Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-22

big yellow Emperors she would get
check for $500. but she would not get
It until these specimens were secured.
She remembered that she never had
found an Emperor before June.
Moreover. that sum was for her first
year in college. Then she would be of
age, and she meant to sell enough Of
her share of her fathers land to finish.
She knew her mother would oppose her
bitterly in that, for Mrs. Comstock had
chung to every acre and tree that be-
longed to her husband. Her land was
almost complete forest where her
neighbours owned cleared farms dotted
from beneath her holdings. but she was
too absorbed IA the grief she nursed to
know or care The tuxes for the Brush
wood road and the redredging Of the
great Mmbevost ditch had been more
than she could pay from her income,
and she had trembled before the wicket
Us she asked the banker II she had
funds to pay 1t and wondered why he
laughed asAle assured her she had, for
Mrs. Comstock had spent no time on
compounding interest and never added
the sums she had been depositing
through nearly twenty years. Now she
thought her funds were almost gone.
and every day she worried over ex-
penses. She could see no reason in
going through the forms of graduation
when pupils had all in their heads that
was required to graduate. Elnora
knew she had to have her diploma in
order to enter the college she wanted
to attend. but she did not dare utter the
word until high school was finished. for
instead Of softening, as she hoped her
mother had begun to do. she seemed to
remain very much the same.
When the girl reached the swamp
she sat on log and thought bitterly
over the absolute expense she was
compelled to meet. Every member OF
her particular set was having an ex-
pensive photograph taken to exchange
with the others. Elnora loved these
girls and boys. and to say she could
not have their pictures to keep was
more than she could bear. Each one
would give to all the others a hand.
some graduation present. She knew
they would prepare gifts for her wheth
er she could make present in return
or not. Then 1t was the custom fol
each graduating class to give q great
entertainment and use the funds te
present the school with statue fol
the entrance hall. Elpora had beer
cast for and was practicing part ir
that performance. She was expected
to furnish her dress and personal ne
cessities. She had been told that she
must have a green dress. And where
was 1t to come from?
Every girl Of the class would hav'
three beautiful new frocks for com
mencement-one for the baccalaureat'
sermon, another, which could be plain
er. for graduation exercises. and ,
handsome one for the banquet and ball
Elnora faced the past three years ant
wondered how she could have spent 81
much money and not kept account o
1t. She did not realize where 1t hat
gone. She did not know what sh
|
photographs and at last settled tina
question to her satisfaction. She stud
led longer over the gifts, ten handsome
ones there must be, and at last decided
she could arrange for them. The greer
dress came first. The lights would b.
dim In the scene and the setting dec
woods. She could manage that. Sh
simply could not have three dresses
She would have to get very simpl
one for the sermon AID do the best sh
could for graduation. Whatever sh
got for that must ;e made with
guimps that could be taken out T.
make it a little more festive for tn
ball. But where could she get eveI
two pretty dresses7
The only hope she could SEQ was II
break into her collection, sell SOM
moths aud try to replace them II
June. But she knew that never woul'
do. No June ever brought Just tn
things she hoped. II she spent the col
leGe money she knew she could not re-
place 1t. If she did not the only wa.
was to try for room in the grade
and teach year. Her work there hat
been so appreciated that Elnora fel
with the Recommendation she knew sh
could get from the superintendent ant
teachers she could secure position.
She wanted to start to college whel
the other girls were going. II she coul'
make the first year alone she coul'
manage the rest. But make that frs
year herself she must Instead OF sell
ing any Of her collection, she mus
hunt as she never before had hunte'
and find a yellow Emperor. She had t
have It, that was all. Also, she had t.
have those dresses. She thought o
Sinton and dismissed II She though
Of the Bird Woman and knew sh
could not tell her. She thought o
every way in which she ever had hope'
to earn money and realized that viii
the play. committee meetings. prac
ticing and final examinations sh
scarcely had time to live, much less t
do more work than the work require'
for her pictures and gifts. Again FL
nora was in trouble, and this time 1
seemed the worst of all.
1t was dark when she arose ant
went home.
Mother" she said. II have a piec