The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-15

scattered. LOOK along the renee tnere and see if you can find where he came ln."
 The place was easy to find as was trail leading for some distance west of the cabin.
 "You just go home and don't fret yourself said Mrs. COmstock. '1'll 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 coals in the cooking stove, got out the lunch box, and, sit ting down, she studied it gr1mly. At last she arose.
 Wonder how it would do to show Mag Sinton a frill or two," she mur- mured.
 Mrs. Comstock was up early and without a word handed Elnora the luncheon case 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 un- til well around the corner, then she stopped and sat on grassy spot, laid her books beside her and opened the lunch box. She scarcely could believe her senses. Half the bread compart- ment was filled 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- tained 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 fresh napkin in the ring. Nc lunch was .ever daintier or more palatable Of that Elnora was perfectly sure. And her mother had prepared 1t for her.
 She glanced around her and then to her old refuge, the sky. "She does love mer' cried the happy girl. "Sure as I you're born she loves me; she just hasn't found 1t out yetv' 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 confident smile.
 "We brought you something! he an- nounced without greeting. 'This is Jimmy and Belle-and we brought you you present"
 He offered parcel wrapped in brown paper.
 'Why, how lovely of your' said El. nora. q supposed you had forgotten me when you ran away so fast yester. day."
 ''Naw, I didn't forget you," said the boy. "I wouldn't forget you, not ever! Why, I was ist a-hurrying to take them things to Jimmy and Belle. My. they was gladr'
 Elnora glanced at the children. They sat on the edge of the bridge. obviously clad in a garment each, very dirty and unkempt, a little boy and girl o1 about seven and nine. Elnora's heart began to ache.
 Say" said the boy. faint you going to look what we have gave you"
 "T thought it wasn't polite to lool before people," answered Elnora. 70 course will if you would like to hav' me-"
 Elnora opened the package. Sh had been presented with a quarter 0 stale loaf of bakers bread and ;
 big piece of ancient bologna.
 'But don't you want this your selves?" she asked in surprise.
 "Gosh, no! I mean ist plain no, said the boy. "We always have ii
 We got stacks this morning. Pa
 come out of it now, and he's so SOFT. he got more 'an ever we can eat. Hav you had any beforeY' I t'No," said Elnora, 'T never did" I The boys eyes frightened and tn girl moved restlessly.
 I we thought maybe you hadn't,
 said the boy. First you ever have you like it real well, but when yol
 don't have anything else for a lon, time, years an years. you git so tired