Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-08-22

y uA1C, uUu IuOlC 0AC IL Low A4Ol0 L "duS
dr%cadfully," said Elnora. when 1 get
them I will be paid some money for
which I have worked a long time"
CHAPTER XVI.
Wherein Margaret Sinton Reveals a
Secret. g.
IN LNORA, bring me the towel.
quick" cried Mrs. Comstock.
Hurry! There's a varmint
~ 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't"
Mrs. Comstock struck again. Elnora
caught her arm.
tits the one I want! It's worth a lot
Of money! Don't! Oh, you shall not"
"Shan't, missy?" blazed Mrs. Com
stock. when did you get to bossing
me?"
The hand that held the screen swept
a 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 On the floor before them. In
stantly Mrs. Comstock's foot crushed
it. Elnora stepped back. Excepting the
red mark, her face was very white.
"That was the last moth I needed"
she said, "to complete a collection
worth $500. You've ruined it before
my eyes"
IF 1 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 o. to college. You've crushed
the last n 1 needed before my face.
You never have made any pretense of
loving me. At last I'll be equally frank
with you. 1 hate you! You are a sci.
fish, wicked woman! I hate you"
Elnora turned, went through the
kitchen and out the back door. She
followed the garden path to the gate
and walked toward the swamp a short
distance when reaction overlook her.
She dropped on the ground and leaned
against a 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 Il step after her.
"You little huzzy!" she gasped.
But Elnora was gone. Her mother
ptood staring.
"She never did lie to me,'' she NUT
>ered. 81 guess it was a moth and the
only one she needed to get $500, she
said. 1 wish 1 hadn't been so fast
Pshaw! She can find another. Maybe
moths are like snakes, where there's
one there's two"
Mrs. Comstock took the broom anC
swept the moth out Of the door. So II
was from creatures like that Elnore
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'
rated her from her child.
"We are nearer strangers with eacl
other than we are with any of the
neighbors,' she muttered.
So n of the Almighty's most deli
cate and beautiful creations was sacri
feed without fulfilling the law, YET
none of its species yer served so glori
GUS a cause. for at last Mrs. Comstock's
inner vision had cleared. She wen
through the cabin mechanically. Ey
cry few minutes she glanced towart
the back walk to see if Elnora wa
coming. She knew arrangements hat
been made with Margaret to go to tn
city some time that day, so she grew
more nervous and uneasy every me
ment.
Noon came, and she prepared dinner
calling, as she always did, when El
nora was in the garden, but she got n
response, and the girl did not come. /
little after 1 o'clock Margaret stoppe.
at the gate.
"Elnora has changed her mind. Sh
is not going" called Mrs. Comstock.
"You must be mistaken" said Mar
garet. II was going ON purpose 70
her. She~asked me to.take her. l hat
no errand. Where is she"
II will call her." said Mrs. Comstock
She followed the path again and thi
time found Elnora sitting on the log
Her face was swollen and d~iscolore'