Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-25

III ever she finds out that thing you'll
lose her, and 1t will serve you right"
"She knows 1t now" said Mrs Com.
stock icily. land she'll be home tonight
just us usual"
"Well. you IRE a brave woman If you
dared put a girl Of Elnoras make
through what she suffered yesterday
and Will suffer again today and let her
know you did it on purpose. admire
your nerve. But I've watched this
since Elnora was born. and got
enough. Things have come to II pass
where they 20 better for her or in.
terfere"
AS If you'd ever done anything but
I interfere all her life. Think I haven't
watched you? Think |. with my heart
raw In my breast and too numb to re-
sent 1t openly. haven't seen you and
Mag Sinton trying to turn Elnora
against me day after day? When did
you ever tell her what her father
meant to me? When did you ever try
to make her see the wreck Of my life
/ and what I've suffered? No. indeed.'
Kate Comstock, that's unjust" cried
/ Sinton. only last night tried W
show her the picture saw the day she
was born. begged her to come to
! you and tell you pleasant what she
needed and ask you for what | happen
to know you can well afford to give
her."
II can't" cried Mrs. Comstock. "You
! know | cant"'
Then get so you CAM said Wesley
/ Sinton. ANY day you say the word
you can sell $4,000 worth of rare
timber Off this place easy. III see to
clearing and working the fields CHEAP
as dirt. for Enora's sake I'll buy you
more cattle to fatten. All you've got
! to do is sign a lease to pull thousands
| from the ground in oil. as the rest OF
us are doing all around you
Cut down Roberts trees" sb Kicked
Mrs. Comstock Tear up his land!
! Cover everything with horrid, greasy
oil! I'll die FIRST
"You mean youll lex Elnora 90 like
q beggnr and hurt and mortify her past
bearing. Nv" got to the place where |
tell you plain what am going to do.
Maggie and went TO town last night.
and We got what things Enora needs
most urgent to make her look little
! like the rest Of the high school girls
Now here 1t is in plain English. You
can help get these things ready and
let us give them to her as we want
"She won't tvuch them" cried Mrs
Comstock.
Then you can pay us, and she can
take them as her right
Il WON'T
Then 1 will tell Elnora just what
you are worth. what you can afford
Nnd how much of this she owns. III
loan her the money to buy books and
decent clothes. and when she is of age
she can sell her share and pay me-
Mrs. Comstock gripped a chair back
and opened her lips, but no words
came.
And Sinton continued, IF she is SC
much like you that she won't do that
Ill go to the county seat and lay com
plant against you as her guardian be
fore the judge. I'll swear to what you
are worth and how you are raising her
and have you discharged or have the
judge appoint some man who will see
that she Is comfortable. educated and
decent looking
"You-you wouldnt.' gasped Mrs
Comstock.
Il won't need to. Kate" said Sinton,
his heart softening the instant the hard
words were said. You won't show it,
but you do love Elnora. You can't
help it. You must see how she needs
things. Come. help us fix them and
be friends. Maggie and couldn't live
without her, and you couldn't either
You've got to love such a fine girl rs
she is. Let IT show n little.'
"You can hardly expect me to love
her. said Mrs. Comstock coldly. "But
for her man would stand bnck of me
now who would beat the breath out of
your sncaking body for the cowardly
thing with which you threaten me.
After all I've suffered you'd drag me
to court and compel me to tear up
Roberts property. II | ever go they
carry me- If they touch one tree or
put down one greasy old oil we'll 1t
will be over all can shoot before
they begin. Now. see how quick You
can clear out of here.
you won't come and help Maggie
with the dress
For answer Mrs. Comstock looked
about swiftly for some object on which
to lay her hands. Knowing her tenn
per- Wesley Slnton left with all the
haste consistent with dignity. But
he did not go home. He crossed a Held
and in an hour brought another neigh
Dor who was skillful with her needle.
With sinking heart Margaret saw them
coming.
Kate is too busy to help today. She
can't sew before tomorrow" said Yves
ley cheerfully as they entered.
That quoted Margaret's apprehen-
sion little. though she had some
doubts. Wesley prepared the lunch,
and by 4 O'Clock the pretty dress was
finished as far as it possibly could be
until it was fitted on Elnora.
CHAPTER v.
Wherein Mrs. Comstock Laughs the