Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-10-22
Don't, mother. don't!'
Mrs. Comstock struck again. Elnora

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caught her arm.
ITS the one want! It's worth lot
Of money! Don'tl Oh, you shall notr'
"Shan't. missyT' blazed Mra Com
stock. when did you get to boestne
| MeT
The hand that held the screen swept
Il half circle and stopped at Elnora's
cheek. She staggered with the blow,
aid across her face, pale with excite
nent. a red mark rose rapidly. The
screen slammed shut throwing the
rcature on the floor before them. In
| stantly Mrs. Comstock's foot crushed
it. Elnora stepped back. Excepting the
red mark. her face was very white.
THAT was the last moth needed"
she said, Ito complete collection
worth $500. You've ruined It before
my eyesr
IF l had known It was moth
Mrs. Comstock wavered
"They are what have paid for books.
tuition and clothes for the last four
years. They are what I could have
started on to college. You've crushed
the last one needed before my face.
You never have made any pretense OF
loving me. At lust I'll be equally frank
with you. I hate you! You are sell
fish, wicked woman! hate your
Elnora turned, went through the
kitchen and out the back door. She
followed the garden path to the gate
and walked toward the swamp short
distance when reaction overlook her.
She dropped on the ground and leaned
against big log. When little child,
desperate as now, she had tried to die
by holding her breath.
AS Elnora left the room Mrs. Com.
stock took one step after her.
"You little huzzy" she gasped.
But Elnora was gone. Her mother
stood staring.
"She never did lie to me-" she NUT
tered. II guess 1t was moth and the
only one she needed to get $500. she
said. I wish I hadn't been so fast.
Pshaw! She can find another. Maybe
moths are like snakes. where there's
one there's two"
Mrs. Comstock took the broom and
swept the moth out Of the door. 30 It
was from creatures like that Elnora
had got her school money. In one sick
ening sweep there rushed into the
heart of the woman full realization
Of the width Of the gulf which sepa-
ruted her from her child.
I'VE are nearer strangers with each
other than we are with any Of the
neighbors," she muttered.
So one Of the Almighty's most dell
cate and beautiful creations was sacri-
feed without fulfilling the law. yet
none Of its s".- i.s ever served so glon.
ous a |. ..ss. st Sts last Mrs. Comstock's
inner vision had cleared. She went
through the cabin mechanically. Ev-
cry few minutes she glanced toward
the back walk to see II Elnora was
coming. She knew arrangements had
been made with Margaret to 60 to the
city some time that day, 80 she grew
more nervous and uneasy every mo-
ment.
Noon came, and she prepared dinner,
calling, as she always did. when e. |
nora was In the garden, but she got no
response, and the girl did not come. A
little after 1 o'clock Margaret stopped
at the gate.
"Elnora has changed her mind. She
Is not going." called Mrs. Comstock.
"You must be mistaken" said Mar
garet II was going on purpose for
her. She asked me to take her. l had
no errand. Where is sher
II will call her." said Mrs. Comstock.
She followed the path again and this
time found Elnora sitting on the log.
Her face was swollen and discolored
and her eyes red with crying. She paid
no attention to her mother.
mag Sinton Is here" said Mrs. Com
stock harshly. II told her you had
changed your mind, but she said you
asked her to go with you, and she
had nothing to go for herself"
Elnora arose. recklessly took a short
cut through the deep swamp grasses
and so reached the path ahead Of her
mother. Mrs. Comstock followed as
far as the garden. but she could not
enter the cabin. Margaret Sinton up.
preached colorless and with such dam
ing eyes that Mrs. Comstock shrank
back.
whats the matter with Elnoras
facet" demanded Margaret.
Mrs. Comstock made no reply.
"You struck her, did your
II thought you wasn't blindr'
"I have been for twenty long years
now, Kate Comstock." said Margaret
Sinton, "but my eyes are open at last.
What see is that I've done you no
good and Elnora big wrong. l had
an idea that It would kill you to know,
but guess you are tough enough to
stand anything Kill or cure, you get
It now. You! The woman who don't
pretend to love her only child, and all
for fool idea about n man who
wasn't worth his saltr'
Mrs. Comstock picked up hoe.
"Go right on!' she said. Empty
yourself. It's the last thing you'll
ever do"
"Then I'll make a ttdy Job Of it."
said Margaret You'll not touch me.
When Robert Comstock shaved that
quagmire out there 80 close he went
in, he wanted to keep you from seeing
where he was coming from. He'd
been to see Elvira Carney. They had
plans to go to dance that night
'Close your llpsr' said Mrs. Com
stock In a voice Of deadly quiet
"You know I wouldn't dare open
them II was not telling you the truth.
Il was hot in the woods, and I stopped
at Carney's as l passed for q drink
Elvira's bedridden old mother heard
me, and she was 80 crazy for some one
to talk with 1 stepped In q minute.
saw Robert come down the path. e.
vira saw him, too, and she ran out OF
the house to head him OF. he brought
her his violin and told her to get ready
and meet him In the woods with It that
night and they would 90 to Q dance.
She took II and hid II In the little loft
to the wellhouse and promised she'd
CO."
"Are you doner demanded Mrs