Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-29
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVI.
Wherein Margaret Sinton Reveals
Secret.


(@-J of some kind"
Elnore rGr intc the sitting room ana
thrust the heavy kitchen towel into her
mothers hand. Mrs. Comstock swung
open the screen door and struck ar
yome object. Elnora screamed wildly.
Don't. mother. DON'T
Mrs. Comstock struck again. Elnora
caught her arm.
ITS the one | want. It's worth lot
of money! Don't. Oh. YOU snail not!
"Shan't, Missy" bla2ed Mrs. Com
stock When did you yet to bossing
me-
The hand that held the screen swept
q half circle md stopped at Elnora's
cheek. She staggered with the blow.
and across her face, pale with excite
ment. red mark rose rapidlr. 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.
"orhat was the last moth needed"
she said Ito complete collection
worth $500. You've ruined 1t before
my eyes!'
IF l had known 1t was moth
Mrs. Comstock wavered.
They are what have paid for books,
tuition and clothes for the last four
years. They are what l could have
started on to college. You've crushed
the last one I needed before my face.
You never have made any pretense of
L., To- Il.
with you | hate you! You are a sell
fish, wicked woman. l 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 short
distance when reaction overlook her.
She dropped on the ground and leaned
against big log. When u little child.
desperate as now, she had tried to die
by holding her breath.
AS Elnora left the room Mrs. Com
stock took one step after her
"You little huzzy!" she gasped.
But Elnora was gone. Her mother
stood staring.
"She never did lie to me-" she NUT
tered. Il guess it was moth and the
only one she needed to get $500. she
said. I wish l 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 ant
swept the moth out of the door. So il
was from creatures like that Elnor;
had got her school money. In one sick
Huing 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.
I'VE are nearer strangers with eacl
other than we are with any of the
neighbOrs," she muttered.
SO one of the Almightys most deli
rate and beautiful creations was sncri
feed without fulfilling the law. yet
none of its species ever served so glori
GUS cause. for Mt last Mrs. Comstock's
inner vision had cleared sne went
through the cabin mechanically. Ev
cry few minutes she glanced toward
the back walk to see If Elnora was
coming. She knew arrangements had
been made with Margaret to go to the
more nervous and uneasy every mo
ment.
Noon came. and she prepared dinner,
calling. as she always did, when Ell
nora was In the garden but she got no
response, and the girl die not come A
little after l O'clock MVrgare: stopped
ut the gate.
"Elnora has changed her mind. She
Is not going" called Mrs. Comstock.
You must he mistaken said Mar
Rarct. Il was going on purpose fol
her. She asked me to TAXI her. hat
no errand Where is she?"
Il will cali ber,' said Mrs. Comstock
She followed the path again and thi
time found Elnora sitting on the log
Her face was swollen and discoloret
and her eyes red with crying. She pai'
no attention to her mother
Mag s;nton IS here" said Mrs. Com
nock harsbly ~ told her you haG
thanged your mind. but she said yol
asked her 10 so with you, and sh'
had nothing to go for herself"
ElnOra arose. recklessly took a shor
cut through the deep swamp grasses
and so reached the path ahead of he
mother. Mrs Comstock followed al
far as the garden, but she could no
enter the cabin. Margaret Sinton ap
preached colorless and with such fam
ing eyes that Mrs. Comstock shranl
back.
whats the matter with Einora'
fnce?" demanded Margaret.
Mrs. COmstock made no reply.
"You struck her, did your
II thought you wasn't blind"
II have been for twenty long year
now, Kate Comstock," said Margare
SintOn, "but my eyes are open at last
What see Is that I've done you n
good and Elnora big wrong. | ha
an idea that it would kill you to know
put l guess you are tough enough t
ytand anything. Kill or cure, you &C
4 now. You! The woman who don
pretend to love her only child and a
tor fool idea about n man VIII
wasn't worth his salt!'
Mrs. Comstock picked up a hoe.
go right on" she said. "Empt
yourself. It's the last thing YOU
sver do"
Then III make tidy job Of 1t,
said Margaret. you'll not touch mi
When Robert ComstOck shaved tina