The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-10-31

/ tfunk OF Tue TREE. tie TcHCneu W anu
noiselessly swung himself up. Three
steps out on the big limb the man
shuddered. lie was within few feet
Of the girl
Elnora closed the book and laid Il
aside. She picked up towel and.
turning the gathered ends OF her hair.
| rubbed them across II and. dropping
the towel on her lap. tossed the hair
again. Then she sat In deep thought.
BY and by words began to come softly.
/ Near as he was the man could not
hear at first. He bent closer and
listened intently.
Fever could be so happy" murmur-
ed the soft voice. The dress Is so pref
ty, such shoes, the coat and everything.
I won't have to be ashamed again, not
ever again. for the Limberlost Is full
Of precious moths, and I can always
collect them. The Bird Woman will
buy more tomorrow. and the next day.
and the next. when they are all gone
I can spend every minute gathering
cocoons and hunting other things can
sell. oh. thank God for my precious.
precious money! Why. l didn't pray In
vain after ALI thought when asked
the Lord to hide me. there In that big
hall. that he wasn't doing It because
l wasn't covered from sight that In.
slant But I'm hidden now; | feel
that" Elnora lifted her eyes to the
beams above her. II don't know much
about praying properly" she muttered,
"but do thaAs you. Lord. for hiding
me In your own time and way"
Her face was so bright that II shone
with white radiance. Two big tears
welled from her eyes and rolled down
her smiling cheeks. "Oh, I do feel
that you have hidden me- she breath
ed. Then she blew out the lights,
and the little wooden bed creaked I'M
der her weight.
Pete Corson dropped from the limb
and found his way to the road. He
stood still a long time. then started
back to the Limberlost. A tiny point
Of light flashed In the region of the
case. He stopped with an oath.
Another hound trying to steal from
a girl" he exclaimed But it's likely
be thinks II he gets anything 1t will be
from a woman who can afford II, as
did"
He went on, but beside the fences
and very cautiously.
Swamp seems to be alive tonight"
he muttered. That's three Of us out"
He entered a deep place at the north
west corner. sat on the ground, and.
taking a pencil from his pocket, he
tore leaf from a little notebook 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 swept the vision of the
slender white creature with tossing
hair. He smiled and worshiped 1t until
O distant rooster family announced
dawn.
Then he unlocked the case again and
replaced the money. laid the note upon
1t and went back to concealment.
where he remained until Elnora came
down the trail In the morning, looking
very lovely In her new dress and hat
She had had a great struggle with
her hair. 1t crinkled. beloved and
shone, and she could not avoid seeing
the becoming frame 1t made around
her face. But In Difference to her
mothers feelings the girl set her teeth
and bound her hair close to her head
with a shoestring. mot to be changed
at the case" she told herself.
That her mother was watching she
was unaware. Just as she picked up
the beautiful brown ribbon Mrs. Com
stock spoke.
"You had better let me tie that. You
can't reach behind yourself and do 1t
right"
Elnora gave little gasp. Her moth
er never before had proposed to do
anything for the girl that by any pos
sibillty she could do herself. Her
heart quaked at the thought of how
her mother would arrange that bow.
but Elnora dared not refuse. The offer
was too precious. II might never be
made again.
ooh. thank your said the girl. and.
sitting down. she held out the ribbon.
Alti btOOu UdNh uhu ~
her critically.
"You haven't got that like Mag Sin.
ton had 1t last night" she announced.
"You little idiot! You've tried to plas-
ter It down to suit me. and you missed
II. liked 1t away better as Mag fixed
It after I saw 1t. You didn't look SO
peeled"
When Elnora looked In the glass the
bow was perfectly tied. and how the
gold tone of the brown did match the
luster Of the shining hair! Just then
Wesley Sinton came to the door.
"Good morning." he cried heartily.
"Elnora. you look a picture. My. but
you're sweet II any Of them city boys
get sassy you tell your Uncle Wesley
and he'll horsewhip them. Here's your
Christmas present from me-" He
handed Elnora the leather lunch box.
with her name carved across the strap
In artistic lettering.
ooh. Uncle Wesleyr' and that was
all Elnora could say.
"Your Aunt Maggie filed II for me
for a starter" he said. "Now. II you
are ready I'm going to drive past your