Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-25

I'd the soft voice. 1.-THE dress Is SO pref.
ty. such shoes, the coat and everything.
I won't have to be ashamed again, not
ever again, for the Limberlost is full
of precious moths, and l can always
rollect them. The Bird Woman will
buy more tomorrow, and the next day,
and the next. When they are all gone
l can spend every minute gathering
rocoons and hunting other things can
sell. Oh. thank God for my precious,
precious money! Why. I didn't pray In
vain after all! thought when asked
the Lord to hide me, there in that big
hall, that he wasn't doing it because
| wasn't covered from sight that in
,tant. But I'm hidden now; feel
that" Elnora lifted her eyes to the
beams above her. Il don't know much
about praying properly" she muttered,
''but l do thank you. Lord, for hiding
me in your own time and way"
Her face was so bright that 1t shone
with white yadiance. Two big tears
welled from her eyes and rolled down
her smiling cheeks. "Oh, do feel
that you have hidden me- she breath
ed. Then she blew out the lights,
and the little wooden bed creaked un-
der her weight.
Pete Corson dropped from the limb
and found his way to the road. He
stood still long time, then started
back to the Limberlost. A tiny point
of light flashed in the region of the
case. He stopped with an OATH
Another hound trying to steal from
a girl" he exclaimed. But it's likely
he thinks If he gets anything it will be
from a woman who can afford it. as l
did"
He went on. but beside the fences
and very cautiously.
Swamp seems to be alive tonight"
he muttered That's three Of us out"
He entered a deep place at the north
west corner, sat on the ground. and,
taking pencil from his pocket, he
tore a leaf from little notebook and
laboriOusly wrote few lines by the
light he carried. Then he went back
to the region Of the case and waited.
Before his eyes swept the vision Of the
slender white creature with tossi
hair. He smiled and worshiped it until
distant rooster family announced
dawn.
Then he unlocked the case again and
replaced the money, laid the note upon
1t and went back to concealment,
where he remained until Elnora came
down the trail in the morning, looking
very lovely In her new dress and hat.
She had had great struggle with
her hair. 1t crinkled, billowed and
shone, and she could not avoid seeing
the becoming frame 1t made around
her face. But In Difference to her
mothers feelings the girl set her teeth
and bound her hair close to her head
with shoestring. "Not to be changed
Mt the case," she told herself.
That her mother was watching she
was unaware. Just as she picked up
the beautiful brown ribbon Mrs. Com
stock spoke.
you had better let me de that. You
rant reach behind yourself and do it
rght-
Elnora gave a little gasp. Her moth
n never before had proposed to dc
anything for the girl that by any pos
sibility she could do herself. Her
heart quaked at the thought of how
her mother would arrange that bow,
but Elnora dared not refuse. The offer
was too precious. 1t might never be
made again.
"Oh. thank your said the girl. and,
hitting down, she held out the ribbon.
Her mother stood back and looked at
her critically.
you haven't got that like Mag Sin
ton had It last night" she announced.
"You little idiot! You've tried to plas-
ter 1t down to suit me, and you missed
It. liked 1t away better as Mag fixed
It after l saw 1t. You didn't look so
peeled"
When Elnora looked in the glass the
bow was perfectly tied, and how the
gold tone of the brown didomatch the
iuster Of the shining hair! Just then
Wesley Sinton came to the door.
Good morning." he cried heartily.
'Elnora. you look a picture. My, but
you're sweet If any Of them city boys
get sassy you tell your Uncle Wesley
and he'll horsewhip them. Here's your
Christmas present from me-" He
handed Elnora the leather lunch box,
with her name carved across the strap
in artistic lettering
"Oh, Uncle Weseyw and that was
Ill Elnora could say.
"Your Aunt Maggie filled it for me
for starter" he said. Now, II you
are ready I'm going to drive past your
way and you can ride almost to Ona.
basha with me and save the new shoes
that much"
Elnora slipped the strap and turned
back the lid. This disclosed the knife
fork, napkins and spoon, the milk fla sh
and the interior packed with dainty
sandwiches wrapped in tissue paper
and the little compartments for meat
salad and the custard cup.
"Oh. motherw cried Elnora ooh
mother, isn't 1t fine? What made 70,
think Of 1t, Uncle Wesley? How will
ever thank you? No one will have
hner lunch box than I. Oh, d.
thank you. That's the incest gift
ever had. How l love Christmas II
September"
ITS a mighty handy thing" assent
ed Mrs. Comstock. taking in every de
tail with sharp eyes. II guess you ar
Cad now you went and helped Mai
and Wesley when you could, ElnoraT