Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-06-27
"How many Of themT 1t was the

nora. but some Of them didn't hatch,
and some Of the caterpillars died, but
there must be at least a hundred per-
feet ones"
perfect! How. perfect?" cried the
Bird Woman.
Il mean whole wings, no down gone
and all their legs and antennae," fall
tered Elnora.
young woman. that's the rarest
moth in America" said the Bird Wo
man solemnly. eff you have 100 Of
them they are worth 500, according
to my list. l can use all that are
WHOLE
What if they are not pinned right?'
quavered Elnora.
IF they are perfect that does not
make the slightest difference. know
how to soften them so that I can put
them into any shape I choose. Where
are they? When may l see them"
"They are in Freckles' old case in
the Limberlost," said Elnora. IT could
not carry many for fear Of breaking
them, but I could bring a few after
school,"
"You come here at T." said the Bird
Woman, land we will drive out with
some specimen boxes and a price list
and see what you have to SELL"
ooh. I do need the money!" said Ell
nora.
do you live in that beautiful cabin
of tho MONTH nc+ or1 no Tho e~ro ~ :, C,s
asked the Bird Woman.
Eyes" said Elnora.
II remember the place and a story
about it now. You entered the high
school yesterday"
ayes"
1T was pretty bad?"
"Pretty bad"!' echoed Elnora.
The Bird Woman laughed.
"You can't tell me anything about
that" she said. Il once entered a city
school straight from the country. My
dress was brown calico and my shoes
were quite heavy. What is your name,
my grip
"Elnora Comstock," answered FL
nora. Yesterday on the board it
changed to Cornstock, and for a min
ute I thought I'd die, but l can laugh
over that already"
The Bird Woman arose and kissed
her. "Finish your LUNCH" she said.
land I will get my price lists and take
down a memorandum Of what you
think you have. so 1 will know how
many boxes to prepare. Never mind
the calico dress and the coarse shoes.
Dig into the books, and before long
you will hear yesterdays tormentors
boasting that they were once class
mates Of yours"
She laughingly left the room and
Elnora sat thinking, until she remem-
bered how hungry she was, so she ate
the food, drank the hot chocolate and
began the process Of getting a grip on
herself.
Then the Bird Woman came back
and showed Elnora a long printed slip
giving a list Of graduated prices for
moths, butterflies and dragon flies.
"Oh. do you want them"" exulted Ell
nora. II have a few and l can get
more by the thousand, with every color
in the world on their Wings"
eyes," said the Bird Woman, II 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. l have a 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 and put them into a
book for all the world to see and know.
We Limberlost people must not be self
ish with the wonders God has given to
is. 1 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 l
best go back to school or open a bank
account and begin being a millionaire:
Uncle Wesley and 1 have a bushel of
arrow points gathered. a stack Of axes,
pipes, skin dressing tools. tubes and
mortars. don't know how I ever will
wait thraa hoIrs"
"You must go. O. you will be late,'
said the Bird Woman. IT will be ready
at T."
After school closed Elnora, seated by
the Bird Woman. drove to Freckles'
old room in the Limberlost. One at a
time the beautiful big moths were tax.
en- from the interior of the old black
case. Not q 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 $59.16. Elnora clasp.
ed the money closely.
"Oh, you beautiful stuff!' she cried.
"YOu are going to buy the books. nav