The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-12-03

Market Square. where the grand pro-
cession was to form. and where there
was q blaze of light such as Elsie had
never imagined! Bands were playing,
horses were prancing; some one set ire
to sort of powder, and 10! the whole
street was rosy red.
Now everything was ready and the
march began. Whole blocks on each
side were festooned with bunting and
Chinese lanterns; candles twinkled in
every pane; all the gas burners did
their best; Roman candles shot out
cOlored stars; rockets went up with q
fizz.
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrahr' The
procession was pausing in front of big
house. Somebody was making speech.
Nobody could understand half he said.
No matter. "Hurrah! hurrah! hur-
rahn' Elsie shouted with the rest, and
trotted gaily on.
'.No reason in the world shouldn't
have come, like any other boy! Hur-
rahr'
Up one street and down another, each
more brilliant than the last, Elsie
marched on, till suddenly small, then
a larger, pain began to make itself felt
in one of her feet.
"It's my new boots" said she to
herself. "Why didn't change them?"
I'll stamp hard and then I shall be
easy"
But somehow she was not easy. Up
one street, down another. 1t was not
so much the pain in one particular spot
now as the general ache, not only in
her foot, but in her whole body.
"rm afraid I'm growing tired"
She glanced at Joe. That worthy
was in high spirits, and apparently as
fresh as ever. Elsie limped bravely on.
Across an open space the procession
wheeled, and halted again to drink
lemonade out of big tubs on the side
walk. Elsie ventured to complain to Joe.
"Oh. cheer up!'' was all the comfort
he had for her. "We've marched most
half the distance now.''
IS Most half the distancer' Why,
Elsie could never hold out if that were
the case. Once more she struggled on.
1t seemed as if she had been marching
for years and years-ever since she
was a baby. She could not drag her.
self another inch. In the midst of
cheer she crept up flight of steps,
and sank down.
cpl wait a few minutes. and then run
fast. and catch Joe again." thought she.
The next moment, as it seemed. she
heard two voices near her.
1.-The party must be hard up that has
to take babies like this to help on their
cause" said one.
''Poor little fellowr' answered the
other-a lady '.He's dropped down,
torch and all, and gone to Sleep"
Elsie started and looked around her.
Where was the procession? Where was
joel? Too terrified to say word, up
the street she rushed, gazing wildly on
this side and on that. No Joe did she
see, no procession either. 1t would
have been quite dark but for the street
lamps.
81 must stop somewhere. Unjust ask
some one for joe"
At a house smaller than the others
she paused, and rang the bell. There
was a confused sound of talking within.
"Don't you open that door as you.
valce YOUR life, Phoebe Maria" said
some one, in shrill tones. "Us all
alone! This time of night! It's tramp.
surer'
Then Phoebe Maria called through the
key hole, "Go right away. 1 sha'n't
let you in if you stop there till midnight.
De-partr'
think if the word "de-part'' had not
sounded so very ponderous, Elsie would
have called back that she was no tramp.
As it was, she ran blindly on.
'Mother! mother!'' she sobbed,
wringing her little cold hands. But no
one answered. A clock near by tolled
nine, ten, eleven. Two drops of rain
fell. The wind rustled drearily among
the tree-tops.
Steps sounded near. A tall man ap-
preached. and Elsie caught the CLEAN
of brass buttons.
"What are you doing here. boy?"
demanded the newcomer. in great
bass voice.
I'm not a boy" cried Elsie. ~
never was a boy in all my life. I'm
Elsie Baker. want to 90 home"
She quite broke down, and wept pit
eously.
"Hoity-toityr' exclaimed the man,
who was one Of the police. "Where is
your hOmep'
"Out at Porter's Corner. Joe
brought me to the percession. I wish
he hadn't. wish Oh dear, dear mer
"Now here'sa pretty mess!' said the
policeman. "There's nothing for it
but to take charge O you tonight. and
see how we can manage tomorrow.
You come along with me-"
Finding the child too exhausted to
walk, he picked her up and tramped off
down in town with his burden. Where
did he carry her?
To tell the truth there seemed to be