The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-24
Copyright, 1909, by Doubleday,
 Page c csMpany.
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 ''Yes, but sne is still in bed. W: told to let her sleep as long as sl would.''
 Maybe I could sit here and wait said Mrs. Comstock. "I want to ise about getting her a dress for tomol row. I am her mother"
 Than you don't need wait or wo, ry," said the girl cheerfully. 'Ther are two women up in the sewing roo, at work on dress for her right nov It will be done in time, and 1t will b . beauty"
 Mrs Comstock turned and trudge' back to the Limberlost. The bite, ness in her soul became a physical ao tuality and water would not wash tn, taste of wormwood from her lips. Sh was too late. She was not needed. AZ other woman was mothering her girl Another woman would prepare a beau tiful dress such as Elnora had wor1 last night The girls love and grati tude would go to her. Mrs. Com. stock tried the old process of blaming someone else, but she felt no better She nursed her grief as closely as ever in tho long days of the girls absence Among Elnora's graduation gifts was . queerly shaped package brought to the Bird Woman's by Billy. The Bird Woman bent over her as she opened il and tested the fabric with her fingers.
 Why, bless my soulr' she cried Hand woven, hand embroidered linen fine as silk. It's priceless! I haven't seen such things in years. My mother had garments like those when was s child. but my sisters had them cut uI for collars, belts and fancy waists while I was small. Look at the exqui site work.' ns-
 Where could 1t have come iron? P cried Elnora.
 She shook out a petticoat with s hand wrought ruf11e a foot deep, ther an old fashioned chemise the neck and sleeve work of which was elaborate and perfectly wrought. On the breas was pinned . note that she hastily opened.
 T was married In these" 1t read, sand I had intended to be buried in them. but perhaps it would be more sensible for you to graduate and get married In them yourself if you would like. Your mother"
 From my motheri". Wide eyed, El- nora looked at the Bird Woman. "Do you suppose she can be insane?"
 "Yes," said the Bird Woman, stark, staring mad-wildly insane if she does not love you and care what becomes of you"
 Elnora arose and held the petticoat to her. "Will you look at it!" she cried. "Only imagine her not getting my dress ready and then turning around and sending me such q petit coat as this! Ellen would pay $1OO for 1t and never blink. I suppose mother has had it all my life, and I never saw It before"
 "(so take your bath and put on those things," said the Bird Woman. For get everything and be happy. She Is not insane; she is embittered"
 Soon Elnora was ready for her dress. She never had looked so we'll as when she again headed the process sion across the flower and palm deck ed stage of the high school audito- rium- When she looked into the eyes of a white faced woman next to Wes- ley and Margaret she slipped hand to her side and raised her skirt the fraction of an inch, just enough to let the embroidered edge of . petticoat show a trifle. When she saw the look of relief which flooded her mothers face Elnora >knew that forgiveness was in her heart and that she would 60 home, in the morning. ., .sa..--
 It was late afternoon before she ar rived, and a dray followed with q load of packages. Mrs. Comstock was over whelmed. She sat half dazed and made Eln0ra show her each costly and beautiful or simple and useful gift tell her carefully what it was and from where 1t came. She studied the faces of Elnora's particular friends in- tently. The gifts from them had to be selected and set in group. Several times she started to speak and then stopped. At last between her. dry lips came a harsh whisper.
 'EInora, what did you give back for these thingsT
 Elnora handed her mother a hand some black walnut frame a foot and half wide by two long. It finished a oc1al shallOw glass covered box of birch bark. to the bottom of which clung a big night moth with delicate pale green wings and. long. exquisite trailers. A more beautiful thing would have been dinicult to imagine. .S
 T must set to work, for 1t is sa1most June, and there are few more want dreadfully," said Elnora. "When I get them I will be paid some money for zhich have worked long time"