a girl of the limberlost-第12章

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The　light　she　had　seen　the　previous　night　troubled　her。



〃Sure；〃　said　Wesley　largely。　　So　they　drove　away　and

left　a　white…faced　woman　watching　them　from　the　door；

her　heart　a　little　sorer　than　usual。



〃I'd　give　a　pretty　to　hear　what　he'll　say　to　her！〃　she

commented　bitterly。　　〃Always　sticking　in；　always　doing

things　I　can't　ever　afford。　　Where　on　earth　did　he　get　that

thing　and　what　did　it　cost？〃



Then　she　entered　the　cabin　and　began　the　day's　work；

but　mingled　with　the　brooding　bitterness　of　her　soul　was

the　vision　of　a　sweet　young　face；　glad　with　a　gladness

never　before　seen　on　it；　and　over　and　over　she　repeated：　

〃I　wonder　what　he'll　say　to　her！〃



What　he　said　was　that　she　looked　as　fresh　and　sweet　as　a

posy；　and　to　be　careful　not　to　step　in　the　mud　or　scratch

her　shoes　when　she　went　to　the　case。



Elnora　found　her　key　and　opened　the　door。　　Not　where

she　had　placed　it；　but　conspicuously　in　front　lay　her　little

heap　of　bills；　and　a　crude　scrawl　of　writing　beside　it。　

Elnora　picked　up　the　note　in　astonishment。





DERE　ELNORY；



the　lord　amighty　is　hiding　you　all　right　done　you　ever　dout　it　this

money　of　yourn　was　took　for　some　time　las　nite　but　it　is　returned　with

intres　for　god　sake　done　ever　come　to　the　swamp　at　nite　or　late　evnin

or　mornin　or　far　in　any　time　sompin　worse　an　you　know　could　git　you



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　FREND。





Elnora　began　to　tremble。　　She　hastily　glanced　around。　

The　damp　earth　before　the　case　had　been　trodden　by

large；　roughly　shod　feet。　　She　caught　up　the　money　and

the　note；　thrust　them　into　her　guimpe；　locked　the　case；

and　ran　to　the　road。



She　was　so　breathless　and　her　face　so　white　Sinton　noticed　it。



〃What　in　the　world's　the　matter；　Elnora？〃　he　asked。



〃I　am　half　afraid！〃　she　panted。



〃Tut；　tut；　child！〃　said　Wesley　Sinton。　　〃Nothing　in

the　world　to　be　afraid　of。　　What　happened？〃



〃Uncle　Wesley；〃　said　Elnora；　〃I　had　more　money　than　I

brought　home　last　night；　and　I　put　it　in　my　case。　　Some　one

has　been　there。　　The　ground　is　all　trampled；　and　they

left　this　note。〃



〃And　took　your　money；　I'll　wager；〃　said　Sinton　angrily。



〃No；〃　answered　Elnora。　　〃Read　the　note；　and　oh

Uncle　Wesley；　tell　me　what　it　means！〃



Sinton's　face　was　a　study。　　〃I　don't　know　what　it

means；〃　　he　said。　　〃Only　one　thing　is　clear。　　It　means

some　beast　who　doesn't　really　want　to　harm　you　has　got

his　eye　on　you；　and　he　is　telling　you　plain　as　he　can；　not

to　give　him　a　chance。　　You　got　to　keep　along　the　roads；

in　the　open；　and　not　let　the　biggest　moth　that　ever　flew

toll　you　out　of　hearing　of　us；　or　your　mother。　　It　means

that；　plain　and　distinct。〃



〃Just　when　I　can　sell　them！　　Just　when　everything　is　so

lovely　on　account　of　them！　　I　can't！　　I　can't　stay　away

from　the　swamp。　　The　Limberlost　is　going　to　buy　the　books；

the　clothes；　pay　the　tuition；　and　even　start　a　college　fund。　

I　just　can't！〃



〃You've　got　to；〃　said　Sinton。　　〃This　is　plain　enough。　

You　go　far　in　the　swamp　at　your　own　risk；　even　in　daytime。〃



〃Uncle　Wesley；〃　said　the　girl；　〃last　night　before　I　went

to　bed；　I　was　so　happy　I　tried　to　pray；　and　I　thanked　God

for　hiding　me　‘under　the　shadow　of　His　wing。'　　But　how

in　the　world　could　any　one　know　it？〃



Wesley　Sinton's　heart　leaped　in　his　breast。　　His　face

was　whiter　than　the　girl's　now。



〃Were　you　praying　out　loud；　honey？〃　he　almost　whispered。



〃I　might　have　said　words；〃　answered　Elnora。　　〃I　know

I　do　sometimes。　　I've　never　had　any　one　to　talk　with；

and　I've　played　with　and　talked　to　myself　all　my　life。　

You've　caught　me　at　it　often；　but　it　always　makes　mother

angry　when　she　does。　　She　says　it's　silly。　　I　forget

and　do　it；　when　I'm　alone。　　But　Uncle　Wesley；　if　I　said

anything　last　night；　you　know　it　was　the　merest　whisper；

because　I'd　have　been　so　afraid　of　waking　mother。　

Don't　you　see？　　I　sat　up　late；　and　studied　two　lessons。〃



Sinton　was　steadying　himself　〃I'll　stop　and　examine

the　case　as　I　come　back；〃　he　said。　　〃Maybe　I　can　find

some　clue。　　That　otherthat　was　just　accidental。　　It's　a

common　expression。　　All　the　preachers　use　it。　　If　I　tried

to　pray；　that　would　be　the　very　first　thing　I'd　say。〃



The　colour　returned　to　Elnora's　face。



〃Did　you　tell　your　mother　about　this　money；　Elnora？〃

he　asked。



〃No；　I　didn't；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃It's　dreadful　not　to；　but

I　was　afraid。　　You　see　they　are　clearing　the　swamp　so　fast。　

Every　year　it　grows　more　difficult　to　find　things；　and

Indian　stuff　becomes　scarcer。　　I　want　to　graduate；　and

that's　four　years　unless　I　can　double　on　the　course。　

That　means　twenty　dollars　tuition　each　year；　and　new　books；

and　clothes。　　There　won't　ever　be　so　much　at　one　time

again；　that　I　know。　　I　just　got　to　hang　to　my　money。　　I　was

afraid　to　tell　her；　for　fear　she　would　want　it　for　taxes；

and　she　really　must　sell　a　tree　or　some　cattle　for　that；

mustn't　she；　Uncle　Wesley？〃



〃On　your　life；　she　must！〃　said　Wesley。　　〃You　put　your

little　wad　in　the　bank　all　safe；　and　never　mention　it

to　a　living　soul。　　It　doesn't　seem　right；　but　your　case

is　peculiar。　　Every　word　you　say　is　a　true　word。　　Each　year

you　will　find　less　in　the　swamp；　and　things　everywhere　will

be　scarcer。　　If　you　ever　get　a　few　dollars　ahead；　that　can　start

your　college　fund。　　You　know　you　are　going　to　college；　Elnora！〃



〃Of　course　I　am；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃I　settled　that　as　soon

