a girl of the limberlost-第27章

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toward　the　windows；　for　it　seemed　only　a　breath　of　wind

rustling　freshly　opened　leaves；　merely　a　hint　of　stirring　air。



Then　the　curtains　were　swept　aside　swiftly。　　The　stage

had　been　transformed　into　a　lovely　little　corner　of　creation；

where　trees　and　flowers　grew　and　moss　carpeted　the　earth。　

A　soft　wind　blew　and　it　was　the　gray　of　dawn。　　Suddenly　a

robin　began　to　sing；　then　a　song　sparrow　joined　him；　and

then　several　orioles　began　talking　at　once。　　The　light　grew

stronger；　the　dew　drops　trembled；　flower　perfume　began

to　creep　out　to　the　audience；　the　air　moved　the　branches

gently　and　a　rooster　crowed。　　Then　all　the　scene　was

shaken　with　a　babel　of　bird　notes　in　which　you　could　hear

a　cardinal　whistling；　and　a　blue　finch　piping。　　Back　somewhere

among　the　high　branches　a　dove　cooed　and　then　a　horse

neighed　shrilly。　　That　set　a　blackbird　crying；　〃T'check；〃

and　a　whole　flock　answered　it。　　The　crows　began　to　caw　and

a　lamb　bleated。　　Then　the　grosbeaks；　chats；　and　vireos

had　something　to　say；　and　the　sun　rose　higher；　the　light

grew　stronger　and　the　breeze　rustled　the　treetops

loudly；　a　cow　bawled　and　the　whole　barnyard　answered。　

The　guineas　were　clucking；　the　turkey　gobbler　strutting；

the　hens　calling；　the　chickens　cheeping；　the　light　streamed

down　straight　overhead　and　the　bees　began　to　hum。　　The　air

stirred　strongly；　and　away　in　an　unseen　field　a　reaper

clacked　and　rattled　through　ripening　wheat　while　the

driver　whistled。　　An　uneasy　mare　whickered　to　her　colt；

the　colt　answered；　and　the　light　began　to　decline。　

Miles　away　a　rooster　crowed　for　twilight；　and　dusk　was

coming　down。　　Then　a　catbird　and　a　brown　thrush　sang

against　a　grosbeak　and　a　hermit　thrush。　　The　air　was

tremulous　with　heavenly　notes；　the　lights　went　out　in　the

hall；　dusk　swept　across　the　stage；　a　cricket　sang　and　a

katydid　answered；　and　a　wood　pewee　wrung　the　heart　with

its　lonesome　cry。　　Then　a　night　hawk　screamed；　a　whip…

poor…will　complained；　a　belated　killdeer　swept　the　sky；

and　the　night　wind　sang　a　louder　song。　　A　little　screech　owl

tuned　up　in　the　distance；　a　barn　owl　replied；　and　a　great

horned　owl　drowned　both　their　voices。　　The　moon　shone　and　the

scene　was　warm　with　mellow　light。　　The　bird　voices　died

and　soft　exquisite　melody　began　to　swell　and　roll。　　In　the

centre　of　the　stage；　piece　by　piece　the　grasses；　mosses　and

leaves　dropped　from　an　embankment；　the　foliage　softly

blew　away；　while　plainer　and　plainer　came　the　outlines　of　a

lovely　girl　figure　draped　in　soft　clinging　green。　　In　her

shower　of　bright　hair　a　few　green　leaves　and　white　blossoms

clung；　and　they　fell　over　her　robe　down　to　her　feet。　　Her　white

throat　and　arms　were　bare；　she　leaned　forward　a　little　and

swayed　with　the　melody；　her　eyes　fast　on　the　clouds　above　her；

her　lips　parted；　a　pink　tinge　of　exercise　in　her　cheeks　as

she　drew　her　bow。　　She　played　as　only　a　peculiar　chain　of

circumstances　puts　it　in　the　power　of　a　very　few　to　play。　

All　nature　had　grown　still；　the　violin　sobbed；　sang；

danced　and　quavered　on　alone；　no　voice　in　particular；

the　soul　of　the　melody　of　all　nature　combined　in　one

great　outpouring。



At　the　doorway；　a　white…faced　woman　endured　it　as　long

as　she　could　and　then　fell　senseless。　　The　men　nearest

carried　her　down　the　hall　to　the　fountain；　revived　her；　and

then　placed　her　in　the　carriage　to　which　she　directed　them。　

The　girl　played　on　and　never　knew。　　When　she　finished；

the　uproar　of　applause　sounded　a　block　down　the　street；　but

the　half…senseless　woman　scarcely　realized　what　it　meant。　

Then　the　girl　came　to　the　front　of　the　stage；　bowed；　and

lifting　the　violin　she　played　her　conception　of　an　invitation

to　dance。　　Every　living　soul　within　sound　of　her　notes

