The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-15
Copyright, 1909, by Doubleday,
 Pase . ceeWpany.


 CContinued.)
 'He's spent all the money to ge' 0runk, too, said the boy, "and Jimm. and Belle are both crying for break. fast. I'd "a got out all right with al apple for myself, but tried to ge some for them, and the dog got to, close Say, you can just throw, can, your
 "Yes," admitted Elnora. She poured half the, milk into the cup. "Drinl this," she said, holding it to him. The boy gulped the milk and swort joyously, gripping the cup with shak ing fingers.
 'Hushr cried Elnora. 'That's dread fulw
 Whats dreadfulT
 'sTo say such awful woriis.''
 'Huh. pa says worser 'an that every breath he draws"
 Elnora stared into the quaint little face and saw that the child was older than she had thought. He might have been forty by his hard, unchildish ex- pression. he "Do you want to be like your fa- therT
 No; want to be like you. Couldn't a angel be prettier 'an you! Can l have moro milk?'
 Elnora emptied the flask. The boy drained the cup. He drew a breath of satisfaction as he gazed into her face. "You wouldn't go of and leave your little boy. would your' he asked.
 "Did some one go away and leave youy. questioned Elnera in return.
 Yes; my mother went of and left me and left Jimmy and Belle, too,' little boy, would you?''
 sNo." The boy looked eagerly at the box. Elnora lifted sandwich and uncover ed the fried chicken The boy gasped with delight.
 Say, I could eat the stun in the glass and the other box and carry the Belle" he offered.
 Elnora silently uncovered the GUS tard with preserved cherries on tor and handed it and the spoon to the Slild- Never did food disappear faster The salad went next, and a sandwich and half a chicken breast followed.
 'I better leave the rest for Jimmy and Belle." he said. ''They're list fight in hungry"
 Elnora gave him the remainder o1 the carefully prepared lunch. The boy clutched it and ran with a sidewise hop like wild thing.
 Elnora covered the dishes and cup polished the spoon. replaced 1t and closed the beautiful case. She caught her breath fin a tremulous laugh
 eff Aunt Margaret knew that she'l never forgive me-" she said. 't1t seem as if secrecy is literally forced upol me, and hate it. What will do fo lunch? I'll have to go sell my arrow and keep enough money for a restau rant sandwich"
 So she walked hurriedly into town sold her points at good price, deposit ed her funds and went away with neat little bank book and the not from the Limberlost carefully folde, inside. Elnora passed down the grea hall that morning, and no one paid tn slightest attention to her. The trutl was she looked so like every one els that she was perfectly inconspicuous But in the coat room there were mem bers of her class. Surely no one ir tended it, but the whisper was to loud.
 Look at the girl from the Limbel lost in the clothes that woman gay herr'
 Elnora turned on them. "I beg you pardon, g she said unsteadily; "I couldn' help hearing that! No one gave m these clothes. I paid for them my self"
 Some one muttered. Pardon me, but incredulous faces greeted her.
 Elnora felt driven. Aunt Margare selected them, and she meant to, giv them to me-" she explained, but wouldn't take them. paid for then myself" There was a dead silence.
 Don't you believe me?" panted El nora.
 Really, it is none of our affair."" sai, another girl. Come on; let's go." {. Elnora stepped before the girl wh had spoken. "You have made thi your affair."" she said, because yo1 told thing which was not true. N one gave me what I am wearing. paid for my clothes myself with none. earned selling moths to the Birt Woman I just came from the banl where deposited what did not use Here is my credit" Elnora drew ou and offered the little red book. "Sure ly you will believe that" she said.
 "Why, of course," said the girl who first had spoken. "We met such { lovely woman In Brownlee's store, ana