The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-04-09
Copyright, 1909, by Doubleday,
Page e. Company.
(Continued.)

1nSly. NOtnlng, money. Tnat was
Just one of them fool things a man
says when he is trying his best to be
wise. You see she loved him nightly,
and they'd been married only a year,
and what she was leving was what she
thought he was. She hadn't really got
acquainted with the man yet If it
had been even one more year she could
have borne it 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 say it might
do her good if somebody that knew
could tell her, but swear to gracious
I never could. I've heard her out at
the edge Of that quagmire calling in
them wild spells of hers off and on for
the last sixteen years and imploring
the swamp to give him back to her,
and I've got out OF bed when I was
pretty tired and come down to see she
didn't go in herself or harm you What
she feels is too deep for me. I've got
to respectin' her grief, and can't get
over 1t. Go home and tell your ma,
honey, and ask her nice and kind to
help you. II she won't, then you got
to swallow that little lump of pride in
your neck and come to Aunt Maggie,
like you been a-coming all your life"
afTfS1sk mothers butt can't take
your money, Uncle Wesley, indeed I
can't. III wait a year and earn some
and enter next year"
There's one thing you don't consid-
er, Elnora.'' said the man earnestly.
And that's what you are to. Maggie.
She's little like your ma. She hasn't
given up to it, and she's struggling on
brave, but when we buried our second
little girl the light went out of Mag
gie's eyes. and it's not come back. The
only time I ever see hint of it is
when she thinks she's done something
that makes you happy, Elnora. Now,
you go easy about refusing her any
thing she wants to do for you"
'UncIe wesley, you are dear" said
Elnora-'"'jjast a dear! If can't pos
sibly get. that money any way else on
earth III come and borrow. it of you,
and then I'll pay it back if I dig ferns
from the swamp and sell them from
door to door in the city. I'll even
plant them, so that they will be sure
to come up in the spring, have been
sort of panic stricken all day and
couldn't think. can gather nuts and
sell them. Freckles sold moths and
butterflies, and I've a lot collected
OF course am going back tomorrow
/ can find a way to get the books.
Don't you worry about me- I am all
right
As iElnora >neared her own door her
mother said:
"What kept you so? expected you
an hour ago.
Elnora looked into her mothers face
and smiled. 1t was queer sort Of a
little smile and would have reached
the depths with any normal mother.
81 see you've been bawling," said
Mrs. Comsteck 81 thought you'd get
your fill in hurry. That's why
wouldn't go to any expense. II we
keep out OF the poorhouse we have to
cut the corners close. It's likely this
Brushwood road tax will eat up all
we've saved in years. Where the land
tax is to come from / don't know. 1t
gets bigger every year. If they are
going to dredge the swamp ditch
again they'll just have to take the
land to pay for it. can't, that's all"
Elnora again smiled thGt pitifuI
smile.
do you think didn't know that
was funny and would be laughed at?"
she asked.
Funny" cried Mrs. Comstock holly.
"Yes, funny-a regular caricature,"
answered. Elnora. But there's al
ways two sides. The professor said
In the algebra class that he never had
a better solution and explanation than
mine of the proposition he gave me,
which scored one for me in spite Of
my clothes. -
"Well, / wouldn't brag on myself"
"That was poor taste" admitted Ell
nOra;- but, you see, it Is case OF
whistling to Keep up my courage. I
honestly could see that / would have
looked just as well as the rest of
them if 1 had been dressed as they
were. We can't afford that, so | have
TO ind something else to brace me.
It was pretty bad, mother"
"Well, I'm glad you got enough Of
itw
"Ch, but / haven't!' hurried on FL
nora. II just got a start. Tie hard
est is over. Tomorrow they won't be
surprised. They will know what to
expect. 1 am sorry to hear about the
dredge. Is it really going through"
. Eyes. 1 got my notification today.
The tax will be something enormous.