San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-13
ELSIES DREADFUL DAY

IL was In face O'CLOCK In the Gay OeIore
anything out of the usual way happened
Elsie heard the rain FLASHING all night, but
there was the sun In the morning, and the
drops euivering in che hight, and the yellow
leaves Of the beeches falling like golden
shower
1T is a diamond day." thought Elsie as she
went to school
She was on her way home when a cry of
distress stopped her. 1t came from one of
the little girls.
"Well, Nan Stebbins, said a scornful
voice, ''if you will get in tie way, you
needn't complain. Gractor:S! you're uoiSier
than fog hornl"
Elsie turned and saw little Nan covered
with mud, having fallen in puddle in tie
wild skirmish as to 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 muddy dress to wash
woman's daughter7 Her mothers got the
tubs handy all the time:"
At this Mans bowls grew louder. There
we're some cries of "For shamer' that reused
E..gina's wrath.
''You needn't be settin' yourself up, Elsie
Ford" she cried, in shrill voice; you're
nobodys daughter!'
Elsie stared at the speaker in speeches.
amazement. There was dead hush, and she
could hear her heart beat.
''Oh, know" cried Regina, with toss of
the head. You were fshed up out of the
water, where your wicked father was trying
to drown you
Elsie could not quite accept this startling
statement.
ats not 30; you are telling a lie!" she
cried, with a sob in her throat.
"Am l, gnlsl" exclaimed Regina, in quick
appeal "Say, didn't some Of you know she
wasn't Mrs Fords childT7
Elsie cast frightened glance at the relpc-
tGnt faces 1t could not be true! She would
Lave heard Of II befnre, No one spoke.
Bertha" gaSped Elsie, to q special friend,
you will tel Inc. Is il tr7uef'
The little GeTl:Ian girl siuks unwillinSly.
81 believe so; l did heGr 50 atretty."
Elsie's heart seemed 10 die w,bhin her. II
stopped beating . EIo.:letI5, ruea it began 70
hammer away fast and hard.
yes" went ON Regina. il tssit7ct; they
, fshel you out and put nEn in prison, and
there he is to this day. so yoa'd bettor be
humble in future, Miss Elsie Nobody"
Elsie stayed 10 hear uo mU.. lier misery
was too great to bear the ga'a o. al those
curious eyes. Fast as hes' fee would Gerry
her she sped along the pretty country rH:d.
She did not notIce as she went IA gauIt a"d
unkelnpt creature, with the soil 0i lie trG.L
on his clothes, and hungry fire il his
sunken eyes, who rose from the other sue Ui
the school house fence and followed her
The tramp had been rousod from his SleeI
by the shrill voices Of the girls, and as BIZ
gathered his stiff limbs together and looked
after Els.e's little figure in the crimson
nerino, size seemed like a flying fame b
vanish from his sight
But he did not let her vanish. With hi
Ica5 and ungainly strides he kept her il
sight, while queer smile played about hi
ugly mouth.
When Elsie gained her own gate she stoot
there for a time, painting and trembling
She felt as if she could not speak, as if tht
Good of misery that had swept into hel
heart had quite drowned out all thought anc
yeech.
Was it not her own dear mamma who hat
Aissed her good-by this very mOrningl How
would she meet herF What would she cal
uvrf How could she speak 90 her at ani L
seemed strange, If this dreadful thing wert
true, that all things looked serene and JUS
the same IS when. she- left her home. .Hel