The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-10-26
CONTINUED ,>,
lsc ~
HAAprER XVI


Elnora ran into the sitting room and
thrust the heavy kitchen towel into her
mothers hand. Mrs. Comstock swung
open the screen door and struck at
some object Elnora screamed wildly.
Don't, mother, dontv'
Mrs. Comstock struck again. Elnora
caught her arm.
TITS the one want! It's worth a lot
Of money! Don't! oh, you shall not!'
"Shan't, missy?' blazed Mrs. Com
stock. when did you get to bossing
me?"
a half circle and stopped at Elnora's
cheek. She staggered with the blow,
and across her face, pale with excite
ment, a red mark rose rapidly. The
screen slammed shut, throwing the
creature on the floor before them. In
stantly Mrs Comstock's foot crushed
It. Elnora stepped back. Excepting the
red mark, her face was very white.
''That was the last moth needed
she said, Ito complete a collection
worth $500. You've ruined it before
my eyes"
III I had known it was a MOTH
Mrs. Comstock wavered.
''They are what have paid for books,
tuition and clothes for the last four
years. They are what could have
started on to college. You've crushed
the last one I needed before my face.
You never have made any pretense of
loving me. At last I'll be equally frank
with you. hate you! You are sell
fish, wicked woman! hate you!
Elnora turned, went through the
kitchen and out the back door. She
followed the garden path to the gate
and walked toward the swamp a short
distance when reaction overlook her.
She dropped on the ground and leaned
against big log. When little child,
desperate as now, she had tried to die
bV holding her breath: ~: -.
As Elnora left the room Mrs. CON-
stock took one step after her.
You little huzzy!'' she gasped.
But Elnora was gone. Her mother
stood staring.
"She never did lie to me-" she NUT
tered. II guess it was a moth and the
only one she needed to get $500, she
said. I wish hadn't been 50 fast.
Pshaw! She can find another. Maybe
moths are like snakes, where there's
one there's two"
Mrs. Comstock took the broom and
swept the moth out of the door. So it
was from creatures like that Elnora
had got her school money. In one sick
ening sweep there rushed into the
heart Of the woman a full realization
Of the width Of the gulf which sepa-
rated her from her child.
eve are nearer strangers with each
other than we are with any OF the
neighbours" she muttered.
So one Of the Almighty's most deli
cate and beautiful creations was sacri-
feed without fulfilling the law, yet
none of its species ever served so glori-
Gus cause, for at last Mrs. Comstock's
inner vision had cleared. She went
through the cabin mechanically. Ev.
cry few minutes she glanced toward
the back walk to see If Elnora was
coming. She knew arrangements had
been made with Margaret to go to the
city some time that day, so she grew
more nervous and uneasy every mo-
ment.
Noon came, and she prepared dinner,
calling, as she always did, when Ell
nora was in the garden, but she got no
response, and the girl did not come. A
little after 1 o'clock Margaret stopped
1T the gate.
"Elnora has changed her mind. She
Is not going" called Mrs. Comstock.
You must be mistaken said Mar.
garet. II was going on purpose fol-
her. She asked me to take her. I had
no errand. Where is she?"
II will call her," said Mrs. Comstock
She followed the path again and this
time found Elnora sitting on the log
Her face was swollen and discolored
and her eyes red with crying. She paid
no attention to her mother.
Mag Sinton is here" said Mrs. Com
stock harshly. Il told her you had
changed your mind, but she said you
asked her to go with you, and she
had nothing to go for herself"
Elnora arose, recklessly took a short
cut through the deep swamp grasses
and so reached the path ahead of he1
mother. Mrs. Comstock followed Of
far as the garden, but she could not
enter the cabin. Margaret Sinton ap
preached colorless and with such fam
ing eyes that Mrs. Comstock shranl
back.
''What's the matter with Elnora's
face?" demanded Margaret.
Mrs. Comstock made no reply.
"You struck her, did your
II thought you wasn't blind!'
II have been for twenty long year,
now, Kate Comstock," said Margaret
Sinton, 'but my eyes are open at last
( What I see is that I've done you M
r good and Elnora a big wrong. I hal
\ an idea that it would kill you to know
but I guess you are tough enough t