Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-08-20
CHAPTER u.
Whsroin 10 Told Something ef eInera's
Family History.

CHAPTER u.
Wherein 10 Told Something Of gIners's
Family History.
S0OWN the long corridor alone
lun among hundreds. down the
lIU long street alone among thou
IL 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 frst It was physical
breakdown. later thought came crowd
ing. She must 90 home to feed chick
ems. calves and pigs, wear calico and
coarse shoes and pass q library witt
averted head all her life. She sobbe
again.
For PHYS sake. honey. what's the
matter" asked the voice Of the near
est neighbor. Wesley Sinton. as hr
seated himself by Elnora. There.
there" he continued. smearing tears
all over her face In an effort to dry
them. "Was 1t 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 20. She said your clothes were
not right and that they would laugh at
you. Were your things right, ElnornT
The girl broke into hysterical laugh
ter. "Rightw she cried. Right! Uncle
Wesley, you should have seen me
among them was picture! 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. El
nora. Downright grit" said Wesle!
sinton. Don't you let them laugh you
out You've helped Margaret and mt
for years at harvest and busy times
What you've earned must amount to
quite sum. You can get yourself I"
good many clothes with It."
Don't mention clothes. Uncle Yves
ley" sobbed Elnora. II don't care nov
how look II don't go back all OF
them will know It's because ! am 10
poor can't buy my books"
"Oh. don't know as you are 50
poor," said Sinton meditnuvely
There are 300 acres Of good land. with
fine timber us ever grew on II"
ut takes all We can earn to pay the
tax, and mother wouldn't cut o tree
for her life"
"Well. then. maybe I'll be compelled
to cut one for her." suggested Sinton
Anyway. stop tearing yourself to
pieces and tell me. II 1t isn't clothes.
what is IT.
Its books and tuition. Over $40 III
all"
"Humph! First time I eyer knew
you to be stumped by $50. Elnoru.
said Sinton. patt!ng her hand.
Its 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 It. Uncle Wesley?"
Drive to town with Inc in the morn
Ing and III draw II from the bank TO-
you. owe you every cent of H."
"You know you don't owe me II per
ny. and I wouldn't touch one from yo'i
unless really could earn 1t. For any
thing that's past owe you and Aun
Margaret for all the home life and low
I've ever known. know how yo'
work. and I'll not TAKE your money"
"Just a loan. ElnOra; just u loan fo'
little while until you can earn IL
You can be proud with all the rest %
the world, but there's no secrets be-
tween US. Is there. Elnora"
"No," said Elnora. there are nons
You and Aunt Margaret have given r.
all the love there has been in my life
That Is the one reason above all other
why you shall not give me charity.
won't touch your money. but I'll win
some way. First I'm going home ana
try mother It's just possible ! cou!c
find secondhand books. and PERHAPS
all the tuition need not be paid at one"
Maybe they would accept 1t quarterly
But, oh, Uncle Wesley. you and Aun'
Margaret keep OH loving me. I'm x"
lonely, and no one else cares"
Wesley Sinton's jaws met with Ii
click. He swallowed hard on bittc
words and changed the thing he wou!'!
have said three times before 1t became
articulate.
"Elnora." he said at last, III It hadn'i
been for one thing Id have tried Il
take legal steps to make you ours When
you were three years old. Maggie sal
then It wasn't any use. but I've always
held on. You see. I was the first ma u
there, honey. and there are things. yo'
see. that you can't ever make anybod;
else understand. She loved him. J.;
nora. She just made an idol OF hin
There was that oozy green hole. Wit
the thick scum broke and two or thre
big bubbles slowly rising that were tE''
breath of bis body. There she was II
spasms Of agony and beside her the
great heavy log she'd tried to throw
him. I can't ever forgive her for tur:l-
Ing against you and spelling your child
hood as she has. but I couldn't forgive
anybody else for abusing her. Maggie
has got no mercy on her. but Maggie
didn't see what did. and I've never
tried to make 1t very clear to her. You
be a patient girl and wait little long
er. After all, she's your mother, and
you're oil she's got but memory, and
It might do her good to let her know
that she was fooled in that"
1T would kill herr cried the girl
swiftly. Uncle Wesley, 1t would kill
her. What do you mean"
Nothing" said Wesley Sinton sooth.
ingly. Nothing. honey. That was
Just one Of them fool things q man
says when he is trying his best to be
wise. You see she loved him nightly.
and they'd been married only year.
and what she was loving was what she
thought he was. She hadn't really got
acquainted with the man yet. II 1t
had been even one more year she could
have borne 1t and you'd have got jus
tice. Having been a teacher. she was
better educated and smarter than the
rest of US, and so she was more sensi-
tive like. She can't understand she
was loving dream. So I say 1t might
do her good II somebody that knew
could tell her. but swear to gracious
never could. I've heard her out ut
the edge Of that quagmire calling in
them wild spells Of hers of and on for