Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-25
CHANGING natural conditions had A.
fected such work ana specimens were

the last quarter Of the fourth year she
almost tainted whom she learned that
all her funds were gone. Commence
ment, with its extra expense. was COM
ing. She had no money and very few
cocoons to open In June. which would
be too late. She had one collection for
the Bird Woman complete to pair of
Imperialis moths, and that was her
only asset. On the day she added these
big yellow Emperors she would get a
check for $500. but she would not get
It until these specimens were secured.
She remembered that she never had
found an Emperor before June.
Moreover. that sum was for her first
year In college Then she would be OF
age, and she meant to sell enough of
her share Of her fathers land to finish.
She knew her mother would oppose her
bitterly in that, for Mrs. Comstock had
chung to every acre and tree that be-
longed to her husband. Her land was
almost complete forest where her
neighbors owned cleared farms dotted
with wells that every hour sucked oil
from beneath her holdings, but she was
too absorbed in the grief she nursed to
know or care. The taxes for the Brush
wood road and the redredging OF the
great Limberlost ditch had been more
than she could pay from her income,
aud she had trembled before the wicket
as she asked the banker If she had
funds to pay it and wondered why he
laughed as he assured her she had. for
Mrs. Comstock had spent no time on
compromising interest and never added
the sums she had been depositing
through nearly twenty years Now she
thought her funds We're almost gone,
and every day she worried over ex-
penses. She could see no reason In
going through the forms of graduation
when pupils had all in their heads that
was required to graduate. Elnora
knew she had to have her diploma TN
order to enter the college she wanted
to attend. but she did not dare utter the
word until high school was finished. for
instead of softening, as she hoped her
mother had begun to do, she seemed to
remain very much the same.
When the girl reached the swamp
she sat OH log and thought bitterly
over the absolute expense she was
compelled to meet. Every member OF
her particular set was having an ex-
pensive photograph taken to exchange
with the others. Elnora loved these
girls and boys, and to say she could
not have their pictures to keep was
more than she could bear. Each ono
would give to all the others hand
some graduation present. She knew
they would prepare gifts for her wheth-
er she could make present in return
or not. Then 1t was the custom for
each graduating class to give great
entertainment and use the funds to
present the school with statue for
the entrance hall. Einora had been
that performance. She WAS expected
to furnish her dress and personal ne.
cessities. She had been told that she
must have n green dress. And where
was it to come from?
Every girl Of the class would have
three beautiful new frocks for COM
mencement--one for the baccalaureate
sermon, another. which could be plain
er, for graduation exercises. and
handsome one for the banquet and ball.
Elnora faced the past three years and
wondered how she could have spent 80
much money and not kept account of
it. She did not realize where 1t had
gone She did not know what she
could do now. She thought over the
photographs and at last settled that
question to her satisfaction. She stud
fed longer over the gifts. ten handsome
ones there must be, and at last decided
she could arrange for them. The green
dress came first. The lights would be
dim in tho scene and the setting deep
woods. She could manage that. She
simply could not have three dresses
She would have to get a very simple
one for the sermon and do the best she
could for graduation. Whatever she
got for that must be made with a
guimpe that could be taken out to
make It a little more festive for the
ball. But where could she get even
two pretty dresses?
The only hope she could see was to
break into her collection, sell some
moths and try to replace them in
June. But she knew that never would
do. No June ever brought just the
things she hoped. II she spent the col
lege money she knew she could not re-
place it. If she did not the only way
was to try for room in the grades
and teach q year Her work there had
been so appreciated that Elnora felt
with the recommendation she knew she
could get from the superintendent and
teachers she could secure position.
She wanted to start to college when
the other girls were going. If she could
make the first year alone she could
manage the rest. But make that first
year herself she must. Instead Of sell
ing any Of her collection, she must
hunt as she never before had hunted
and find a yellow Emperor. She had to
have 1t, that was all. Also, she had to
have those dresses. She thought Of
Sinton and dismissed 1t. She thought
Of the Bird Woman and knew she
could not tell her. She thought of
every way In which she ever had hoped
to earn money and realized that with
the play, committee meetings, prac-
ticing and final examinations she
scarcely had time to live, much less to
do more work than the work required
for her pictures and gifts. Again Ell
nora VISA in trouble. and this time 1t