Overshadowed: A NovelGriggs, Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert)
General
Overshadowed: A Novel
Griggs, Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert)
African Americans -- Fiction
A LADY WHO DID NOT KNOW THAT SHE WAS A LADY.
"Ellen! Ellen! Oh, Ellen! Ellen Sanders!" Ellen Sanders, a belle in
Negro society, had just sat down to partake of a 10:30 A. M. breakfast
when she heard this call. She arose hastily and rushed to the diningroom
door that opened into the yard, and saw Margaret Marston, another Negro
society belle, leaning over the fence that separated her home from that
of Ellen. Margaret was holding a newspaper in one hand, one arm being
thrown over the paling to hold her up, as she was standing with her feet
upon the lower railing to which the palings were nailed. The look of her
eye, the appearance of her face, the shaking newspaper, and her almost
hysterical shrieks for Ellen, all betokened a high degree of excitement.
"Pray, Margaret! what on earth can be the matter? Why, you frightened me
nearly to death, girl. What on earth is it?"
"Ellen, do just come here. There is something in this paper that is just
too awful for anything."
"Let me see it," said Ellen, running to where Margaret stood. "Is
somebody dead?" she asked in anxious tones.
"Worse than that," said Margaret.
"I don't see anything, Margaret," said Ellen, scanning the paper with
the haste born of eagerness and excitement.
"Look up there at the top of the column headed, 'Situations wanted,' at
the very first advertisement. Oh Ellen, it is just dreadful," said
Margaret, as though her heart was about to break.
Ellen read the piece pointed out to her. The paper fell from her hand,
and without saying a word, she staggered backwards until she reached the
porch to the dining room from which she had come. She dropped down upon
the floor of the porch in a sitting posture, as though what she had read
had robbed her of all strength, and had shattered her nervous system.
Finally, drawing a long breath, she said:
"Well, well, well, did you ever! But I always did tell you that Erma
Wysong would come to some bad end. And just think! you used to like her
so well, too."
"Yes, I did, Ellen. But I am done now. Just think! she was the head of
our class when we were graduated at the High School, and thus she brings
disgrace upon our entire class. Ah, me! It is just too dreadful to think
about. It has actually made me sick. I really fear that I shall have to
go to bed from the shock," remarked Margaret.
"I don't feel like eating another mouthful of breakfast," said Ellen.
"But it may be that it is not our Erma," she continued.
"Yes, but it is! Don't you see that the advertisement refers you to her
street, number and all," replied Margaret.
"Well, all that I can say is, she is disgraced forever; and as for my
part, I don't purpose to ever speak to her again!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account