The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-24
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAF Eh AVts
 Wherein Margaret sinton Reveals . Secret.
 "~1LNORA, bring me the towel,
 Tx quickw cried Mrs. Comstock. Hurry! There's a vaEmint
 of some kind!'
 Elnora ran into the sitting room and thrust the heavy kitchen towel into her mothers hand. Mrs. Comstock swung open the screen door and struck at some object. Elnora screamed wildly.
 Don't, mother, don'ty'
 Mrs. Comstock struck again. Elnora caught her arm.
 "It's the one want! It's worth lot of money! Don't! Oh, you shall notv'
 ''Shan't. missyT blazed Mrs. Con- stock. When did you get to bossing meT'
 The hand that held the screen swept half circle and stopped at Elnora's cheek. She staggered with the blow, and across her face, pale with excite ment, a red mark rose rapidly, The screen slammed shut, throwing the creature Qp the floor. before them. In- stant1y Mrs. Comstock's foot crushed 1t. Elnora stepped back. Excepting the red mark, her face was very white.
 That was the last moth I needed. l" she said, ''to complete a collection worth $500. You've, ruined it before my eyesr'
 If had known it was a 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 I.needed before my face. You never have made any p-etense of loving me. At last I'll be equally frank with you. I hate you! You are a sel. fish, wicked woman! I 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 a 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 huzzyv she gasped.
 But Elnora was gone. Her mother stood staring.
 "She never did lie to me-" she nut tered. 'I guess it was moth and the only one she needed to get $500, she eoc 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. So 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 a full realization of the width of the gulf which sepa- raued her from her child.
 "We are nearer strangers with each other than we are with any of the neighbOrs," she muttered.
 So one of the Almighty's most deli cate and beautiful creations was sacri. feed without fulfilling the law, yet none of its species ever served so glori. ous cause, for at 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 if Elnora was coming. She knew arrangements had been made with Margaret to go t6 the city some time that day, so she grew more nervous and uneasy every mo- ment.
 Noon came, and she prepared dinner, calling. as she always did, when FL 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. .-''I was going on purpose for her. She asked me to take her. had no errand. Where is she?'
 'T will call her," said Mrs. Comstock.
 She followed.th 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. ''I 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 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 ap- preached colorless and with such fam ing eyes that Mrs. Comstock shrank back.