Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-10-04
ELSIE'S DREADFUL DAY

/ Oul VI lut usual way
Elsie heard the rain FLASHING all night but
there was the sun in the morning, and the
drops quivering in the light, and the yellow
leaves of the beeches falling like golden
shower
at is diamond day" thought Elsie as she
went 10 school
She was on her way home when cry Of
distress stopped her. 1t came from one OF
the little girls.
"Wel, Nan Stebbins, said scornful
voice, "if you will get in the way you
needn't complain Graciousl you're noisier
than fog hornn
Elsie turned and saw little Nan covered
with mud, having fallen in puddle in TIE
wild skiImish as 70 who should get out Of
the gate first.
Regina Moore was the bully of the school,
but Elsie said fearlessly;
''You ought to be ashamed Of YOURSELF"
"Poohl what's a muddy dress TO wash
womans daughteri Her mothers got the
tubs handy all the timer
At this Mans howls grew louder There
were some cries of "For shameln that reused
Regina's wrath.
you needn't be settin' yourself up, Elsie
Ford she cried, in shrill voice; you're
nobodys daughterls
Elsie stared at the speaker IN specifics
amazement There was dead hush, and she
could hear her heart beat.
"Oh, know cried Regina, with toss of
the head You were fished up out of the
water, where your wicked father was trying
to drown YOU
Elsie could not quite accept this startling
statement
"It's not so; you are telling a liei" she
cried, with n sob in her throat.
"Am /, girlsia exclaimed Regina, in quick
appeal Say, didn't some of you know she
wasn't Mrs Ford's childp
Elsie cast frightened glance at the reluc-
tant faces. 1t could not be truel She would
have heard of it before. No one spoke
Bertha, gasped Elsie, TO a special friend,
you viii tell me. Is it trueP
The little German girl spok, unwillingly
II believe so; did hear so alretty."
/ Elsies heart seemed TO die within her. 1t
stopped beating moment, then it began to
4 hammer away fast and hardl
YES went on Regina, in temper; "they
4 fished you out and put him in prison, and
I there he is 70 this day. SO you'd better be
\ humble in future, Miss Elsie Nobody
Elsie stayed to hear no more. Her misery
was too great to bear the gaze of all those
curious eyes. Fast as her feet would carry
/ her she sped along the pretty country road.
/ She did not notice as she went a gaunt and
| unkempt creature, with the soil Of the road
1 on his clothes, and hungry fire in his
sunlien eyes, who rose from the other side Of
the school house fence and followed her.
The tramp had been reused from his sleep
by the shrill voices Of the girls, and as he
gathered his stiff limbs together and looked
after Elsie's little figure in the crimson
merino she seemed like flying flame TO
vanish from his sight.
But he did not let her vanish With his
long and ungainly strides he kept her in
sight, while queer smile played about his
ugly mouth.
When Elsie gained her own gate she stood
there for a time, painting and trembling.
She felt as If she could not speak, as if the
flood of misery that had swept into her
heart had quite drowned out all thought and
speech.
Was it not her own dear mamma who had
kissed her good-by this very morningl How
would she meet heri What would she call
herr How could she speak to her at ala 1t
seemed strange, if this dreadful thing were
true, that all things looked serene and just
the same as when she left her home. Her
world had been overturned as by an earth
quake, and yet she saw no sign of change.
She could not speak yet, she decided. She
would wait till the dear time when mamma
tohl she must still call her sol would sit by
her bedside, and talk with her SO gently and
sweetly as usual over all the doings Of the
day. Yes, she would wait. But she went
in slowly, with heavy step and slow. How
pleasant ard bright the familiar room
L. 8. e 4
tinted leaves. Mamma and Aunt Cicely
were busy with their pretty work
''Ah, here you are, Elsie, cried Mrs. Ford
''See how lovely our souvenir for grandma
will be. She will know what our autumn
woods are like now. She never sees such
conhagrations in the sober English forests"
Elsie took the pretty book, and looked at
the leaf bouquet in a stunned way, but
could not speak. Mrs. Ford was too busy to
notice it, however, for the next moment she |
cried:
''We are waiting for you, Elsie, to get US
some more scarlet leaves. There are beau |
ties on that tree at the corner of the barn.
''rll get some" gasped Elsie, glad to get |
ont in the air once more.
She emerged just as the quaint figure of |
the tramp drew near the house. He waited |
"Ha, there's the little famingo again. be |
said, as the slender figure in the red gown
appeared.
Elsie walked slowly, her blue eyes cast on
the ground.
1t was rather startling for her to hear
gruff voice near her utter these serange
words:
"Hullol goin' to give yer dad the go byp
She could not believe her ears. She stared
with frightened eyes at the creature who
seemed to have sprung out Of the ground
like the fairies and gnomes she had read
about. Only this was more like an ogre,
with his fcry eyes, and with his croaking
voice, and long black beard and hair
''WhRt-what did you say, sirP faltered
Elsie, thinking il best 70 be very polite.
81 said are you going to give yer dad the