The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-12-12

the last one ] needed befOre my race
You never have made any pretense OF
loving me. At last I'll be equally frank
with you. I hate youi You are a sci
nsh. wicked womsni hate your
Elnora turned. went through the
Kitchen and out the back door. She
followed the garden path to the gate
and walked toward the swamp q short
distance when reaction overlook her
She dropped on the ground and leaned
against a big log. When n little child.
desperate as now. she had tried TO die
by holding her brepth.
As Elnora left the room Mrs. Com.
stock took one step after her.
"You little huzzyr' she gasped.
But Elnora was gone. Her mother
stood staring.
"she never did lie TO me-" she nut.
tered. II guess II was moth aud the
only one she needed to get $500. she
said. I wish I hadn't been 80 fast.
Pshawl She can tind another. Maybe
moths are like snakes. where there's
one there's two"
luoh Tue
swept the moth out OF the door SO II
was from creatures like that Elnora
had got her school money. In one sick
ening sweep there rushed into the
henrt OF the woman a full reallzat ton
Of the width Of the gulf which sepa.
rated her from her child.
I'VE are nearer strangers with each
other than we are with any OF the
Deighbors." she muttered.
SO one OF the Almighty's most deli
cate and beautiful creations was sacri.
feed without fulfilling the law. yet
none OF its species ever served 80 glori-
Gus cause. for ut last Mrs Comstock's
inner visions had cleared. She went
through the cabin mechan ically. Ev-
cry few minutes she glanced toward
the back walk to see " Elnora was
coming. She knew arrangements had
been made with Margaret to go TO the
city some time that day, so she grew
more nervous and uneasy every mo
ment.
Noon came. and she prepared dinner,
calling, as she always did. when e.
nora was In the garden. but she got no
response. and the girl did not come. A
little after I o'clock Margaret stopped
at the gate.
"Elnora has changed her mind. She
Is not going" called Mrs. Comstock.
"You must be mistaken" said Mar.
garet. II was going on purpose for
her. She asked me to take her. I had
no Grand Where Is shei''
Il will call her." said Mrs. Comstock.
She followed the path again and this
time found Elnora sitting on the log.
Her face was swollen and discolored
and her eyes red with crying. She paid
no attention 10 her mother.
Mag Sinton is here" said Mrs. Com
stock harshly. II told her you had
changed your mind. but she said you
asked her to 20 with you, and she
had nothing to go for herself"
Elnora arose. recklessly took a short
cut through the deep swamp grasses
and so reached the path ahead OF her
far as the garden. but she could not
enter the cabin. Margaret sinton ap-
preached colorless and with such nam
ing eyes that Mrs Comstock shranf
back.
whats the matter with Elnora's
faceT demanded Margaret.
Mrs. Comstock made no reply.
"You struck her, did your
II thought you wasn't blindr'
81 have been for twenty long years
now, Kate Comstock," said Margaret
sinton, but my eyes are open at last
What ! see is that I've done you no
good and Elnora a big wrong. l had
an idea that II would kill you to know.
but guess you are tough enough To
stand anything. Kill or cure, you get
II now. You! The woman who don't
pretend to love her only child. and all
for fool idea about man who
wasn't worth his saltr'
Mrs. Comstock picked up a hoe.
go right on she said. Empty
yourself. It's the last thing you'll
ever do"
Then I'll make n tidy job OF It,"
said Margaret. You'll not touch me.
When Robert Comstock shaved that
quagmlre out there SO close he went
In. he wanted to keep you from seeing
where he was coming from. He'd
been to see Elvlra Carney. They had
plans to go TO dance that night
CLOSE your llpsr' said Mrs. Com
stock In a voice Of deadly quiet.
you know I wouldn't dare open
them II was not telling you the truth.
II was hot In the woods. and stopped
at Carney's as passed for drink
Elvira's bedridden old mother heard
me. and she was so crazy for some one
to talk with stepped In a minute.
saw Robert come down the path. e.
yira saw him, too, aud she ran out Of
the house to head him or. He brought
her his violin and told her to get ready
and meet him In the woods with IL that
night and they would go TO a dance.
She took II and hid IL In the little loft
to the wellhouse and promised she'd
go"
Are you done% demanded Mrs.
CoDlstock
NO. am going to tell you the whole
story You don't spare Elnora any
thing. shan't spare you. went 10