Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-08-22
CHAPTER XIV.

~rehearsing her speech and did not care
to talk. Several times the girl tried
to tell him and realized that if she said
the first word it would bring a torrent
of tears. The Bird Woman opened the
screen and stared ~unbelievingly.
"Why, I thought you would be ready;
you are so late!!' she said. IF you
have waited to dress here we will have
&. to hurry"
II have nothing to put on" said Ell
nora.
In bewilderment the Bird Woman
drew her inside.
"Did-did'- she faltered, did you
think you would wear that?"
mo. I thought I would telephone
Ellen that there had been an accident
and 1 could not come. I don't know
yet how to explain. I'm too sick to
think. Oh, do you suppose 1 can get
something made by Tuesday so that I
a graduated"
"Yes, and you'll get something on
you tonight, so that you can lead your
class, as you have done for four years.
Go to my room and take off that ging-
ham quickly. Anna, drop everything
and come help me"
The Bird Woman ran to the tele-
phone and called Ellen Brownlee.
"Elnora has had IN accident. She
will be a little late" she said. "You
have got to make them wait. Have
them play an extra musical number
before the march"
Then she turned to the maid. "Tell
Benson to have the carriage at the
gate just as soon as he can get it there.
Then come to my room. Bring the
thread box from the sewing room, that
roll Of wide white ribbon on the cut
ting table and gather all the white pins
from every dresser in the house. But
first come with me a minute.
II want that trunk with the Swamp
Angels stuff in it from the cedar clos
et," she painted as they reached the top
of the stairs.
They hurried down the hall together
and dragged the big trunk to the Bird
Woman's room. She opened it and be-
gan tossing out white stuff.
Glow lucky that she left these
things!' she cried. "Here are white
shoes, gloves, stockings. fans, every
thing"
IT am all ready but a Dress" said
Elnora.
The Bird Woman began opening clos
cts and pulling out drawers and boxes.
II think 1 can make it this way" she
said.
She snatched up a creamy lace yoke
with long sleeves that recently had
been made for her and held it out.
Elnora slipped into it, and the Bird
Woman began smoothing out wrinkles
and sewing in pins. It fitted very well
with a little tapping in the back. Next,
from among the Angels clothing she
caught up a white silk waist with low
neck and elbow sleeves, and Elnora
put it on. 1t was large enough, but dis
t~ressingly short in the waist, for the
Angel had worn it at a party when
she was sixteen. The Bird Woman
loosened the sleeves and pushed them
to a puff on the shoulders. catching
them in places with pins. She began
on the wide draping Of the yoke, fas-
tening it front, back and each Shout
der. She pulled down the waist and
pinned it. Next came a soft white silk
dress skirt of her own. BY pinning her
waist band quite four inches above FL
nora's, the Bird Woman could secure a
perfect Empire sweep with the cling
ing silk. Then she began with the
wide white ribbon that was to trim a
new frock for herself, bound it three
times around the high waist effect she
had managed, tied the ends in a knot
and let them fall to the floor in a beau
tiful sash.
"Elnora," she said, forgive me-, but
tell me truly. Is your mother so ex-
~tremely poor as to make this neces-
sary"
mo-" answered Elnora. "she isis
different"
The Bird Woman turned the girl
facing the tall mirror.
"Oh!' painted Elnora. SIS that me?
You are a genius. Why, 1 will look as
well as any of them
The organ began rolling out the
march as they came in sight. Elnora
took her place at the head of the pro-
cession, while every one wondered.
Mrs. Comstock gripped her hands to-
gether and shut her eyes. 1t seemed
an eternity to the suffering woman
before Margaret caught her arm and
whispered: ooh, Kate! For any sake
look at her! Here! The aisle across"'
Mrs. Comstock' opened cher eyes and,
directing them where she was told,
gazed intently and slid down in her
seat on the verge Of a collapse. She
was saved by sMargarets tense grip
and her command, Here, idiot, stop
THAR
In the blaze Of light Elnora climbed
the steps to the palm embowered plat.
form. crossed 1t and took her place,