as　I　knew　what　a　college　was。　　I　will　put　all　my　money　in

the　bank；　except　what　I　owe　you。　　I'll　pay　that　now。〃



〃If　your　arrows　are　heavy；〃　said　Wesley；　〃I'll　drive　on

to　Onabasha　with　you。〃



〃But　they　are　not。　　Half　of　them　were　nicked；　and　this

little　box　held　all　the　good　ones。　　It's　so　surprising　how

many　are　spoiled　when　you　wash　them。〃



〃What　does　he　pay？〃



〃Ten　cents　for　any　common　perfect　one；　fifty　for　revolvers；

a　dollar　for　obsidian；　and　whatever　is　right　for　enormous

big　ones。〃



〃Well；　that　sounds　fair；〃　said　Sinton。　　〃You　can　come

down　Saturday　and　wash　the　stuff　at　our　house；　and　I'll

take　it　in　when　we　go　marketing　in　the　afternoon。〃



Elnora　jumped　from　the　carriage。　　She　soon　found　that

with　her　books；　her　lunch　box；　and　the　points　she　had　a

heavy　load。　　She　had　almost　reached　the　bridge　crossing

the　culvert　when　she　heard　distressed　screams　of　a　child。　

Across　an　orchard　of　the　suburbs　came　a　small　boy；　after

him　a　big　dog；　urged　by　a　man　in　the　background。　

Elnora's　heart　was　with　the　small　fleeing　figure　in　any

event　whatever。　　She　dropped　her　load　on　the　bridge；

and　with　practised　hand　flung　a　stone　at　the　dog。　

The　beast　curled　double　with　a　howl。　　The　boy　reached

the　fence；　and　Elnora　was　there　to　help　him　over。　　As　he

touched　the　top　she　swung　him　to　the　ground；　but　he　clung

to　her；　clasping　her　tightly；　sobbing　with　fear。　

Elnora　helped　him　to　the　bridge；　and　sat　with　him　in　her　arms。　

For　a　time　his　replies　to　her　questions　were　indistinct；　but

at　last　he　became　quieter　and　she　could　understand。



He　was　a　mite　of　a　boy；　nothing　but　skin…covered　bones；

his　burned；　freckled　face　in　a　mortar　of　tears　and　dust；　his

clothing　unspeakably　dirty；　one　great　toe　in　a　festering

mass　from　a　broken　nail；　and　sores　all　over　the　visible

portions　of　the　small　body。



〃You　won't　let　the　mean　old　thing　make　his　dog　get　me！〃　he　wailed。



〃Indeed　no；〃　said　Elnora；　holding　him　closely。



〃You　wouldn't　set　a　dog　on　a　boy　for　just　taking　a　few

old　apples　when　you　fed　'em　to　pigs　with　a　shovel　every

day；　would　you？〃



〃No；　I　would　not；〃　said　Elnora　hotly。



〃You'd　give　a　boy　all　the　apples　he　wanted；　if　he　hadn't

any　breakfast；　and　was　so　hungry　he　was　all　twisty　inside；

wouldn't　you？〃



〃Yes；　I　would；〃　said　Elnora。



〃If　you　had　anything　to　eat　you　would　give　me　something

right　now；　wouldn't　you？〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃There's　nothing　but　just　stones　in

the　package。　　But　my　dinner　is　in　that　case。　　I'll　gladly　divide。〃



She　opened　the　box。　　The　famished　child　gave　a　little

cry　and　reached　both　hands。　　Elnora　caught　them　back。



〃Did　you　have　any　supper？〃



〃No。〃



〃Any　dinner　yesterday？〃



