San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-13
ELSA
Written by Edith Aiken for the Light.

FIRST CHAPTER BEGAN IN NO. l53. JUNE 26.l
Mrs. Roberts had been so occupied
with her own affairs during the week
that she was looking for work that
she had not particularly observed the
people in the house whom she some
times met. She did not feel acquain-
ted with any of them and generally
thought very little about them, but
by the end of the week she was made
to feel in many ways that they were
observing her, and instead of the
usual courtesy as they passed, there
was no recognition, but markedly
scornful looks. Even the janitor who
had always been ready to perform
any and every service for the sweet
voiced lady, now conducted himself
with sullen indifference to her that
was contradicted by the furtive sorry
expression in his kind blue eyes.
At the close also of this same week
Mrs. Roberts found on her dressing
case note from the Miss Primings
the sisters with whom she lived
informing her that they were going
away to be gone during Christmas
and the holidays, and should expect
to find her room vacated when they
returned. 1t was with a feeling of
mingled indignation and contempt
that she read the note, and these
feeling sustained her while she packed
her few things. Up to this moment
she had hoped to find labor of some
kind which she could do, but when
she read the dry cruel note turning
her into the street, with only a few
dollars in her pocket, she decided
upon leaving the city and going to
her sister who lived in Montreal.
There were many reasons why she
had not done so before. 1t was an
only sister, and her only near relative
and many years her elder, and on
whom she had been dependent in
her girlhood. This sister had not
been very amiable about receiving
and bringing up with her own
children, this young sister, who had
come late, and all unwelcome except
by her mother, into the world, but
being a wealthy woman Through her
marriage, her pride gave the child
a home, that otherwise would have
been denied her. Mrs. Vance was
glad when Elsa married, and was
very glad indeed that she made what
was considered good marriage. 1t re-
ieved her of all care of the girls fur
ture. A few visits had been exchanged
between them during the first ten
years after Elsa's marriage, but for
ten years they had not met, and their
correspondence had been limited to
one or two letters year, and since
Harry's shameful death, Mrs. Vance
had not invited her sister once to
visit her.
But now it seemed as though Elsa
had no choice, and she had nearly
completed her preparations, when a
letter was received from this same
sister declining all further intercourse
with her, and calling her cruel name
and almost cursing her for the sup
posed disgrace she had brought upon
her name.
After the first cry of anguish the
poor hunted lady read the cruel letter
with dry eyes. Her traducer had
been in season and had done his vile
work we'll, and Mrs. Vance, never
Elsa's friend, was willing to believe
without investigation, the wicked
calumny. The days went by after
this until the night before New
Years arrived, and Mrs. Roberts un
ahla IN dacida ON her next stem had