Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-08-27

through what she suffered yesterday
and will suffer again today and let hss
know you did 1t on purpose. admire
your nerve. But I've watched this
since Elnora was born. and got
enough. Things have com9 TO pass
where they 60 better for hsr OF In.
terfere."
As II you'd ever do0s anything but
interfere all her life! Think I haven't
watched you? Think /. with my heart
raw in my breast and too numb to re-
sent It openly. haven't seen you and
Mag Sinton trying to turn Elnora
against me day after dayi When did
you ever tell her what her fathse
meant to met When did you ever try
to make her see the wreck Of my life
and what I've suffered1 No. indsedr
Kate Comstock, that's unjustr' cried
sinton. "Only last night tried to
show her the picture saw the day she
was born. begged her to come to
you and tell you pleasant what she
needed and ask you for what happen
to know you can well afford to give
her.
II can'tw cried Mrs. Comstock. "You
know I cantr'
Then get 10 you CAM" said Wesley
einton. ANY day you say the word
you can sell $1,000 worth Of rare
timber OF this place easy. I'll zee to
clearing and working the fields chesp
% dirt. for Elnora's sake III buy you
moro cattle to fatten. All you've eos
to do 10 sign lease to pull Thousands
from the ground In oil. as the rest OF
Us are doing all around you"
"Cut down Roberts trsssr' shrieked
Mrs. Comstock. 'Tear up his landi
Cover everything with horrid, greasy
oil! I'll die 6rst!"
"You mean you'll let Elnora 60 Hike
q beggar and hurt and mortify her past
bearing. I've got to the place where I
tell you plain what ] am going to DO.
Maggie and went to town last night
and We got what things Eln0ra needs
most urgent to make her look Q little
IKE 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
II won't!'
"rhen I 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, III she is 50
much like you that she won't do that
III 20 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'.w 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 1t,
but you do love Elnora! You can't
help It! You must see how she needs
things. Come, help US Hx them and
be friends. Maggie and couldn't live
without her, and you couldn't either.
You've got to love such a fine girl az
she is. Let 1t show little"
"You can hardly expect me to love
her." said Mrs. Comstock eoldly. 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. II I ever 60 they
carry me. II they touch one tree or
put down one greasy old oil well II
will be over all I can shoot before
they begin. Now, see how quick you
can clear out Of here"
"You won't come and help Maggie
with the dressT
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 Geld
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 Wes-
ley eheerfully as they entered.
That quieted Margaret's apprehen-
sion a little, though she had some
doubts. Wesley prepared the lunch,
and by 4 o'clock the pretty dress was
finished as far as 1t possibly could %
until Il was fitted on ElnOra.
fro H Continued