Oxford Democrat., 1912-09-03

welled from her eyes and rolled down
her smiling cheeks. "Oh, do feel
that you have hidden me,' she breath
ed. Then she blew out the lights.
and the little wooden bed creaked un
der her weight.
Pete Corson dropped from the lirh
and found his way to the road. lie
stood still q long time. then started
back to the Limberlost. \ tiny prii:
Of light flashed in the region OF tEg
case. He stopped with an cath.
Another hound trying to steal fro'l
a GIRL" he exclaimed. But it's li!:el.y
he thinks II he gets anything it will Dc
from q woman who can afford it. rs
did"
He went on, but beside the fences
and very cautiously.
Swamp seems to be alive tonight
he muttered. That's three OF Us out"
He entered a deep place ut the north
west corner, sat on the ground, aud.
taking a pencil from his pocket. he
tore q leaf from q little notebook and
laboriously wrote a few lines by the
light he carried. Then he went back
to the region Of the case and waited.
Before his eyes swept the vision Of the
slender white creature with tossing
hair. He smiled and worshiped 1t until
distant rooster family announced
dawn.
Then he unlocked the case again and
replaced the money, laid the note upon
1t and went back to concealmen,.
where he remained until E!nora canlc
down the trail in the morning, lookin.
very lovely in her new dress and Lat.
She had had a great struggle with
her hair. 1t crinkled. billowed and
shone, and she could not avoid seeing
the becoming frame it made around
her face. But In Difference 10 be
mothers feelings the girl set her teet!
and bound her hair close 10 her head
with q shoestrlng. mot to lie changed
ut the case" she told herself.
That her mother was watching she
was unaware Just as she picked Ii.
the beautiful brown ribbon Mrs. Cen.
stock spoke.
"You had better let me tie that. You
can't reach behind yourself ard do 1t
right"
Elnora gave little gasp. Her moth
er never before had proposed to do
anything for the girl that by any pos
sibility she could do herself. Her
heart Quaked at the thought Of how
her mother would arrange that bow,
but EInora dared not refuse. The offer
was too precious. 1t might never be
made again.
"Oh. thank your said the girl, and.
sitting down, she held out the ribbon.
Her mother stood back and looked at
her critically.
"You haven't pr' at like Mag Sin
ton had It last IL. 49," she announced.
"You little idiot! You've tried to plas-
ter It down to suit me, and you missed
II. liked 1t away better as Mag fixed
It after l saw 1t. You didn't look so
peeled"
When Elnora looked in the glass the
bow was perfectly tied, and how the
gold tone Of the brown did match the
Iuster Of the shining hair! Just then
Wesley Sinton came to the door.
Good morning." he cried heartily.
"Elnora, you look picture. My, but
you're sweet. II any Of them city boys
get sassy you tell your Uncle Wesley
and he'll horsewhip them. Here's your
Christmas present from pe." He
handed Elnora the leather lunch box,
with her name carved across the strap
In artistic lettering.
"Oh, Uncle Wesley~ and that was
all Elnora could say.
"Your Aunt Maggie filed 1t for me
for a starter" he said. "Now. II you
are ready I'm going to drive past your
way and you can ride almost to Ona-
basha with me and save the new shoes
that much"
Elnora slipped the strap and turned
back the lid. This disclosed the knife,
fork, napkins and spoon, the milk flask
and the interior packed with dainty
sandwiches wrapped In tissue paper.
and the little compartments for meat.
salad and the custard cup.
"Oh, mother! cried Elnora. "Oh,
mother, isn't 1t fne1 What made you
think Of It, Uncle Wesley? How Will
ever thank your No one will have
O finer lunch box than I. Oh, I do
thank you. That's the incest gift
ever had. How I love Christmas In
September"
"Its q mighty handy thing" assent
ed Mrs. ComstOck, taking In every de-
tail with sharp eyes. Il guess you are
glad now you went and helped Mag
and Wesley when you could. Elnora"
"Deedy, yes" laughed Elnora, "and
I'm going again first time they have a
big day II I stay out Of school to DO
it."
you'll do no such thing" said the
delighted sinton. Come now. If you're
going"
III I ride can you spare me time to
run into the swamp to my box just q
minutew asked Ellora.
The light she had seen the previous
night troubled her.
"Sure," said Wesley largely. BE was
having such a good time nothing could
hurry him. 30 they drove away and
left q white faced woman watching
them from the door, her heart just
| little sorer than usual.
"I'd give a pretty to hear what he'll
say to her." she said bitterly. al
ways sticking In, always doing things
I can't ever afford. Where on earth
did he get that thing and what did
1t costf'
i