Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-18
ard for the cup. and do It up brow,

tHTu IOT Tie cup uhu Wv ~ "p ~'~"'
Go on. Maggie. you do IT.
II never can" said Margaret Il am
slow as the itch about sewing. and
these are not going to be plain dresses
when 1t comes to making them. There
are going to be edgings Of plain green.
pink and brown to the bias strips and
tucks and pleats about the hips, fancy
belts and collars, and all Of 1t takes
time"
"Thcn kate Comstocks got to help"
said Wesley. Can the two Of you
make one aud get that !uEch tomor-
row."
Easy. but she'll never do ity'
"You see IL she doesn'tw said Wesley.
"You set up and cut It out, and soon as
Elnora is gone I'll 20 after Kate my
self. She'll take what I'll say better
alone. But she'll come, and she'll help
make the dress. These other things
are our Christmas gifts to Elnora.
She'll no doubt need them more now
than she will then. and we can give
them Just as well. That's yours, and
this Is mine, or whichever way you
choose"
Wesley united good brown umbrel.
la and shook ont the folds Of long
brown ,n,ncoas Margaret dropped the
hat. arose and took the coat. She tried
it on. felt 1t, cooed over it and matched
1t with the umbrella.
Did 1t looJ; anything like rain to-
night" she inquired 60 anxiorsly that
Wesley laughed.
"And this last bInd.e?" she said.
dropping back In her chair, the coat
still over her shoulders.
II couldn't buy this much stuff for
any other woman and nothing for my
own" said WoslnJ. It's Christmas
for you. too, Margaret He shook out
fold after fold of soft gray satiny goods
that would look lovely against Marga.
rets pink cheeks and whitening hair
"Oh. you old darling" she exclaimed
and fed sobbng into his arms.
at O'Clock next morning Elnora was
Smelling beans. At she fed chickens
and pigs, swept two of the rooms OF
the cabin. built fire and put on the
kettle for breakfast. Then she climbed
the narrow stairs to the attic she had
occupied since very small child and
dressed in the hated shoes and brown
alico. plastered down her crisp curls
ate what breakfast she could and, pin
ming on her hat. started for town.
There Is no sense in your going for
an hour yet" said her mother.
II must try to discover some way to
earn those books replied Elnora. II
am perfectly positive shall not find
them lying along the road wrapped in
tissue paper and tagged with my
name"
She went toward the city az on yes
terday. Her perplexity as to where
tuition and books We're to come from
was worse, but she did not feel quite
so badly. She never again would have
to face all Of it for the first time She
had been through it once and was yet
living. There had been times yester.
day when she had prayed to be hid
den or to drop dead. and neither had
happened. Il guess the best way to
get an answer to prayer is to work for
it." muttered Elnora grimly.
In an Onabasha book store she ask
ed the prices Of the list OF books that
she needed and learned that SO would
not quite supply them. She anxiously
inquired for second hand books, but
was told that the only way to secure
them was from the last years fresh
men.
do you wish these?" asked the clerk
hurriedly, for the store was rapidly
filling with school children wanting
anything from dictionary to u pen.
Yes" gasped Elnora. "oh, yes! But
cannot pay for them just now. Please
let me take them. and | will pay fol
them on Friday or return them as per
feet as they are. Please trust me fol
them few days"
The clerk looked ut her doubtfully
and took her name.
IN ask the proprietor" he said
When he came back Elnora knew the
answer before he spoke.
I'm sorry" he said. but Mr. Ham
doesn't recognize your name. You are
not u customer Of ours. and he feels
that he can't take the risk. You'll
hSr. to bring tie money"
Elnora dumped out Of the store, tn,
thump Of her heavy shoes beating as
hammer on her brain. She tried two
other houses with the same result an(
then in sick despair came into thu
street. What could she do? She wa:
too frightened to think.
There 1t stood In bank window II
big black letters staring straight al
her: