Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-06-20

lousy.
She'll just rip" replied Wesley
graphically. "But If she wants to
leave the raising of her girl to the
neighbors she needn't get fractions If
they take some pride in doing a good
Job. From now or | calculate Elnora
shall go to school. and she shall have
all the clothes and books she needs, If
l go around on the back of Kate Com
stocks land and cut a tree or drive off
a calf to pay for them. Why | know
n tree she owns that would put FL
nora In heaven for n year. Just think
Of it. Margaret! It's not fair. One
third OF what is there belongs to Ell
nora by law, and if Kate Comstock
raises a row I'll tell her so and see
that the girl gets it. You go to see
Kate in the morning. and I'll go with
you. Tell her you van Elnora's pat
tern. that you are going to make her
a dress for helping US. And sort Of
hint at a few more things. If Kate
balks I'll take a hand and settle her.
I'll go to law for Elnora's share Of that
and then she a take her share"
"Why, Wesley Sinton. you're perfect
ly wild"
I'm not. Did you ever stop to think
that such cases are so frequent there
have been laws made to provide for
them? l can bring it up in court and
force Kate to educate Elnora and
board and clothe her till she's Of age,
and then she can take her own share"
Wesley, Kate would 60 crazy!!'
shes crazy now. The idea Of any
mother living with as sweet a girl as
Elnora and letting her suffer till l find
her crying like a funeral! 1t makes
me fighting mad"
When Wesley came from the barn
Margaret had four pieces of crisp ging-
ham, a pale blue, a pink, a gray with
green stripes and a rich brown and
blue plaid. On each of them lay a
yard and a half of wide ribbon to
match. There were handkerchiefs and
= brown leather belt. In her hands she
held a wide brimmed tan straw hat
having a high crown banded with vel
vet strips. each Of which fastened with
a tiny gold buckle.
ut looks kind Of bare now" she ex-
planned. ut had three quilts on it
here. The price was two and a half
for the hat, and those things were a
dollar and a dollar and a half apiece.
I couldn't pay that"
"1t does seem considerable" admit
ted Wesley, but will it look right
without them?"
mo. it won't!' said Margaret. Its
going to have quilts on it. Do you re-
member those beautiful peacock wing
feathers that Phoebe Simms gave me-:
Three of them go on just where those
came off. and nobody will ever know
the difference. They match the hat to
a moral, and they are just a little
longer and richer than the ones that l
had taken off. l was wondering
whether I better sew them on tonight
while l remember how they set or
wait till morning."
Don't risk it!' exclaimed Wesley
anxiously. Don't you risk it! Sew
them on right now"
open your bundles. while l get the
thread" said Margaret.
Wesley set out a pair Of shoes. Mar
garet took them up and pinched the
leather and stroked them.
my, but they are pretty" she cried.
"What else did you get?"
Well. sir" said Wesley, Il saw
something today. You told me about
Kate getting that tin pail for Elnora
to carry to high school. and you said
you told her it was a shame. So I just
inquired around till ] found this, and
looking and handy as you please. See
here. now!"
Wesley opened the package and laid
a brown leather lunch box on the table.
Inside was a space for sandwiches, a
little porcelain box for cold meat or
fried chicken. another for salad, a glass
with u lid which screwed on, held by
a ring in a corner, for custard or jelly,
a flask for tea or milk. a beautiful lit
tie knife. fork and spoon fastened in
holders and a place for a napkin.
Margaret was almost crying over it.
"How I'd love to fill it!v she exclaim-
ed.
do it the first time just to show
Kate Comstock what love isl" said
Wesley. Get up early in the morning
and make one Of those dresses tomor-
row. Can't you make a plain ging-
ham dress in a day? I'll pick a chick
en-, and you fry it and fix a little Gus
tard for the cup, and do it up brown.
Go on. Maggie, you do it,"
Il " cam" said Margaret. II am
slow as the itch about sewing, and
these ere not going to be plain dresses
when it ONE to making them. There
are going to be edgings Of plain green,
pink and brown to the bias strips and
tucks and pleats about the hips, fancy
belts and collars. and all Of it takes
time"
"Then Kate Comstock's got to help"
said Wesley. Can the two Of you
make one and get that lunch tomor-
row."
easy, but she'll never do it,!
Ill Y~-H~