Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-09-05
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
Wherein the Limberiost Sings For
Ammon.
@LNORA lifted the violin and be-
gan to play. She wore a school
dress Of green bingham, with
~ the sleeves rolled to the elbows.
She seemed a part Of the setting all
small dark sun and her face never had
seemed SO rose flushed and fair. From
the instant she drew the bow her lips
parted and her eyes fastened on some
thing far away in the swamp, and new
er did she give more Of that impression
Of feeling for her notes and repeating
something audible only to her. Am
mon was too near to get the best effect.
He arose and stepped back several
yards, leaning against a large tree,
looking and listening with all his soul.
AS he changed positions lie saw that
Mrs. Comstock had followed them and
was standing On the trail, where she
could not have helped hearing every
thing Elnora had said. So to AmmOn
before her and the mother watching
on the trail Elnora played the song OF
the Limberlost. To the man it was
a revelation. He stood so stunned he
forgot Mrs. Comstock. He tried to
realize what a great city audience
would say to that music from such a
player with a like background, and he
oo,,l1 not imnrino
He was wondering what he dared
say, how much he might express, when
the last note fell and the girl laid the
violin in the case, closed the door,
locked it and hid the key in the rotting
wood at the end Of a log. Then she
came to him. Ammon stood looking at
her %curiously.
IT wonder" he said, "what people
would say to that?"
II did it in public once" said Elnora.
II think they liked it fairly we'll. I
had a note yesterday offering me the
leadership of the high school orchestra
in Onabasha. 1 would gladly play for
nothing just to be able to express my
SELF"
"Give up the college idea" said Am.
mon. "Your mind does not need that
sort of development. 1t is far past it."
"Do you really mean that you would
give up all idea of going to college, If
you were met"
IF you could only realize it, my girl,
you are in college, and have been al
ways. You are in the school Of ex-
perience, and it has taught you to
think. and given you a heart. God
knows l envy the man who wins it!
1 wouldn't even advise you to read
too many books on your lines. You
get your stuff first hand, and you
know that you are right. What you
should do is to begin early to practice
self expression. Don't wait too long
to tell us about the woods as you know
them"
Not until then did he remember that
Mrs. Comstock was somewhere very
near.
SHOULD we go out to the trail and
see if your mother is coming?" he
asked.
Here she is now" said Elnora.
"Gracious, it's a mercy L got that
violin put away in time! I didn't ex-
pect her so soon," whispered the girl.
as she turned and went toward her
mother. Mrs. Comstock's face was a
study as she looked at Elnora.
"Have you found anything yet?' she
asked.
Nothing that I can show YOU" said
Elnora. II am not sure but I have
found an idea that will revolutionize
the whole course Of my work, thought
and ambitions"
".Ambitions!' My, what a hefty
word" laughed Mrs. Comstock. II
guess we better let ambition lie. I've
always heard it was safest asleep. If
you ever get a bonafide attack, it will
be time to attend it. Let's hunt speci-
mems. 1t is June. Philip and / are in
the grades. What is the miracle of
June? What one thing epitomizes the
whole month";"
1.-THE birth Of these big night MOTHS"
said Elnora promptly.
Ammon clapped his hands. The
tears started to Mrs. Comstock's eyes.
She took Elnora in her arms and kiss
ed her forehead.
you'll dor she. said. Find the
distinctive feature of each month. the
one thing which marks 1t a time apart.
I can't name all Of them ofhand.
but l think of n more right now.