Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-07-18

tree. He reached the low branches and
climbed the willow. There was earth
on the large limb crossing Elnora's
window. He stood on It, holding the
branch as had been done the night be-
fore, and looked into the room. He
could e very little, but he knew that
II 1t had been dark outside and sufn-
GENTLY light for Elnora to study inside
be could have e e wildly. He brought
his face close to the netting, and he
could e the bed with its head to the
east, al Its foot the table with the
candles and the chair before it, and
then he knew where the man had been
who had heard Elnora's prayer.
Mrs. Comstock had followed around
the corner and stood watching him.
do you think some Sinking hulk was
up there peekin' in at Elnora?" she
demanded Indignantly.
There Is muck on the trunk and
plenty OF the limb" said Sinton.
Hadn't you better get a saw and let
me take this branch off,"
mo, l hadn't" said Mrs. Comstock.
First place. Elnora's climbed from
that window or that limb all her life.
and It's hers; second place. no one gets
ahead of me after I've had warning.
Any crow that perches on that roost
again will get its feathers somewhat
scattered. Look along the fence there
and see if you can find where he came
in"
The place was easy to find as was a
trail leading for some distance west Of
the cabin. .E
"You just go home and don't fret
yourself" said Mrs. Comstock. "Ill
take care Of this. If you should hear
the dinner bell at any time in the night
you come down. But I wouldn't say
anything to Elnora. She best keep her
mind on her studies if she's going to
school,"
When the work was finished that
night Elnora took her books and went
to her room to prepare some lessons,
but every few minutes she looked to-
ward the swamp to see if there were
lights near the case. Mrs. Comstock
raked together the Goals in the cooking
stove. got out the lunch box, and, sit
ting down. she studied it grimly. At
last she arose.
Wonder how it would do to show
Mag Sinton a frill or two.' she MUIR
INJURED.
Mrs. Comstock was up early and
without a word handed Elnora the
luncheon cas- as she left the next
morning.
THANK you, mother" said Elnora
and went on her way.
She walked down the road, looking
straight ahead until she came to the
corner, where she usually entered the
swamp. She paused, glanced that way
and smiled. Then she turned and look
ed back. There was no one coming in
any direction. She kept to the road I'M
til well around the corner, then she
stopped and sat on a grassy spot, laid
her books beside her and opened the
lunch box. She scarcely could believe
her enses.-~H Half the bread compart-
ment was filed with dainty sandwich
es Of bread and butter sprinkled with
the yolk of egg and the rest with three
large slices Of the most fragrant spice
cake imaginable. The meat dish con-
tanned shaved cold ham, Of which she
knew the quality; the salad was toma-
toes and celery. and the cup held pre-
served pear. clear as amber. There
was milk in the bottle. two tissue
wrapped cucumber pickles in the fold
ing drinking cup and a fresh napkin in
the ring. No lunch was ever daintier
or more palatable. OF that Elnora was
perfectly sure. And her mother had
prepared it for her.
She glanced around her and then to
her old refuge. the sky. "She does love
mel" cried the happy girl. "Sure as
you're born she loves me: she just
hasn't found it out yeti"
She was to go to the Bird Woman's
after school for the last load from the
case. Saturday she would take the ar
row points and specimens to the bank.
That would exhaust her present sup
plies and give her enough money
ahead to pay for books, tuition and
clothes for at least two years. She
would work early and late gathering
nuts. In October she would sell all the
ferns she could find. She must collect
specimens Of all tree leaves before they
fell, gather nests and cocoons later and
keep her eyes wide open for anything
the grades could use. She would see
the superintendent that night about
selling specimens to the ward build
ings. She must be ahead Of anyone
else if she wanted to furnish these
things. So she approached the bridge.
That it was occupied could be seen
from a distance. AS she came up she
found the small boy Of yesterday
awaiting her with a confident smile.
"We brought you something!" he an
nounced without greeting. This is
Jimmy and Belle-and we brought you
you a present"
He offered a parcel wrapped in brown
paper.
"Why, how lovely Of you'll" said FL
nora. II supposed you had forgotten