The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-07-27
Copyright. 1909. by Doubleday, Page
& Co.
CHAPTER II.

~1OWN the long corridor alone
iyH among hundreds, down the
HI long street alone among thou
sands, out into the country she
came at last. She sat on log and
began to sob in spite Of her efforts at
self control. At first it was physical
breakdown, later thought came crowd
Ing. She must go home to feed chick
ems, calves and pigs, wear calico and
course shoes and pass library with
avertsd head all her life. She sobbel
again.
For PHYS sake. honey, what's the
matter?" asked the voice of the near
est neighbor, Wesley Sinton, as he
seated himself by Elnora. "There,
there" he continued, smearing tears
all over her face in an effort to dry
them. "Was it so bad as that, now?
Maggie has been just about wild over
you all day. She's got nervouser every
minute. She said we were foolish to
let you go. She said your clothes were
not right and that they would laugh at
you. Were your things right, Elnora ?"
The girl broke into hysterical laugh
ter. "Rightv' she cried. Fright! Uncle
Wesley, you should have seen me
among them! was pictured! They'll
never forget me. No, they won't get
the chance, for they'll see the same
things tomorrow
"Now, that is what call spunk, FL
nora. Downright grit" said Wesley
Sinton- "Don't you let them laugh you
out. You've helped Margaret and me
for years at harvest and busy times.
What you've earned must amount to
quite sum. You can get yourself
good many clothes with it,
"Don't mention clothes, Uncle Wes-
iey," sobbed Elnora. II don't care now
i how I look If I don't go back all of
i them will know it's because I am so
j poor can't buy my books"
4 ooh, don't know as you are so
4 poor" said sinton meditatively.
~There are 300 acres Of good land, with
4 tine timber as ever grew on il"
1T takes all we can earn to pay the
. tax, and mother wouldn't cut q tree
= for her life"
"Well, then. maybe I'll be compelled
! to cut one for her." suggested Sinton.
I anyway, stop tearing yourself to
pieces and tell me. If it isn't clothes,
what is it?"
cts books and tuition. Over $40 In
ALL" .'~
"Humph! First time l ever knew
IN ha cf1y Inv =
said Sinton, patting her hand.
cts the first time you ever knew me
to want money" answered Elnora.
This is different from anything that
ever happened to me. Oh, how can ]
get 1t, Uncle Wesley?'
'Drive to town with me in the morn
ing and I'll draw it frog the bank for
you. I owe you every cent of it,
"You know you don't owe me a pen.
ny, and wouldn't touch one from you
unless really could earn it. For any.
thing that's past owe you and Aunt
Margaret for all the home life and love
I've ever known. I know how you
work, and I'll not take your money"
"Just loan, Elnora; just a loan for
a little while until you can earn it.
You can be proud with all the rest OF
the world, but there's no secrets be
tween US. Is there, Elnora?"
"No," said Elnora, there are none
You and Aunt Margaret have given me
all the love there has been in my life
That Is the one reason above all others
why you shall not give me charity.
won't touch your money, but I'll wiz
some way. First I'm going home anC
try mother. It's just possible I could
find secondhand books, and perhaps
all the tuition need not be paid at once
Maybe they would accept it quarterly
But, oh, Uncle Wesley, you and Aunt
margaret keep on loving me. I'm 81
lonely, and no one else cares.'
Wesley Sinton's jaws met with s
click. He swallowed hard on b1tte1
words and changed the thing he would
have said three times before it becam,
articulate
"Elnora," he said at last, IF it hadn'
been. for one thing I'd have tried t
take legal steps to make you ours whe1
you were three years old. Maggie sale
then it wasn't any use, but I've Away,
held on. You see, was the first maj
there, honey, and there are things, YOU
see, that you can't ever make anybod,
else understand. She loved him, Ell
nora. She just made an idol of him
There was that oozy green hole, Will
the thick scum broke and two or thre,
big bubbles slowly rising that were tn,
breath of his body. There she was /,
spasms Of agony and beside her thu
great heavy log she'd tried to throw
him. can't ever forgive her for turn
ing against you and spelling your child
hood as she has, but I couldn't for9iv,
anybody else for abusing her. MaRgi,
has got no mercy on her, but Magg1,
didn't see what + did, and I've neve
tried to make It very clear to her. Yo,
be patient girl and wait little long
er. After all, she's your mother, ant
you're all she's got but memory, aut
1t might do her good to let her know
that sne was fooled in that"
1,ss