Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-29


Fiuttering Around.
Pete slipped several more moths into
he bag.
Now. that's FIVE, Mrs Comstock."
Ae said. I'm sorry. but you'll have to
make that do. You must get out of
acre lively. Your lights will be taken
for hurry calls. and inside the next
hour couple of men will ride here
like fury"
"Well, III see them make me co."
said Mrs. ComstOck. I've got Roberts
revolver in my dress and | can shoot
as straight as any man II I'm mad
enough. Any one that interferes with
me tonight will find me mad aplenty.
There goes another
We are close to the old case" said
be we could slip the rest in there"
That's Il fine ideal" said Mrs. Com
stock. They'll have 30 much room
there they won't be likely to hurt them
selves. and the books say they don't
fly in daytime unless they are dis
turbed. so they will settle when it's
light, and l can come with ElnOra to
get them
They captured two more. and then
Pete carried them to the case.
Here comes big onew he cried as
he returned.
Mrs. Comstock looked up and stepped
out with a prayer on her lips. She
could not tell the color at that distance,
but the moth appeared different from
the others. On it came, dropping lower
and darting from light to light. AS it
swept near her. "Oh, heavenly Father"
exulted Mrs. Comstock, cts yellow!
Careful! Pete. yoSr hat, maybe!"
Pete made long sweep. The moth
wavered above the hat and sailed
away. In its flight 1t came straight to-
ward Mrs. COmstock. She snatched or
the remnant Of apron she had tucked
into her petticoat band and held the
calico before her. The moth struck full
against it and chung to the goods. Pete
crept up stealthily. Another moth
followed the first. and the spray show
cred the apron.
Wait" gasped Mrs. ComstOck. II
think they have settled. The books say
they won't leave now"
Now. shall II" questioned Pete.
mo. Leave them alone They are
safe now. They are mine. They are
my salvation. God and the Limberlost
gave them to me! They won't move
for hours. The books all say So Oh,
Heavenly Father. | am thankful to
you. and you. too, Pete COrson! You
are good man to help me. Now.
can go home and face my girl
Elnora had sat by the window far
Into the night AT last she undressed
and went to bed, but sleep would not
come. She had gone to the city to
talk with members of the school board
about room in the grades. There
was possibility that she might secure
the moth and 50 he able to start Ia
! college that fall, but if she did not,
then she wanted the school. She had
been given some encouragement. but
she was SO unhappy that nothing mat.
tered. Yet Margaret Sinton had ad.
vised her to go home and try once
. more. Unable to sleep she arose at
last, and the room being warm, she
sat on the floor by the window. The
lights In the swamp caught her eye
She was very uneasy. for quite 1OC
of her best moths We're in the case.
She hurried down the stairway softly
calling Ler mother. There was nc
answer She lightly stepped across the
sitting room and looked In at the open
, door. There was no one. and the bed
had not been used. Her first thought
was that her mother had gone to the
pool. and the LimberlOst was alive
with signals. Pity and fear mingled
In the heart of the girl. She opened
the kitchen door. crossed the garden
and ran back to the swamp. AS she
neared it she listened. but she could
hear only the usual voices of night
"MOther!" she called softly, then
louder "Mother!" She returned home
The time was dreadfully long before
she heard her mothers voice.
Mrs. Comstock entered. dragging hel
heavy feet. In one hand she held the Ian
tern, and in the other. stiffiy extended
before her, on wad Of calico. reposed
magnificent pair Of yellow Emperors
"Shall put these others In the kitten
: en?" inquired mans voice.
Tho girl shrank back to the shadows
Eyes. anywhere inside the door, re
piled Mrs. Comstock as she moved
few steps to make way for him. Pete''
bend appeared. He set down TN
! moths and was pona