strained　their　nerves　to　sit　still　and　let　only　their　hearts

dance　with　her。　　When　that　began　the　woman　ran　toward

the　country。　　She　never　stopped　until　the　carriage　overtook

her　half…way　to　her　cabin。　　She　said　she　had　grown

tired　of　sitting；　and　walked　on　ahead。　　That　night　she

asked　Billy　to　remain　with　her　and　sleep　on　Elnora's　bed。　

Then　she　pitched　headlong　upon　her　own；　and　suffered

agony　of　soul　such　as　she　never　before　had　known。　

The　swamp　had　sent　back　the　soul　of　her　loved　dead　and

put　it　into　the　body　of　the　daughter　she　resented；

and　it　was　almost　more　than　she　could　endure　and　live。









CHAPTER　XI





WHEREIN　ELNORA　GRADUATES；

AND　FRECKLES　AND　THE　ANGEL　SEND　GIFTS





That　was　Friday　night。　　Elnora　came　home　Saturday　morning

and　began　work。　　Mrs。　Comstock　asked　no　questions；　and

the　girl　only　told　her　that　the　audience　had　been　large

enough　to　more　than　pay　for　the　piece　of　statuary　the　class

had　selected　for　the　hall。　　Then　she　inquired　about　her

dresses　and　was　told　they　would　be　ready　for　her。　　She　had

been　invited　to　go　to　the　Bird　Woman's　to　prepare　for　both

the　sermon　and　Commencement　exercises。　　Since　there　was　so

much　practising　to　do；　it　had　been　arranged　that　she　should

remain　there　from　the　night　of　the　sermon　until　after　she

was　graduated。　　If　Mrs。　Comstock　decided　to　attend　she　was

to　drive　in　with　the　Sintons。　　When　Elnora　begged　her　to

come　she　said　she　cared　nothing　about　such　silliness。



It　was　almost　time　for　Wesley　to　come　to　take　Elnora　to

the　city；　when　fresh　from　her　bath；　and　dressed　to　her　outer

garment；　she　stood　with　expectant　face　before　her　mother

and　cried：　　〃Now　my　dress；　mother！〃



Mrs。　Comstock　was　pale　as　she　replied：　　〃It's　on　my　bed。　

Help　yourself。〃



Elnora　opened　the　door　and　stepped　into　her　mother's

room　with　never　a　misgiving。　　Since　the　night　Margaret

and　Wesley　had　brought　her　clothing；　when　she　first　started

to　school；　her　mother　had　selected　all　of　her　dresses；　with

Mrs。　Sinton's　help　made　most　of　them；　and　Elnora　had

paid　the　bills。　　The　white　dress　of　the　previous　spring　was

the　first　made　at　a　dressmaker's。　　She　had　worn　that　as

junior　usher　at　Commencement；　but　her　mother　had　selected

the　material；　had　it　made；　and　it　had　fitted　perfectly　and

had　been　suitable　in　every　way。　　So　with　her　heart　at　rest　on

that　point；　Elnora　hurried　to　the　bed　to　find　only　her　last

summer's　white　dress；　freshly　washed　and　ironed。　　For　an

instant　she　stared　at　it；　then　she　picked　up　the　garment；

looked　at　the　bed　beneath　it；　and　her　gaze　slowly　swept　the　room。



It　was　unfamiliar。　　Perhaps　this　was　the　third　time　she

had　been　in　it　since　she　was　a　very　small　child。　　Her　eyes

ranged　over　the　beautiful　walnut　dresser；　the　tall　bureau；

the　big　chest；　inside　which　she　never　had　seen；　and　the　row

of　masculine　attire　hanging　above　it。　　Somewhere　a

dainty　lawn　or　mull　dress　simply　must　be　hanging：　but　it

was　not。　　Elnora　dropped　on　the　chest　because　she　felt　too

weak　to　stand。　　In　less　than　two　hours　she　must　be　in

the　church；　at　Onabasha。　　She　could　not　wear　a　last

year's　washed　dress。　　She　had　nothing　else。　　She　leaned

against　the　wall　and　her　father's　overcoat　brushed　her　face。　

She　caught　the　folds　and　clung　to　it　with　all　her　might。



〃Oh　father！　　Father！〃　she　moaned。　　〃I　need　you！　　I　don't

believe　you　would　have　done　this！〃　　At　last　she

opened　the　door。



〃I　can't　find　my　dress；〃　she　said。



〃Well；　as　it's　the　only　one　there　I　shouldn't　think　it

would　be　much　trouble。〃



〃You　mean　for　me　to　wear　an　old　washed　dress　to…night？〃



〃It's　a　good　dress。　　There　isn't　a　hole　in　it！　　There's　no

reason　on　earth　why　you　shouldn't　wear　it。〃



〃Except　that　I　will　not；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃Didn't　you

