The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-03

One was glad when Rosalie told them to
Alice and Amanthus. but one could not
ones self.
And Miss Lizzie? Miss Lizzie had stepped
all at once into her proper place. One had
not understood before. One would not want
Miss Lizzie different. 1t was right and
natural to Miss Lizzie's condition-which
condition varied according to the page in
the book, for Miss Lizzie was the cruel
stepmother. Miss Lizzie was the wicked
fairy godmother, Miss Lizzie was the
ogress. the wife Of the terrible giant.
One told Resale. But Rosalie went even
further. Miss Lizzie was the grim and
terrible ogress who dwelt in her lonely cas-
tie. True. The schoolhouse was the castle
of the ogress. And the forty little girls in
the fourth reader were the captives-the
captive princesses-kept by Miss Lizzie un-
til certain tasks were performed.
One looked at problems differently now.
On saw copybooks through a glamour. They
were tasks and each task done, the nearer
release from Miss Lizzie.
Did one fail?
Emmy Lou held her breath. Rosalie
spoke softly: "The lady at the window
her finger at her lips-she had failed"
Wise I<iLZlc was TIT OSTeSS, anu IN ldQy
was the princess-the captive princess
waiting at the window for release.
And so one played ones part. And so
Emmy Lou and Rosalie moved and lived
and dreamed in the glamour and the world
of the green and gold book.
1t stayed in ones de-sk-sometimes with
Alice, or with Amanthus, sometimes with
Rosalie. To-day it was with Emmy Lou.
One never read in school. But at recess,
on the steps outside the big door, one read
aloud in turn while the others ate their
apples. And Hattie came, too, when she
liked, and. Sadie. But one carried the book
home. that one might not be parted from'it.
To-day it was with Emmy Lou. 1t had
certain treasures between it's leaves. One ex-
poets TO find faint sweet rose-leaves be-
tween the pages of the green and gold
book, and the scrap of tinsel recalls the
| CLEAN and simmer of the goose girls ball
| dress of woven -moonbeams.
To-day the book was in Emmy Louis desk.
| Emmy Lou was at the board. 1t was prob
| lens. She did not need a book. Miss Lizzie
dictated when one was at the board. Emmy
Lou was poor at problems and Miss Lizzie
| was cross about it.
Sadie, at her desk, needed a book. She
had forgotten her arithmetic, and asked
permission to borrow Emmy Louis.
She went to get it. She pulled it out.
Sadie had a way of being unfortunate. She
also pulled another book out which fell open
on the floor, shedding rose-leaves and tinsel.
The green and gold glitter of the book
caught Miss Lizzie's eye.
Her fingers had been tearing at bits of
paper all morning until her desk was
strewn.
Bring 1t to me-" she said.
Miss Lizzie took the book from Sadie and
looked at it.
Emmy Lou had just failed quite miserably
in problems. Miss Lizzie's face changed. 1t
was as if a white rage passed over it. She
stepped TO the stove and cast the book in.
The very flames turned green and gold.
1t was gone-the world of glamour, of
glory, of dreams-the world of Emmy Lou
and Resale, of Alice and Amanthus.
1t was not Emmy Lou. 1t was a cry
through Emmy Lou. Emmy Lou was just
beginning to grow tall, just losing the
round-eyed faith of babyhood.
"You hadn't any right"
1t was terrible. The fourth reader class
failed to breathe.
4 -r EIUT0N Lou U1uSt SOY sic WdS SOTTy. Eli
my Lou would not.
The hours of school dragged on. Emmy
Lou sat silent.
Rosalie looked at her. Laughter had died
in Rosalie's cheek. Rosalie pressed her
fingers light in misery for Emmy Lou.
Sadie ooked at Emmy Lou. Sadie wept.
Hattie looked at Emmy Lou. Hattie
Strengthened her straight little back and
ground her little teeth. Hattie was of that
blood which has risen up and slain for
affections sake.
This was an Emmy Lou nobody knew
white checked, brooding, defiant. There are
strange potentialities in every Emmy Lou.
The last bell rang.
Emmy Lou must say she was sorry. En-
my Lou would not.
Every one went-every one but Emmy
Lou and Miss -Lizzie-casting backward
looks of awe and commiseration
To be left alone in that nearness soli-
tude entails meant torture, the torture of
loathing, of shrinking. of revulsion.
She must say she was sorry. Emmy Lou
was not sorry.
She sat dry-eyed. The tears would come
later. More than once this year they had
come after home and Aunt Cordelia's arms
were reached. And Aunt Cordelia had
thought it was because one was growing too
fast. And Aunt Cordelia had rocked and
patted and sung about "The Frog Who
Would a Wooing Co."
And then Emmy Lou had laughed because
Aunt Cordelia did not know that the frog
and Jenny Wren and the little wee bear
were gone into the past, and the green and
gold book come to take her place.
The bell had rung at 2 o'clock. At 3
Tom came. Tom was the house boy. He
was suave and saddle-colored and smiling.
He had come for Emmy Lou.
Miss Lizzie looked at Emmy Lou. Emmy
Lou looked straight ahead.
Then Miss Lizzie looked at Tom. Miss
Lizzie could do a good deal with a look.
Tom became uneasy, Apologize, guilty.
Then he went. 1t took a good deal to wilt
Tom.
At $50 he knocked at the door again.
He gave his message from outside the
threshold this time. Emmy Lou must
come home. Miss Cordelia said so. Emmy
Louis papa had come,
Emmy Lou heard papa, who came a
hundred miles once a month to see her.