A Girl of the Limberlost

ingham and the intricate paper pattern she had purchased. Wesley cooked the breakfast

cautioned Margaret. "I don'

but she's got to take it some way. That dress ha

y step nearer to her he approached his position seemed less enviable. By the time he reached the front gate and started down the walk between the rows of

aid. "Did Margaret se

t a job that's too big for he

how lonely the previous day had been, or how the endless hour

s his

hering, and with unexpected visitors for years. We've made out that she's saved us a considerable sum, and as she wouldn't ever touch any pay for anything, we just went to town and got a few cloth

n't look above your boots while you explain it," sneered Mrs. Comstock. "Wesley Sinton, what put the

s eyes came

ome to me all her life with her little hurts, and she couldn't hide how she'd been laughed at, twitted, and run face to face agains

new it! She was so anxious to try the world, I thought I'd

mstock, you are a heartless, selfish woman. You've never shown Elnora any real love in h

Comstock icily, "and she'll be

will suffer again to-day, and let her know you did it on purpose. I admire your nerve. But I've watched this si

inton trying to turn Elnora against me day after day? When did you ever tell her what her father meant to me? When did you ever try to make her see the wreck of my life, and what I've suffer

picture I saw the day she was born. I begged her to come to you and tell you pleasant w

Mrs. Comstock. "Y

place easy. I'll see to clearing and working the fields cheap as dirt, for Elnora's sake. I'll buy you more cattle to fatten.

omstock. "Tear up his land! Cover everythi

going to do. Maggie and I went to town last night, and we bought what things Elnora needs most urgent to make her look a little like the r

ch them!" crie

s, and she can take

won

nd how much of this she owns. I'll loan her the money to buy books and d

chair-back and opened he

nt against you as her guardian before the judge. I'll swear to what you are worth, and how you are raising her, and hav

dn't!" gasped

u do love Elnora! You can't help it! You must see how she needs things; come help us fix them, and be friends. Maggie and

for the cowardly thing with which you threaten me. After all I've suffered you'd drag me to court and compel me to tear up Robert's property. If I ever go they carr

and help Maggie

esley Sinton left with all the haste consistent with dignity. But he did not go home. He crossed a field, and i

he can't sew before to-morrow," sai

e lunch, and by four o'clock the dress was finished as far as it possibly could be until it w

, and they went to Mrs. Comstock's. As they reached the step, Margaret spoke pleasantly to Mrs. Comstock, wh

the door and went in

word I said to you, or you said to me. She's not so very strong, and she's sewed since four o'clock

, Mag Sinton?" dem

say so," proudly a

esley. "Wait till Elnora comes. Then we'll

t she says without bribing

o-day, she can bear 'most anything," said Wesley. "P

d Margaret, "for I have to baste in the sleeves and s

et and bundles, placed them insi

k's impassive face were set and cold. So they sat while the clock ticked off the time-one hour, two, dusk, and no Elnora. Just when Margaret and Wesley were discussing whether he had not better go to town to meet E

open the door,

double, the whole front of her dress gathered into a sort of bag filled with a heavy l

poiled my dress and will have to wash it. I'm to clean them, and take them to the banker in the morning, and oh, mother, I've sold enough stuff

d. "I was just wondering how I'd ever wait to tell you, a

Elnora," s

ree days, I didn't know what in this world I could do quickly enough. Just when I was almost frantic I saw a sign in a bank window asking for caterpillars, cocoons, butterflies, arrow points, and everything. I went in, and it was this Bird Woman who wants the insects, and the banker wants the stones. I had to go to school then, but,

to do that, Elnora?

