The San Francisco call., 1908-10-18

Milly the moment of silence was even
more awful than the torrent of abuse
that impended. She cringed still low
er. her face livid with fear
The storm broke. "Soi this Is the
way you spend your time-looking in
the glass. Fine thing to look at. ]
suppose you think you're pretty. you
vain, shtftless, pig headed kid, youl I'll
take 1T out of your hide, I WILL and me-
slavin to make you learn your parts;
givin' you my time and my talent, so
you can be brought up to make a de-
cent Hvin and not die a pauper on the
nands or strangers, as your mother
did. Do you think you're goin' to re-
hearsal tomorrow and blunder your
lines and make fool of me for coach
IN yer? Not muchi You'll learn, If
| have to beat 1T into yer!"
The words seemed to inspire her. A
small theatrical trunk Of many labels
stood In one corner. From the handle
hung leather strap. The woman
snatched 1t up and with her whole
strength brought 1t down upon the
girls back. The iron buckle caught in
the thin dress tore through and left a
line of blood Down came the strap
again, leaving it's vivid mark of scar
letaa The buckle tongue tangled in the
yellow curls 1t was jerked away. a
golden strand hanging In pitiful accu-
sation.
Milly screamed, and the virago,
realizing that she had gone too far.
paused, broke away the accusing
threads and threw the strap into the
corner.
''That'll teach you to mindi Don't
you try to shirk your work and steal
the bread from our mouths-me, that
TOOK yer when nobody else wouIdir
M1lly lay sobbing upon the bed. her
frail arms wound over her head and
race to protect them-instinctiveIy
1eeiing she must not be disfigured SO
she couldn't "go on"
Her aunt stood over her with a
grunt she turned and lit the gas 1et
for the winter day had already drawn
to a close.
You'll stay here and learn that"
she said, brutally. "Emmerline and I
are going to eat. If you're not letter
perfect when 1 get back you know
what you'll get And let me catch
you prinking in front of the looking
glass when you should be workin'l"
she hung out. slamming the door be-
hind her Milly heard her harsh voice
calling "Emmerline," and the shutting
and looking OF the fiat. She was alone
Sne sat up, rubbing her smarting
shoulders There was something warm
and sticky. She looked at her fingers
they were red with blood. She 5hud-
dered. This was worse than ever be-
fore. Aunt Esther had punished her
often and often-but this
She ceased to moan. She remembered
that when she played the martyr child
In The Arenas Triumph" she uttered
oeautiful sentiments, as negro slave
tplayed by one of the scene shifters, a
cheerful souD lashed her with cat o.
nine tails The infant martyr was car
ried from the scene, faint and bleed
Ing, but forgiving her enemies in
melodious voice. Milly did not believe
the child martyrs 'forgave; they must
nave cringed and cried. and hated i'm
potently as she did now. Always In
the plays somebody rescued her in
time, or with superhuman intelligence
she had contrived her own escape-but
nobody ever came in real life. She sat
up suddenly. "Escape" Shed been
carried across the living bridge and
swung from the steeple by a rope, and
Jumped across the chasm on the
trained pony; and here was only the
nre escape. 1t was prosaic, but prac-
tical.
Milly started to her feet. with ner-
vous haste she ran to the wardrobe.
took down her frilled and bowed best
nat and her velveteen coat. Aunt
Esther dressed her spectacularly for
advertising purposes. And now she
must nave money. Aunt Esther col
iected the salaries-her's and Emmer-
lines; but Milly knew where she hid
the red Japanese Jar she used as the
FAMILY bank. qualm OF conscience
smote her. II don't care" she said