provide　any　dress　for　Commencement；　either？〃



〃If　you　soil　that　to…night；　I've　plenty　of　time　to　wash

it　again。〃



Wesley's　voice　called　from　the　gate。



〃In　a　minute；〃　answered　Elnora。



She　ran　upstairs　and　in　an　incredibly　short　time　came

down　wearing　one　of　her　gingham　school　dresses。　　Her　face

cold　and　hard；　she　passed　her　mother　and　went　into

the　night。　　Half　an　hour　later　Margaret　and　Billy　stopped

for　Mrs。　Comstock　with　the　carriage。　　She　had　determined

fully　that　she　would　not　go　before　they　called。　　With　the

sound　of　their　voices　a　sort　of　horror　of　being　left　seized　her；

so　she　put　on　her　hat；　locked　the　door　and　went　out　to　them。



〃How　did　Elnora　look？〃　inquired　Margaret　anxiously。



〃Like　she　always　does；〃　answered　Mrs。　Comstock　curtly。



〃I　do　hope　her　dresses　are　as　pretty　as　the　others；〃

said　Margaret。　　〃None　of　them　will　have　prettier　faces　or

nicer　ways。〃



Wesley　was　waiting　before　the　big　church　to　take　care　of

the　team。　　As　they　stood　watching　the　people　enter　the

building；　Mrs。　Comstock　felt　herself　growing　ill。　　When　they

went　inside　among　the　lights；　saw　the　flower…decked　stage；

and　the　masses　of　finely　dressed　people；　she　grew　no　better。　

She　could　hear　Margaret　and　Billy　softly　commenting　on　what

was　being　done。



〃That　first　chair　in　the　very　front　row　is　Elnora's；〃

exulted　Billy；　〃cos　she's　got　the　highest　grades；　and　so　she

gets　to　lead　the　procession　to　the　platform。〃



〃The　first　chair！〃　　〃Lead　the　procession！〃　　Mrs。　Comstock

was　dumbfounded。　　The　notes　of　the　pipe　organ　began　to　fill

the　building　in　a　slow　rolling　march。　　Would　Elnora　lead

the　procession　in　a　gingham　dress？　　Or　would　she　be　absent

and　her　chair　vacant　on　this　great　occasion？　　For　now；　Mrs。

Comstock　could　see　that　it　was　a　great　occasion。　　Every　one

would　remember　how　Elnora　had　played　a　few　nights　before；

and　they　would　miss　her　and　pity　her。　　Pity？　　Because　she　had

no　one　to　care　for　her。　　Because　she　was　worse　off　than　if　she

had　no　mother。　　For　the　first　time　in　her　life；　Mrs。　Comstock

began　to　study　herself　as　she　would　appear　to　others。　

Every　time　a　junior　girl　came　fluttering　down　the　aisle；

leading　some　one　to　a　seat；　and　Mrs。　Comstock　saw　a　beautiful

white　dress　pass；　a　wave　of　positive　illness　swept　over　her。　

What　had　she　done？　　What　would　become　of　Elnora？



As　Elnora　rode　to　the　city；　she　answered　Wesley's

questions　in　monosyllables　so　that　he　thought　she　was

nervous　or　rehearsing　her　speech　and　did　not　care　to　talk。　

Several　times　the　girl　tried　to　tell　him　and　realized　that　if

she　said　the　first　word　it　would　bring　uncontrollable　tears。　

The　Bird　Woman　opened　the　screen　and　stared　unbelievingly。



〃Why；　I　thought　you　would　be　ready；　you　are　so　late！〃



she　said。　　〃If　you　have　waited　to　dress　here；　we　must　hurry。〃



〃I　have　nothing　to　put　on；〃　said　Elnora。



In　bewilderment　the　Bird　Woman　drew　her　inside。



〃Diddid〃　she　faltered。　　〃Did　you　think　you　would　wear　that？〃



〃No。　　I　thought　I　would　telephone　Ellen　that　there　had

been　an　accident　and　I　could　not　come。　　I　don't　know　yet

how　to　explain。　　I'm　too　sick　to　think。　　Oh；　do　you　suppose

I　can　get　something　made　by　Tuesday；　so　that　I　can　graduate？〃



〃Yes；　and　you'll　get　something　on　you　to…night；　so　that

you　can　lead　your　class；　as　you　have　done　for　four　years。　

Go　to　my　room　and　take　off　that