a blu

nd a girl brought the books. Because they are marked and abused some I get the whole outfit for two dollars. I can erase most of the marks, paste down the covers, and fix them so they look better. But I must hurry to the joy part. I didn't stop to eat, at noon, I just ran to the Bird Woman's, and I had lunch with her. It was salad, ho

aves and bits of baked earth from her dress. She reached into her

r the books and tuition and-" Elnora hesitated, for she saw the nervous grasp with which her mothe

are so dreadfully heavy and hot, and they make such a noise on the floor. There isn't another calico dress in

ce was beaming. "Have you taken to waists all fancy

ss right away and try it on, and if it fits, it will

Isn't it too splendid! I was just thinking on the way home that I certainly would be compelled

avy dress skirts and a coat

a lot more stuff, and all winter on the way to school. I am sure I can sell ferns, I know I can nuts, and the Bird Woman says the gr

d for the bedroom. When she opene

many interesting bundles in all my life. I'm 'skeered' to death f

u could not pay for them, Elno

lnora. "People have no right to wear

aggie and Wesley!" Mrs. Comstoc

. "From a stranger sooner than from them, to w

taste. You can pay as long as your money holds out, and if there's more necessary, maybe I can sell the butcher a calf, or if things are too costly

he door. Mrs. Comstock picked up the bucket and sta

going to wash th

tter if they are clean, so it can be s

em seem quite baked. Shall I put them to soa

ora. "If you would just f

n the west end of the cabin which overlooked the well. A suppressed sound be

g like a blamed monkey!"

t help it!" exc

home!" sa

It is to get these things in Elnora's possession past dispute. You go now, and to-morrow Elnora will wear c

going to do?

yet, myself,"

shaking and strangling to suppress any sound. The word that slipped between Margaret Sinton's lips shocked Wesley until he dropped on his chair, and recalled her to her s

e kitchen. "You know more about it than I do. Go ahead! I'm getting

goods last night; it can be made t

e told Elnora to heat some water. After she

t came

ourse, you have seen this, but you ha

head until your hair is washed an

to wash my hair? I thought it was t

ou can eat your supper, and this dress will be finished. Then you can put on your new ribbon, and your hat. You can try your shoes now, and

wiftly, and a little later opened th

s holding up her skirts and ste

, else you're sure they

eel. He and Margaret thought them a fit, and then Elnora appealed to her mother. Mrs

d, "but they are away too f

nstantly. "We had better take th

mstock. "They are so pretty, I hate to part w

t scarcely breathe

Elnora's shoulders and washed and dried the lovely hair according to the instructions she had been given the previo

ut, and dry it. Then part it in the middle and turn a front quarter on each side from your face. You tie the back at your neck with a string-so, and the ribbon goes in a big, loose bow. I'll show you." One after another Mar

be warm enough for cold weather, and

u dry. I thought I would get one, and a warm sweater to wear under it cold days. Then I always would be dry, and warm.

omstock. "You can change more with the

said Margaret. "It will have to

ously. "Mother, may I wear my

od look," said Ka

ith its pink tints, its heavy dark brows, its bright blue-gray eyes, and its frame of curlin

n't suppose it cuts much ice whether it's tied a little tighter or looser,"

isite peacock quills at one side. Margaret Sinton cried out, Wesley slapped

fore you put that on," she said im

? I had them take off the quills, and put on some of those Phoebe Simms g

ked straight at Mrs. Comstock. Eln

cried. "Mother, look how beautifully they are set on!

m, that will make you a beautiful hat; dirt cheap, too! You must

ted her toe. "Landy, ain't I a queen?"

d a pair of top shoes for rainy days

won't do, and by taking two pairs at once I could get them some cheaper. The low one

Mrs. Comstock, "if they are

Christmas present from your Aunt Maggie. I got mine, too

d both of them. She brought a pencil and a slip of paper to set down the prices they gave her of everything they had brought excep

Wesley Sinton.

e!" called Mrs. Comstock fro

sley and Margaret talked all they could, while Mrs. Comstock said a word now and then, which was all she ever did. But Wesley Sinton was watching her, and time and again he saw a peculiar little twist

nd then the Sintons went home. Elnora gathered her treasures. When she started

tock. "I should think you'd lived with me l

ou in some way how happy

ock. "Mag Sinton chose that stuff an

e to have it, and you said you wou

y dress skirts about Thanksgiving, and I still can get them. Go to bed, and f

ng-room floor for a time and then went into her room and closed the door. Sitting on the edge of the bed sh

