Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-08-20
CHAPTER |.
Wherein EInora Goes to High School.


her daughter.
"Why. motherY" faltered the girl.
Don't you why mother me-. cried
Mrs. Comstock. "You know very well
what l mean. You've given me no
peace until you've had your way
about this going to school business.
I've fixed you good enough, and you're
ready to start. But no child Of mine
walks the streets Of Onabasha looking
like q play actress woman. You wet
your hair and comb 1t down modest
and decent aud then be or or you'll
have no time to find where you be,
long"
Elnora gave one despairing glance
at the white face. framed In most
becoming riot Of reddish brown hair,
which she saw In the little kitchen
mirror. Then she united the narrow
black ribbon, wet the comb and plas-
tered the waving curls close to her
head, bound them fast, pinned ON the
skinny black hat and started for the
back door.
Mrs. Comstock watched the girl
down the long walk to the gate and
out of sight on the road In the bright
sunshine of the first Monday Of Sep.
tember.
81 bet a dollar she gets enough OF 1t
by night Mrs. Comstock said posi-,
lively.
Elnora walked by instinct. for her
eyes were blinded with tears. She left
the road where 1t turned south ut the
corner of the Limberlost. climbed 8
snake fence and entered path worn
by her own feet. Dodging under vii
low and scrub oak branches. she al
last came to the faint outline of an
old trail made in the days when the
precious timber Of the swamp was
guarded by armed men. This path she
followed until she reached thick
clump of bushes. From the debris In
the end Of hollow log she took key
that unlocked the paddock Of a large
weather beaten old box. inside Of which
lay several books. butterfly appara
tus and an old cracked mirror. The
walls were lined thickly with gaudy
butterflies, dragon flies and moths. She
set ND the mirror. and. once more pull
Ing the ribbon from her hair, she shook
the bright mass over her shoulders
tossing It dry in the sunshine. Then
she Strengthened 1t. bound 1t loosely
and replaced her hat. She tugged vain
" at the low brown calico collar and
gazed despairingly ut the generous
length of the narrow skirt she lifted
It as she would have liked It to be cut
II possible. That disclosed the heavy
leather high shoes. at sight Of which
she looked positively III and hastily
dropped the skirt. Locking the case
again, she hid the key and hurried
down the trail.
She followed It around the north enc
of the swamp and then struck into
| footpath crossing farm IN the direc
tion of the spires of the city to tn
northeast. Again she climbed q fenc
| and was on the open road. For an IL
stant she leaned against the fence. stai
ing before her. then turned and locke
back. Behind her lay the land O
which she had been born to drudger
and mother who made no pretens
of loving her. Before her lay the cit!
through whose schools she hoped I
find means Of escape and the way I
reach the things for which she care1
When she thought Of how she locke
she leaned more heavily against tn
fence and groaned. When she though
Of turning back and wearing sue
clothing in ignorance all the days 9
her life she set her teeth drmly an
went hastily toward onabasha.
She approached the great stone big
school building. entered bravely an
INQUIRED her way to the office OF tn
Superintendent. There she learned tna
she should have come the week befof
and arranged for her classes.
81 finished last spring at Brusnwoo
school, district No. O." said Einors
II have been studying ill summer.
am quite sure ! can do the nrst yee