The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-10-26

WAele Ac was COuluS 1rOm. f1eO
been to see Elvira Carney. They had
plans to go to dance that night
"Close your lips!'' said Mrs. Com
stock In voice Of deadly quiet.
"You know wouldn't dare open
them If was not telling you the truth.
1t was hot in the woods, and I stopped
at Carney's as I passed for a drink.
Elvira's bedridden old mother heard
me, and she was so crazy for some one
to talk with stepped in minute. I
saw Robert come down the path. Hl-
vira saw him, too, and she ran out Of
the house to head him off. He brought
her his violin and told her to get ready
and meet him in the woods with it that
night and they would go to dance.
She took it and hid it in the little loft
to the wellhouse and promised she'd
CO."
Are you done?" demanded Mrs.
Conlstock.
mo. am going to tell you the whole
story. You don't spare Elnora any
thing. 1 shan't spare you. went to
Elvira, told her what knew and made
her give me Comstock's violin for FL
nora over three years ago. She's been
playing 1t ever since. / won't see her
slighted and abused another day on
account Of a man who would have bro
ken your heart If he had lived. He was
one Of those men who couldn't trust
himself, and so no woman was safe
with him. Now, will you drop griev-
ing over him and do Elnora justice?"-
Mrs. Comstock gripped the hoe tight
er, and, turning, she went down the
walk and started across the woods to
the home Of Elvira Carney. With
averted head she passed the pool, stead
lily pursuing her way. Elvira Carney,
hanging towels across the back fence,
saw her coming and went toward the
gate to meet her. Twenty years she
had dreaded that VISIT Mrs. Comstock's
face and hair were so white that her
dark eyes seemed burned into their
setting. Silently she stared at the wo-
man before her long time.
Il might have saved myself the trou-
BILE Of coming" she said at last. II see
you are guilty as SIM
what has Mag Sinton been telling
you?" painted the miserable woman,
gripping the fence.
1.-The TRUTH answered Mrs. Com
stock succinctly. "Guilt is in every
line Of your face, In your eyes, all over
your wretched body"
III you knew what I've suffered!"
"SuRered?" jeered Mrs. Comstock.
''That's interesting. And pray. what
have you suffered?"
"An the neighbors have suspected
and been down on me. amt had a
friend. I've always felt guilty of his
death! I've seen him go down a thou
sand times, plain as ever you did;
Many's the night I've stood on the
other bank of that pool and listened
to you, and I tried to throw myself In
to keep from hearing you, but L didn't
dare. knew God would send me to
burn forever, but I'd better done it,
Tor now he has set the burning on my
body, and every hour 1t is slowly eat
ing the life out Of me. The doctor
says it's a cancer
Mrs. Comstock exhaled long breath.
Her grip on the hoe relaxed, and her
stature lifted to towering height.
II didn't know or care when I came
here just what did," she said. But
my way is beginning to clear. If the
guilt Of your soul has come 70 a head
In a cancer on your body, it looks az
If the Almighty didn't need any Of my
help in melting out his punishments.
I really couldn't fix up anything to
come anywhere near that. If you are
going to burn until your life goes out
with that sort of fire, you don't owe
me anything.
If you will gather lot Of red clover
bloom and make tea strong as lye Of
It and drink quarts I think likely it
will help you, II you are not too far
gone. Anyway, it will cool your blood
and make the burning easier to bear"
Then she swiftly walked home. En-
ter the lonely cabin she could not,
neither could she sit outside and think.
She attacked bed Of beets and hoed
until the perspiration ran from her
face and body, then she began on the
potatoes, When she was too tired to
take another stroke she bathed and
put on dry clothing. In securing her
dress she noticed her husbands care
fully preserved clothing lining one
wall. She gathered it in great arm
load and carried it out to the swamp.
Piece by piece she pitched into the
green nav Of the quagmire all those
articles she had busted carefully and
fought moths from for years and stood
watching as it slowly sucked them
down. She went back to her room
and gathered every scrap that had in
any way belonged to Robert Com
stock, excepting his gun and revolver,
and threw it into the swamp. Then
for the first time she set her door
wide open. .- -.