Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-11

! Woman, land we will drive out with
some specimen boxes and price list
and see what you have to SELL"
"Oh, I do need the money! said FL
nora.
do. you live in that beautiful cabin
at the northwest end Of the swamp
asked the Bird Woman.
"Yes." said Elnora.
II remember the place and a story
about It now. You entered the high
school yesterday7'
-'Yes."
at was pretty bad?"
Pretty bady' echoed Elnora.
The Bird Woman laughed.
''You can't tell me anything about
that" she said. II once entered city
school straight from the country. My
dress was brown calico and my shoes
my girl?"
"Elnora Comstock," answered FL
nora. Yesterday on the board It
changed to Cofnstock, and for min
ute I thought I'd die. but can laugh
over that already"
The Bird Woman arose and kissed
her. Finish your lunch" she said.
"and I will get my price lists and take
down a memorandum of what you
think you have, 80 viii know how
many boxes to prepare. Never mind
the lcafco dress and to coarse shoes.
Dig into the books. and before long
you will hear yesterdays tormentors
Boosting that they were once class
mates Of yours"
She laughingly lsft the room and
Elnora sat thinking, until she remem-
bered how hungry she was, 50 she ate
the, food. drank the hot chocolate and
began the process Of getting grip on
herself.
Then the Bird Woman came back
and showed Elnora long printed slip
giving a list Of graduated prices for
moths. BUTTERFLIES and dragon dies.
"Oh, do you want them" exulted FL
nora. II have few and I can get
more by the thousand. with every color
In the world on their wings"
YES" said the Bird Woman. 81 will
buy them. also the big moth caterpil-
lars that are creeping everywhere now.
and the cocoons that they will spin
just about this time. have sneak
ing impression that the mystery, won
der and the urge Of their pure beauty
are going to force me to picture and
paint our moths ard put them into q
book for all the world to see and know.
We Limberlost people must not be self
fish with the wonders God has given to
us. I will pay good prices for all the
moths you can find. because. you see,
I exchange them with foreign collec-
tors. The banker will buy stone axes.
arrow points and Indian pipes. There
was a teacher from the city grade
schools here today for specimens.
There Is a fund to supply the ward
buildings. I'll help you get in touch
with that. They want leaves Of DIFF
ferent trees. flowers. grasses. moths.
insects. birds nests and anything
about birds.''
Elnora's eyes were blazing. "Had I
best go back to school or open bank
account and begin being millionaire?
Uncle Wesley and have bushel of
arrow points gathered, stack of axes.
pipes, skin dressing tools. tubes and
mortars I don't know how I ever will
wait three hours"
You must go. or you will be late"
said the Bird Woman. II will be ready
at f."
After school closed Elnora, seated by
the Bird Woman. drove to Freckles'
old room in the Limberlost. One at
time the beautiful big moths were, tax
en- from the interior of the old black
Ease. Not fourth Of them could be
moved that night. and it was almost
dark when the last box was closed, the
list figured and into Elnora's trembling
fingers were paid $5916. Elnora clasp
ed the money closely.
''Oh, you beautiful stuff!' she cried.
You are going to buy the books. pay
the tuition and take me to high schools"
Then because she was a woman she
sat on Z log and looked at her shoes.
Long after the Bird Woman drovs
away Elbora remained. She had her
problem. and It wa big one. II she
told her mother lpuld she, take the
money to pay tho Shxes? II she did
not tell her how co1d she account for
the books and things for which. she
would spend it? At last she counted
ont what she needed Tor the next day.
placed the rest in tho fasthest corner
Of the case and locked the door. She
then Oiled the front Of her skirt from