Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-08-22

Elnora arose, recklessly took a short
cut through the deep swamp grasses
and so reached the path ahead Of her
mother. Mrs. Comstock followed as
far as the garden, but she could not
enter the cabin. Margaret Sinton ap-
preached colorless and with such fam
ing eyes that Mrs. Comstock shrank
back.
whats the matter with Elnora's
face?' demanded Margaret.
Mrs. Comstock made no reply.
"You struck her, did you?"
II thought you wasn't blind!"
II have been for twenty long years
now, Kate Comstock," said Margaret
Sinton, "but my eyes are open at last.
What 1 see is that I've done you no
good and Elnora a big wrong. 1 had
an idea that it would kill you to know,
but l guess you are tough enough to
stand anything. Kill or cure, you get
1t now. You! The woman who don't
pretend to love her only child, and all
for a fool idea about a nan who
wasn't worth his salt!''
Mrs. Comstock picked up a hoe.
go right on" she said. empty
yourself. It's the last thing you'll
ever do"
"Then I'll make "a tidy job of it,"
said Margaret. you'll not touch me.
When Robert Comstock shaved that
quagmire out there so close he went
in, he wanted to keep you from seeing
where he was coming from. He'd
been to see Elvira Carney. They had
plans to go to a dance that night
"Close your lips!' said Mrs. Com
stock in a voice Of deadly quiet.
"4ou know 1 wouldn't dare open
them if I was not telling you the truth.
1t was hot in the woods, and I stopped
at Carney's as 1 passed for a drink
Elvira's bedridden old mother heard
me, and she was so crazy for some one
to talk with l stepped in a minute. I
saw Robert come down the path. FL
vira saw him, too, and she ran out of
the house to head him off. He brought
her his violin and told her to get ready
n meet him in the woods with it that
night and they would 90 to a dance.
She took it and hid it in the little loft
to the wellhouse and promised she'd
CO."
care you done?" demanded Mrs.
Conlstock.
NO. l am going to tell you the whole
story. You don't spare Elnora any
thing. l shan't spare O. 1 went to
E!vira, told her what 1 knew and made
her give me Comstock's violin for Ell
nora over three years ago. She's been
playing it ever since. I won't see her
sighted and abused another day on
account of Il man who would have bro
ken your heart if he had lived. He was
n OF those men who couldn't trust
himself, and so no Woman was safe
with him. Now, will you drop griev-
ing over him and do Elnora justice?'
Mrs. Comstock gripped the hoe tight
er. and, turning, she went down the
walk and started across the woods to
the home Of Elvira Carney. With
averted head she passed the pool, stead
lily pursuing her way. Elvira Carney,
hanging towels across the back fence,
saw her coming and went toward the
gate to meet her. Twenty years she
had dreaded that visit. Mrs. Comstock's
face and hair were so white that her
dark eyes seemed burned into their
setting. Silently she stared at the wo-
man before her a long time.
Il might have saved myself the trou-
BILE of coming" she said at last. II see
you are guilty as sin"
"What has Mag Sinton been telling
you?" painted the miserable woman,
gripping the fence.
"The TRUTH" answered Mrs. Com
stock succinctly. Guilt is in every
line of your face, in your eyes, all over
your wretched body"
"If you knew what I've suffered"
"Suffered:' jeered Mrs. Comstock.
That's interesting. And pray, what
have you sutfered?"
Cali the neighbors have suspected
and been down on me. I amt had q
friend. I've always felt guilty of his
death! I've seen him go down a thou
Sduu lilies, pld1u DIS oEeE you Olu.
Many's the night I've stood on the
other bank of that pool and listened
to you, and I tried to throw myself in
to keep from hearing you, but 1 didn't
dare. I knew God would send me to
burn forever, but I'd better done 1t,
for now he has set the burning OF my
body, and every hour it is slowly eat
ing the life out Of me. The doctor
says it's a cancer
Mrs. Comstock exhaled a long breath.
Her grip on the hoe relaxed, and her
stature lifted to towering height.
II didn't know or care when I came
here just what 1 did," she said. "But
my way is beginning to clear. If the
guilt of your soul has come to a head
IN a cancer on your body. it looks as
If the Almighty didn't need any Of my
help in melting out his punishments.
I really couldn't fix up anything to
come anywhere near that. If you are
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