She met a few of her friends on
her way, and she told them her in-
tentions. Every one sympathized
with her, something which made her
all the more determined. :

Her father was the first to read

3

the note which she left, and perhaps
his face grew a little pale; but not so
with the stern stepmother. She
only growled, “Her own rod will lick
her; she’ll be glad to get back before
long.”

The joy of Adelaide’s aunt knew
no bounds when she learned that her
darling, submissive niece had at last
had pluck enough to rebel from the
heartless treatment which she had
always received.

Adelaide was able to realize the
height of her ambitions. She entercd
a hospital to become a nurse, al-
though much to her aunt’s discom-
fort. Because of her winning and
cheerful personality as well as her
self-sacrificing and enduring naturc
she became a successful little nurse.

Through gambling and bad invest-
ment, Adelaide’s father lost his store
and their home. But Adelaide proved
herself true blue. She forgave and
forgot, and became to him and
her stepmother a real friend in time
of need.

Her stepmother lived but a short
time to bear this disgrace, as she
termed it, but unquestionably was
truly repentant before she died.

After his wife’s death her father
went to live with Adelaide, who had
carried on her nursing for but two
years when fell victim to the piercing
arrows of Cupid.

 

Miss Marion Johnson, who is soon
to leave the school, has recently been
guest of honor at several informal
gatherings. One was given by Miss
Walton at her rooms, while another
was a picnic indoor lunch with =«
number of South Hall faculty people
as hosts.

G e e o o

o 3 " "

COMING EVENTS %

ot .:' ode ofe oo & 0:0

% Saturday, January 26—Girls’ bas- <
o ketball game here with Indiana -
o Normal. o
¥ Monday, January 28.—Registration <+
o Nay. oo
% Tuesday, January 29.—Girls’ game <
o+ with Clarion Normal. &
% Friday, February 1.—Faculty Recep- <
oo tion, &
# Friday, February 8.—Concert by <

Tom and Justin Williams.
Saturday, February 9.—Boys’ game **
with California, here.

. * * . .
02' 0%0 ozfl 0§0 ogo v:o 0:0 L ot B 0w o%

B &
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