Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-13

OF his view. Then be remembered the
great willow tree shading the well and
branching arross the window ut the
west end Of the cabin. From child
| hood Elnora had stepped frc:n the sill
| TO limb and slid down the slantins
trunk of the tree. lie reached 1t and
noiselessly swung himself up. Three
steps out on the big limb the man
shuddered. he was within: few feet
Of the girl.
Elnora closed the book and laid it
| aside. She picked up towel and.
turning the gathered ends of her hair.
rubbed them across it and, dropping
the towel on her lap. tossed the hair
again. Then she sat in deep thought.
By and by words began to come softly.
Near as he was the man could not
;; hear at first He bent closer and
listened intently.
fever could be so happy" murmur-
ed the soft voice. 1.-THE dress is SO pref
ty, such shoes. the coat and everything.
won't have to be ashamed again. not
ever again, for the Limberlost is full
| Of precious moths. and can always
collect them. The Bird Woman will
buy more tomorrow. and the next day,
and the next. When they are all gone
I can spend every minute gathering
| cocoons 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
slant. But I'm hidden now: feel
that" Elnora lifted her eyes to the
beams above her. II don't know much
about praying properly" she muttered.
but do thank you. Lord. for hiding
me in your own time and way"
Her face was so bright that it shone
with white radiance. 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
GIRL" he exclaimed. But it's likely
he thinks IL he gets anything it will be
from a woman who can afford Il, 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 deep place ut the north.
west corner. sat on the ground, and.
taking pencil from his pocket, he
tore leaf from q 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 tossing
hair. He smiled and worshiped 1t until
a distant rooster family announced
dawn.
Then he unlocked the case again and
replaced the money, laid the note upon
~ oAu WSAt OASk " COUC08kWSuI,
where he remained until Elnora came
down the trail in the morning. looking
very lovely In her new dress and hat.
sshe had had q great struggle with
her hair. 1t crinkled. beloved aud
shone, and she could not avoid seeing
the becoming frame It 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. Mot to bs changed
ut the case" she told herself.
That her mother was watching che
w:s .nevnre. lust as she picked up
the beautiful brown ribbon Mrs. Com
stock spoke.
You had better let mo tie that. You
can't reach behind yourself and do It
right"
Elnora gave little gasp. Her moth
er never before had proposed TO do
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. It might never bs
made agnin. 81. s..
.Oh. thank your said the girL and.
h 3 q -