〃An　apple　and　some　grapes　I　stole。〃



〃Whose　boy　are　you？〃



〃Old　Tom　Billings's。〃



〃Why　doesn't　your　father　get　you　something　to　eat？〃



〃He　does　most　days；　but　he's　drunk　now。〃



〃Hush；　you　must　not！〃　said　Elnora。　　〃He's　your　father！〃



〃He's　spent　all　the　money　to　get　drunk；　too；〃　said　the

boy；　〃and　Jimmy　and　Belle　are　both　crying　for　breakfast。　

I'd　a　got　out　all　right　with　an　apple　for　myself；　but　I　tried

to　get　some　for　them　and　the　dog　got　too　close。　　Say；　you

can　throw；　can't　you？〃



〃Yes；〃　admitted　Elnora。　　She　poured　half　the　milk

into　the　cup。　　〃Drink　this；〃　she　said；　holding　it　to　him。



The　boy　gulped　the　milk　and　swore　joyously；　gripping

the　cup　with　shaking　fingers。



〃Hush！〃　cried　Elnora。　　〃That's　dreadful！〃



〃What's　dreadful？〃



〃To　say　such　awful　words。〃



〃Huh！　pa　says　worser　'an　that　every　breath　he　draws。〃



Elnora　saw　that　the　child　was　older　than　she　had　thought。　

He　might　have　been　forty　judging　by　his　hard；　unchildish　expression。



〃Do　you　want　to　be　like　your　father？〃



〃No；　I　want　to　be　like　you。　　Couldn't　a　angel　be

prettier　'an　you。　　Can　I　have　more　milk？〃



Elnora　emptied　the　flask。　　The　boy　drained　the　cup。　

He　drew　a　breath　of　satisfaction　as　he　gazed　into　her　face。



〃You　wouldn't　go　off　and　leave　your　little　boy；　would

you？〃　he　asked。



〃Did　some　one　go　away　and　leave　you？〃



〃Yes；　my　mother　went　off　and　left　me；　and　left　Jimmy

and　Belle；　too；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃You　wouldn't　leave

your　little　boy；　would　you？〃



〃No。〃



The　boy　looked　eagerly　at　the　box。　　Elnora　lifted　a

sandwich　and　uncovered　the　fried　chicken。　　The　boy

gasped　with　delight。



〃Say；　I　could　eat　the　stuff　in　the　glass　and　the　other

box　and　carry　the　bread　and　the　chicken　to　Jimmy　and

Belle；〃　he　offered。



Elnora　silently　uncovered　the　custard　with　preserved

cherries　on　top　and　handed　it　and　the　spoon　to　the　child。　

Never　did　food　disappear　faster。　　The　salad　went　next；

and　a　sandwich　and　half　a　chicken　breast　followed。



〃I　better　leave　the　rest　for　Jimmy　and　Belle；〃　he

said；　〃they're　'ist　fightin'　hungry。〃



Elnora　gave　him　the　remainder　of　the　carefully　prepared　lunch。　

The　boy　clutched　it　and　ran　with　a　sidewise　hop　like　a

wild　thing。　　She　covered　the　dishes　and　cup；　polished　the

spoon；　replaced　it；　and　closed　the　case。　　She　caught　her

breath　in　a　tremulous　laugh。



〃If　Aunt　Margaret　knew　that；　she'd　never　forgive　me；〃

she　said。　　〃It　seems　as　if　secrecy　is　literally　forced　upon

me；　and　I　hate　it。　　What　shall　I　do　for　lunch？　　I'll　have　to

sell　my　arrows　and　keep　enough　money　for　a　restaurant　sandwich。〃



So　she　walked　hurriedly　into　town；　sold　her　points　at　a

good　price