The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-04-11


fact that there was books and tuition
unexpected, and nothing will ever
make ne believe you didn't know that,
Kate Comstock.'
IF any doubts are troubling you on
that subject, sure I knew it! She was
SO anxious to try the world l thought
I'd just let her take few knocks and
see how she liked It,"
''As If she'd ever taken anything but
knocks all her lifer' cried Wesley Sin
ton. "Kate Comstock, you are heart
less, selfish woman. You've never al
lowed Elnora any real love in her life.
If ever she finds out that thing you'll
lose her, and it will serve you right"
"She knows it now" said Mrs. Com
stock icily. "and she'll be home tonight
just as usual"
"We!l, you are brave woman If you
dared put a girl of Elnora's make
through what she suffered yesterday
and will suffer again today and let her
know you did it on purpose. admire
your nerve. But I've watched this
since Elnora was born, and I got
enough. Things have come to a pass
where they go better for her or I in
terfere''
"As If you'd ever done anything but
interfere all her life! Think I haven't
watched you? Think 1, with my heart
raw in my breast and too numb to re-
sent it openly, haven't seen you aud
Mag Sinton trying to turn Elnora
against me day after day? When did
you ever tell her what her father
meant to me? When did you ever try
to make her see the wreck Of my life
and what I've suffered? No, fndeedT
'Kate Comstock, that's unjust!" cried
Sinton. ''Ouly last night I tried to
show her the picture 1 saw the day she
was b I'm. l begged her to come to
you and tell you pleasant what she
needed and ask you for what I happen
to know you can well afford to give
her"
IT can'tv' cried Mrs. Comstock. "You
know / can'tv'
''Then get so you cant" said Wesley
Sinton. "Any day you say the word
you can sell $4,000 worth Of rare
timber off this place easy. I'll see to
clearing and worl<ing the fields cheap
as dirt, for Elnora's sake. I'll buy you
more cattle to fatten. All you've got
to do is sign lease to pull thousands
from the ground In oil. as the rest Of
us are doing all around you"
"Cut down Roberts trees! shrieked
Mrs. Comstock. '"Tear up his land!
Cover everything with horrid, greasy
oil! I'll die frst!"
"You mean you'll let Elnora go like
a beggar and hurt and mortify her past
bearing. I've got to the place where
tell you plain what I am going to do.
Maggie and I went to town last night,
and we got what things Elnora needs
most urgent to make her look little
like the rest of the high school girls.
Now here it is in plain English. You
can help get these things ready and
let US give them to her as we want
'She won't touch themw cried Mrs
Comstock.
"Then you can pay US, and she can
take them as her right
Il won'tv'
''Then 1 will tell Elnora just what
you are worth, what you can afford
and how much Of this she owns. I'll
loan her the money to buy books and
decent clothes, and when she is Of age
she can sell her share and pay me-"
Mrs. Comstock gripped chair back
and opened her lips, but no words
came.
''And," Sinton continued, "if she is SO
much like you that she won't do that
I'll 60 to the county seat and lay COM
plant against you as her guardian be-
fore the judge. I'll swear to what you
are worth and how you are raising her
and have you discharged or have the
judge appoint some man who will see
that she is comfortable, educated and
decent looking!"
"You-you wouldn't" gasped Mrs.
Comstock.
Il won't need to, Katew said Sinton,
his heart softening the instant the hard
words were said. You won't show it,
but you do love Elnora! You can't
help it! You must see how she needs
things. Come, help us fix them and
be friends. Maggie and couldn't live
without her, and you couldn't either.
You've got to love such fine girl as
she is. Let it show a hitler
you can hardy expect me to love
her." said Mrs. Comstock colby. "But
for her a man would stand back OF me
now who would beat the breath out of
your sneaking body for the cowardly
thing with which you threaten me.
After all I've suffered you'd drag me
to court and compel me to tear up
Roberts property. If l ever go they
carry me. If they touch one tree or
put down one greasy old oil well it
will be over all I can shoot before
they begin. Now. see how quick you
can clear out of herew
"You won't come and help Maggie
with the dress?
For answer Mrs. Comstock looked
about swiftly for some object on which
to lay her hands. Knowing her tenn
per, Wesley Sinton left with all the
haste consistent with dignity. But
he did not go home. He crossed field
and in an hour brought another neigh
Dor who was skillful with her needle.
With sinking heart Margaret saw them
coming.
'Kate is too busy to help today. She
can't sew before tomorrow" said Yves