19.

My plan was to catch the 1:40 A.M. Transcontinental Bus going West. After all, the way things were now, I almost had to leave the Village. I had been shamed before all the girls that day and the whole Village knew that now I was a girl! Women and girls loved the whole idea, some would scorn me and some would love me but the male population would of course avoid me like death if and when Miss Cora and Alice took me down Main Street! As the gym teacher had said: "Men and boys will be terrib- ly ashamed when they see Elsie as they will associate his category with themselves and to see another male in petticoats will shame them, it will most likely do a lot of good for the Village. Of course when they see Elsie coming, when they see 'her' they will cross to the other side of the street. So, away I went to go West!

Alas, I was a block from the bus station when out of the dark as I was half blinded by a street lamp, came that wash woman and her daughter! I was grabbed and was leaving! They

at once they knew by my bag that I took my arms and marched me home. Miss Cora and Alice were surprised to say the least when they came to ans- wer the loud pounding, plus the ringing of the bell!

I had offered to pay, or anything to get away from these people and I was honestly ready to sneak back to my room and forget the whole thing.

Inside, I confessed everything and they understood how I had this compulsion to get away and they believed me when I told them I would never do such a thing again. How I sobbed as Miss Cora helped me undress. I was cry- ing my heart out and Miss Cora said: "Well, dear, I know how it was, but glsie, to impress you that I mean business, you will be thrashed in the wood shed tomorrow. You will have to admit that you deserve this!" I did have to admit this and I sort of felt that I would even the balance and pay Miss Cora for my silly attempt if I was taken in disgrace to the wood shed.

The next morning at breakfast Alice and Miss Cora were