Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-29
CHAPTER XVII.
Wherein Mrs. Comstock Possesses the
LimberIost.

lin1borlost.
~1HEY shook hands, and Sinton
went down the road, while
Mrs. Comstock entered the cab.
In. She went to the supper To.
BILE. but she could not swallow food.
Then she heard the front screen. She
reached the middle door as Elnora
touched the foot Of the stairs.
Hurry and get ready, Elnora," she
said. "Your supper Is almost spoiled
now"
Elnora closed the stair door behind
her and for the first time in her life
threw the heavy lever which barred
out any one from downstairs. Mrs
Comstock heard the thud and knew
what it meant. She reeled slightly
and caught the doorpost for support
For few minutes she chung there.
then sank to the nearest chair. After
n long time she arose and, stumbling
half blindly, she put the food in the
cupboard and covered the table. She
took the lamp in one hand the butter
in the other and started for the spring
house. Something brushed close by
her face, and she looked just in time to
see a winged creature rise above the
cabin and sail away.
81 got to so where they are II get
them" muttered Mrs. Comstock.
She hurried into the cabin. set the
| lamp on the table and stood thinking
deeply. She went to the barn for the
pair of stout high boots she used in
| feeding stock IN deep snow. Throwing
the boots by the back door. she climbed
to the loft over the spring house and
hunted an old lard oil lantern and one
of first manufacture for oil. Both Of
these she cleaned and filed. She lis
tened until everything upstairs had
been still for over ha't hour BY that
time 1t was after Il O'CLOCK. Then she
took the good lantern from the kitchen,
the two old ones, Il handful OF matches,
ball of Irvine, and went from the
cabin, softly closing the door. She
skrted the back of the garden. crossed
q field and came out on the road. Soon
she reached the Limberlost. She hunt
ed until she found the old trail. then
followed it, stumbling over logs and
through climbing vines and grasses.
BY and by she began to see the wa
vering fight of something she thought
near the right size She had no idea
where she was, but she stopped, lighted
lantern and hung it as high as she
could reach. A little distance away she
placed the second and then the third.
Something large rs a small bird was
fluttering around. Mrs. Comstock be-
gan to perspire, while her hand shook
wildly. She begun to pray aloud.
This way, oh. Lord! Make 1t come
this way! Please. You know how l
need it! Oh, Lord, send 1t lower"
The moth hesitated at the first light,
then slowly, easily 1t came toward the
second, as If following a path Of air.
1t touched leaf near the lantern and
settled. AS Mrs. Constock reached for
it a thin yellow spray wet her hand
and the surrounding leaves. When its
wings raised above its back, her lin.
gers came together. She held the moth
to the light. 1t was nearer brown than
yellow, and she remembered having
ernoon. 1t was not the one needed to
complete the collection, but ElnOra
might want 1t, so Mrs. Comstock held
on. Just there the Almighty was kind
or nature was sufficient, as you look al
1t, for following the law Of Its being
when disturbed, the moth again threw
the spray by which some suppose Il
I - 20 L. l1v n
killed. Mrs. Comstock's dress front ant
arms. From that instant, she became
the best moth bait ever invented.
Moths were coming. She had one II
each hand. They were not yellow
and she did not know what to do
She glanced around to try to discover
some way to keep what she had, ant
her thrObbing heart stopped and every
muscle stitfened. There was the din
outline Of crouching figure not tive
yards away, and Il pair Of eyes thei
; owner thought hidden caught the ligh
In a cold stream. Her first impulse
, was to scream and fly for life. Before
, her lips could open a big moth alight
ed on her breast, while she felt an
Otucr WaihIuS oNet ucI HuI' All SChS'
Of caution deserted her. She did no
care to live II she could not replace
,, the yellow moth she had killed. Sh,
set her eyes ON those among the leaves
, Here, you" she cried hoarsely. Z"
need you! Get yourself out here anC
help me-
Pete Corson parted the bushes ant
stepped into the light.
, "Oh, it's youw said Mrs. Comstocls
II might have known! But you CAV
, me start. Here. hold these until
, make some sort Of bag for them. G.
, easy! If you break them don't guar
, antee what will happen to your
"Pretty fierce, amt you!" laughed
, his hands. "For Elnora, s'pose?"
!, Eyes," said Mrs. ComstOck. in
, mac fit l trampled one this morning
, and by the luck of the old boy him
t self 1t was the last moth she needle,
r to complete collection. | got t,
' get another one or die
, "Then guess it's your funeral.
I said Pete. There amt chance Il
: dozen the right one will come. Wha
| color was it?'
yellow. and big as bird"
+ "The Emperor. likely" sail Pete
: "You dig for that kind, and they ar
t not numerous. SOS at you can smasl
3 em for fun"