Wesley Sinton. Neither of them had

n! Did you ever feel like a bloomin', con

ight, and really she was right, and so it had to bring her. She's a darling, Wesley! But she's got a time before her. Did you see Kate Co

laugh left in her yet! I didn't s'pose there was. Bet you a dollar, if w

pped in the road

feel those clothes, and pore over her books till morning, but she'll look

. Ten to one, she makes her fini

that much money in her pocket, an armful of books, and buy a turnout like that, she proves that she is of some consideration, and Kate's smart enough. She'll think twice before she'll do that. Elnora won't wear a calico dress to high school again.

what they would cost her. Surely, she's mistaken about being able to pay all that. Can she pick up stuff

he money, for bugs and butterflies, and I've known people who sold that banker Indian stuff. Once I heard that his

them. Now they are going to bring her the very thing she wants the worst. Lord, but this is a funny world when you get to studying! Looks like things didn't all come by accident. Looks as if there was a plan back of it, and somebody drivin

ough to put in a few questions that sort of guided Elnora. But I don't know, Wesley. This thing makes me think, too. S'pose we'd taken Elnora when she was a baby, and we'd heaped on her all the love we can'

ave done anything but love her. You can't hurt a child loving it. She'd have learned to w

seen of her mother hasn't hardened her. She can understand any mother's sorrow. Living life from the rough side has only broadened her. Where's the girl or boy burning with shame, or struggling to find a way, that will cross Elnora's path and not get a

learned her lesson, same as I did. She learned that I was in earnest, that I would haul her to court if she didn't loosen up a bit, and she'll loosen. You see if she doesn't. It may come hard, and the hinges creak, but she'll fix Elnora decent after this, if Elnora doesn't prove that she can fix herself. As for me, I found out that what I was doing was as much for myself as for E

t. Then she slipped into her white nightdress, shook down her hair that it might become thoroughly dry, set a chair before the table, and reverently opened one of the books. A stiff draught swept the attic, for it stretched the length of the cabin, and had a window in each end. Elnora arose and going to the east window closed it. She stood for a minute looking at the stars, th

ulking figure of a man

les's room this evening," he

light flashed from the tiny electric lamp on his vest. He took a duplicate key from his pocket, felt for the pad

vered the roll of bills hastily thrust back in the bottom of the case. He snatched them up, shut off the light, relocked the case by touch, a

e?" came the wh

aid the

your flash," he said. "I heard the Bird Woma

obably had the Comstock girl getting them for her. Heard they were together.

the second man, turning back i

ght the gleam from the window of the Comstock cabin, and he had

onally feeling the size of the ro

went to the swamp behind her home at night. At times a cry went up from that locality that paralyzed any one near, or sent them fleeing as if for life. He did not care to cross behind the cabin. He returned to the road, passed, and again climbed the fence. Oppos

ting, and it angered him. He cautiously crept closer. The elevation shut off his view. Then he remembered the large willow tree shading the well and branching across the window fit the west end of the cabin. From childhood

the two chairs, the uneven floor covered with rag rugs and braided corn husk. But nothing was worth a glance except the perfect face and form within reach by one spring through the rotten mosquito bar. He gripped the limb above that on which he stood, licked his lips, and breathed through his throat to be sure he was making no sound. E

d the next day, and the next. When they are all gone, I can spend every minute gathering cocoons, and hunting other things I can sell. Oh, thank God, for my precious, precious money. Why, I didn't pray in vain after all! I thought when I asked the Lord to hide me, there in that big h

eyes, and rolled down her smiling cheeks. "Oh, I do feel that you have hidden me," she b

ood still a long time, then started back to the Limberlost. A tiny poi

imed. "But it's likely he thinks if he gets anything

side the fences, a

to-night," he muttered.

ok, and laboriously wrote a few lines by the light he carried. Then he went back to the region of the case and waited. Before his eyes swep

n it, and went back to concealment, where he remained until Elnora came do