Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-08-27
A GIRL
OF THE
|LIMBERLOST
By
GENE STRATTON.PORTER
Copyright. 1909. by Doubleday. Page
q Co.
(cuNTINUED.)
Copyright. 1909. by Doubleday. Page
& Co.

[cONTISUEp.]
Wesley Sinton walked down the roat
half mile and turned in at the lnn
leading to his home. His heart wa
hot and filed with indignation. He hat
told Elnora he did not blame her moth
or. but he did. His wife met him at th'
door.
did you see anything of Elnora
Wes!eyT she questioned.
"Most too much. Maggie" he an
swered. What do you say to going
to town? There's a few things has
to be got right away"
"Where did you see her. Wesley?"
"Along the old Limberlost trail. my
girl. torn to pieces sobbing. Her cour
age always has been fine. but the thing
she met today was too much for her
We ought to have known better than
to let her 90 that way. l ought to
have gone in and seen about this
school business. I'm no man to let O
fatherless girl run into such trouble
Don't cry. Maggie. Get me some sup
per and I'll hitch up and see what we
can do now"
What can we do. Wesley"
II don't Just know. But we've got
to do something. Kate Comstock will
be q handful, while Elnora will be two.
but between US we must see that the
girl is not too hard pressed about
money and that she Is dressed SO she
Is not ridiculous. She's saved Us the
wages Of a woman many q day. Can't
you make her some decent dresses.
Maggie7"
well. I'm not just what you call
expert. but l could beat Kate Com
stock all to pieces. l know that skirts
should be plated to the band instead
of gathered and full enough to sit in
and short enough to walk In. I could
try. There's patterns for sale. Let's
60 right away. Wesley"
well. set me a bite Of supper while
/ hitch up"
They drove toward the city through
the beautiful September evening. and
as they went they planned for Elnora.
The only trouble was not whether
they were generous enough to get what
she needed. but whether she would ac-
cept what they got and what her moth
er would say.
They went to n large dry goods store,
and when q clerk asked what they
wanted to see neither Of them knew.
50 they stepped to one side and held a
whispered consultation.
What had we better get, WesleyT
"Biest If | know!" exclaimed Wes-
ley. II thought you would manage
that. I know about some things I'm
going to get"
at that Instant several schoolgirls
came into the store and approached
them.
"There! exclaimed Wesley breath
lessly. "Thcrc, Maggie! Like them!
That's what she needs! Buy like they
have!."
Before she knew 1t Margaret was
among them.
Il beg your pardon. girls. but won't
you wait minute!" she asked.
The girls stopped with wondering
faces
Its your clothes" explained Mrs
Sinton. You look just beautiful to
me. You look exactly as ! should have
wanted to see my girls They both
died of diphi heria when they were Ut
tie. II they mad lived they'd been near
your age now. aud Id want them to
look like you know u girl who
would be Just as pretty IN any OF you
II she had the clothes. but her mother
does not thi"k about her. so ] got to
mother her some myself"
"She must be u lucky GIRL" said one
girl.
"Oh. she loves me-" said Margaret,
"and love her want her to look
lust like you do Please tell me about
your clothes. Are these the dresses
and hats you wear to school? What
lind Of goods are they and where do
you buy them?
The girls began to laugh and cluster
around Margaret Wesley Sinton strobe
down the store with bis head high In
pride Of her. but bis heart was sore
over the memory Of two little faces
under Brushwood sod. He inquired
his way, to the shoe department.
Why. every one Of US have on ging-
ham or linen dresses" they said. "and
they are our school clothes"
For a few moments there was a
babel Of laughing voices explaining to
the delighted Margaret that school
dresses should be bright and pretty.
but simple and plain and until 'coA
weather they should wash
III tell YOU" said Ellen Brownlee,
my father owns this store. ! know
all the clerks. I'll take you to Miss
Hartley. You tell her just how much
you want to spend and what you want
to buy. and she will know how to get
the most for your money"
That's the very thing" agreed Mar
garet. But before you 60 tell me
about your hair. Elnora's hair Is
bright and wavy, but yours Is silky
as hackled fax. How do you do itF"
"ElnoraY' asked four girls In con-
cert.
"Yes; Elnora is the name Of the girl
I want these things for"
"Did she come to the high school to-
day?" questioned one Of them.
"Was she In your classes?" demand
ed Margaret without reply.
Four girls stood silent and thought
fast. Had there been a strange girl
among them. and had she been over
looked and passed by with indiner-
ence because she was 80 very shabbyF
II she had appeared as much better
than they as she had looked worse
would her reception have been the
same?
There was a strange girl from the
country In the freshman class today"
said Ellen Brownlee. "and her name
was Elnora."
..Tbat was the girl" said Margaret.
.Are her people 30 very poorr" ques-
toned Ellen.
mo, not poor at all. come to think
of r." answered Margaret Its a Pc
culiar case. Mrs. Comstock had a
ereat trouble, and she let It change