Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-09-12

F.. CO.
Don't distress yourself" said Ell
nora calmly. II am. broad enough to
Judge you sanely. l know what you
mean. 1t would be no harm to you.
1t would not matter to me. but here we
will think OF some one else. Edith
Carr would not want your lips tomor-
row If she knew they had touched mine
today. I was wise to say Go quick
ly.''"
Ammon still chung tt her. "Will you
write me?" he begged.
NO. said Elnora. ''There is moth
Ing to say save goodby. We al do
that now"
Ammon held on. Promise that you
will write me only one letter." he
urged. II want just one message from
you to lock in my desk and keep al
ways. Promise you will write once. FL
nora"
Elnora looked straight into his eyes
and smiled ~serenely. IF the talking
trees tell me this winter the secret Of
how a man may grow perfect I will
write you what it is. Philip. In all the
time l have known you I never have
liked you so little. Goodby."
Elnora crossed the road, climbed the
fence and sought the shelter Of their
own woods. She took a diagonal
course and followed it until she came
to the path leading past the violet
patch. She went down this hurriedly.
Her hands were clinched at her sides.
her eyes dry and bright. her cheeks
red flushed and her breath coming
fast. When she reached the patch she
turned into it and stood looking
around her.
The MOSES were dry, the flowers
gone, weeds a foot high covered it.
She turned away and went on down
the path until she was almost in sight
Of the cabin.
Mrs. Comstock could not understand
why the girl did not hurry to her with
what she would have to tell. She
went out and wandered around the
garden. Then she stepped into the
path and started back along the way
leading to the woods. past the pool
now framed in a thick setting Of yell
low lilies. Then she saw and stopped,
gasping for breath. Her hands few
up, and her lined face grew CHASTITY.
She stared at the sky and then at the
PROSTATE girl figure. Over and over
she tried to speak. but only a word
came.
Elnora uttered one wild little cry
and fed into her mothers arms. "Oh.
mother!" she sobbed. xviii you ever
forgive mel"
Mrs. Comstock's arms swept togeth-
er in a tight grip around Elnora.
There isn't d thing on Gods foot
stool from a to lizard l won't forgive
you, my precious girl" she said. "Tell
mother what it Is"
Elnora lifted her wet face. "He told
me-" she painted. lust as soon as he
decently could-that second day he
told me. Almost all his life he's been
engaged to a girl at home. He never
cared anything about me-. He was
just interested in the moths and grow
ing strong"
"Elnora"-the mothers head bent
until the white hair mingled with the
brown-"Elnora. why didn't you tell
me at frst?"
Elnora caught her breath in a sharp
snatch. Il know l should!" she sob
bed. II will bear any punishment for
not, but l didn't feel as If l possibly
could. I was afraid"
Afraid Of what?" the shaking hand
was on the hair again.
afraid you wouldn't let him come!"
painted Elnora. And, oh, mother, I
wanted him sol"
For the next week Mrs. Comstock
and Elnora worked so hard there was
no time to talk, and they were COM
PEELED to sleep from physical exhaus-
ton. Elnora took all the dragon flies
and butterflies she could, and when she
went over the list for her collection,
she found, to her amaZement, that
with Ammon's help she once more had
it complete save q pair Of yellow EN-
perors. From every source at her COM
mand she tried to complete the series
with these moths and could not find
any for sale.
Then came a notification that Elnora
would be compelled to attend a weeks
session of the teachers institute held
at the county seat twenty miles north
Of Onabasha the following week. They
went to Onabasha together and pur-
chased a simple and appropriate fall
suit and hat, goods for a dainty little
colored frock and a dress skirt and
several fancy waists. Margaret Sinton
came down and the sewing began.
When everything was finished and
packed Elnora kissed her mother good
by at the depot and the train pulled
out. Mrs. Comstock went to the bank
and inquired for the cashier.
81 want to know just how I am fixed
here" she said. The cashier laughed.
"Well, you haven't been in a hurry"
he replied. I'VE have been ready for
you any time these twenty years, but
you didn't seem to pay much attention.
Your account is rather fourishing."
Mrs. Comstock sank into a chair and