Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-09-24

The dog accepted it graciously, and.
being a pedigreed beast, he trotted
around to side porch and laid the
bologna before bis mistress. The wo.
man snatched It, screaming, "Come.
quickl Some one Is trying to poison
Pedrow Her daughter came running
from the house. "Go see who Is on the
street. Hurryp cried the excited moth
er.
Ellen Brownlee ran and looked. Ell.
nora was half block away. and no
one nearer. Ellen called loudly, and
Elnora stopped. Ellen came running
toward her.
did you see anyone give our dog
something?" she cried as she ap-
preached.
Elnora saw no escape.
II gave 1t a piece Of bologna my
SELF" she said. 1T was At to eat 1t
wouldn't hurt the dog"
Ellen stood and looked at her. "Of
course, l didn't know 1t was your dog"
explained Elnora, and she told Ellen
about Billy and Jimmy and Belle and
the sacrificed luncheons.
"Wait until I run back and tell moth.
er about the dog, and get my books"
said Ellen.
Elnora waited, and that morning she
walked down the hall and into the au-
ditorium beside one of the very incest
girls In Onabasha, and It was the fourth
day. But the surprise came at noon
when Ellen insisted upon Elnora lunch
ing at the Brownlee home and con-
vulsed her parents and family and
overwhelmed Elnora by greatly mag
nified but moderately accurate history
Of her lunch box.
Gee. but It's box, daddyr cried the
laughing girl. Its carved leather and
fastens with a strap that's got her
name on 1t. Inside are trays for things
NIL complete, and 1t bears evidence Of
having inclosed delicious food, but Ell.
nora never gets any. She's carried 1t
two days now, and both times 1t has
been empty before she reached school.
Isn't that killing"
ut is, Ellen, in more ways than one.
No girl is going to eat breakfast at 6
o'clock, walk three miles and do good
work with no lunch. You can't tell me
anything about that box. I sold It last
Monday night to Wesley Sinton, one Of
my good country customers. He told
me 1t was present for a girl who was
worthy Of 1t. and see he was right"
When Elnora entered the coat room
after having had luncheon with Ellen
Brownlee there was such difference
In the atmosphere that she could feel
It.
II am almost sorry I have these
clothes" she said to Ellen.
I'm the name Of sense. why" cried
the astonished girl.
Every one Is 80 nice to me in them,
1t Just sets me to wondering II In time
l could have made them be equally
friendly In the others"
Ellen looked at her Unexpectedly.
"Well. yes. I believe you could" she
announced at last. But 1t would have
taken time and heartache, and your
mind would have been less free to
work on your studies. No one Is happy
without friends. and just simply can't
study when / am unhappy"
That night the Bird Woman made the
last trip to the swamp. Every speci-
men she possibly could use had been
purchased at a fair price. and three
additions had been made to the bank
book. carrying the total to little past
5000. There remained the Indian rel
les to sell on Saturday, and Elnora had
secured the order to furnish material
for nature work for the grades. Life
suddenly grew very full. There was
the most excitingly interesting work
for every hour, and that work was 10
pay high school expenses and start the
college fund. There was just one little
rift in hep Joy. All Of 1t would have
been so much better II she could have
told her mother and given the money
into her keeping. But the struggle to
get q start had been 80 terrible, Ell
nora was afraid to take the risk.
When she reached home she only
told her mother that the last OF the
things had been sold that evening.
81 think" said Mrs. Comstock, that
we will get Wesley to move that box
over here back Of the garden for you.
There you are apt to get tolled farther
into the swamp than you intend to go,
and you might mire or something.
There ought to be just the same things
In our woods and along our swampy
places as there are In the Limberlost.
Can't you hunt your stuff here"
"I can try" said Elnora. II don't
know what I can find until do. Our
| woods are undisturbed, and there Is
possibility they might be even better
hunting than the swamp. But
wouldn't have Freckles' case moved
for the world. He might come back
some day and not like 1t. I've tried to
keep his room the best I could, and
taking out the box would make great
hole in one side Of it. Store boxes
don't cost much. I will have Uncle
Wesley buy me one and set 1t up
wherever hunting looks the best early
in the spring. / would feel SAFER at
L