a girl of the limberlost-第8章

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she'll　be　home　to…night　just　as　usual。〃



〃Well；　you　are　a　brave　woman　if　you　dared　put　a　girl　of

Elnora's　make　through　what　she　suffered　yesterday；　and　will

suffer　again　to…day；　and　let　her　know　you　did　it　on　purpose。　

I　admire　your　nerve。　　But　I've　watched　this　since　Elnora

was　born；　and　I　got　enough。　　Things　have　come　to　a　pass

where　they　go　better　for　her；　or　I　interfere。〃



〃As　if　you'd　ever　done　anything　but　interfere　all　her　life！　

Think　I　haven't　watched　you？　　Think　I；　with　my　heart　raw

in　my　breast；　and　too　numb　to　resent　it　openly；

haven't　seen　you　and　Mag　Sinton　trying　to　turn　Elnora

against　me　day　after　day？　　When　did　you　ever　tell　her

what　her　father　meant　to　me？　　When　did　you　ever　try　to

make　her　see　the　wreck　of　my　life；　and　what　I've　suffered？　

No　indeed！　　Always　it's　been　poor　little　abused　Elnora；

and　cakes；　kissing；　extra　clothes；　and　encouraging　her

to　run　to　you　with　a　pitiful　mouth　every　time　I　tried　to

make　a　woman　of　her。〃



〃Kate　Comstock；　that's　unjust；〃　cried　Sinton。　　〃Only　last

night　I　tried　to　show　her　the　picture　I　saw　the　day　she

was　born。　　I　begged　her　to　come　to　you　and　tell　you

pleasant　what　she　needed；　and　ask　you　for　what　I　happen

to　know　you　can　well　afford　to　give　her。〃



〃I　can't！〃　cried　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃You　know　I　can't！〃



〃Then　get　so　you　can！〃　said　Wesley　Sinton。　　〃Any　day

you　say　the　word　you　can　sell　six　thousand　worth　of

rare　timber　off　this　place　easy。　　I'll　see　to　clearing　and

working　the　fields　cheap　as　dirt；　for　Elnora's　sake。　

I'll　buy　you　more　cattle　to　fatten。　　All　you've　got　to　do

is　sign　a　lease；　to　pull　thousands　from　the　ground　in　oil；

as　the　rest　of　us　are　doing　all　around　you！〃



〃Cut　down　Robert's　trees！〃　shrieked　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃Tear　up　his　land！　　Cover　everything　with　horrid；

greasy　oil！　　I'll　die　first。〃



〃You　mean　you'll　let　Elnora　go　like　a　beggar；　and　hurt

and　mortify　her　past　bearing。　　I've　got　to　the　place　where

I　tell　you　plain　what　I　am　going　to　do。　　Maggie　and　I

went　to　town　last　night；　and　we　bought　what　things　Elnora

needs　most　urgent　to　make　her　look　a　little　like　the　rest　of

the　high　school　girls。　　Now　here　it　is　in　plain　English。　

You　can　help　get　these　things　ready；　and　let　us　give　them　to

her　as　we　want〃



〃She　won't　touch　them！〃　cried　Mrs。　Comstock。



〃Then　you　can　pay　us；　and　she　can　take　them　as　her　right〃



〃I　won't！〃



〃Then　I　will　tell　Elnora　just　what　you　are　worth；　what

you　can　afford；　and　how　much　of　this　she　owns。　　I'll　loan

her　the　money　to　buy　books　and　decent　clothes；　and

when　she　is　of　age　she　can　sell　her　share　and　pay　me。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　gripped　a　chair…back　and　opened　her

lips；　but　no　words　came。



〃And；〃　Sinton　continued；　〃if　she　is　so　much　like　you

that　she　won't　do　that；　I'll　go　to　the　county　seat　and　lay

complaint　against　you　as　her　guardian　before　the　judge。　

I'll　swear　to　what　you　are　worth；　and　how　you　are　raising

her；　and　have　you　discharged；　or　have　the　judge　appoint

some　man　who　will　see　that　she　is　comfortable；　educated；

and　decent　looking！〃



〃Youyou　wouldn't！〃　gasped　Kate　Comstock。



〃I　won't　need　to；　Kate！〃　said　Sinton；　his　heart　softening

the　instant　the　hard　words　were　said。　　〃You　won't

show　it；　but　you　do　love　Elnora！　　You　can't　help　it！　

You　must　see　how　she　needs　things；　come　help　us　fix　them；

and　be　friends。　　Maggie　and　I　couldn't　live　without　her；

and　you　couldn't　either。　　You've　got　to　love　such　a　fine

girl　as　she　is；　let　it　show　a　little！〃



〃You　can　hardly　expect　me　to　love　her；〃　said　Mrs。

Comstock　coldly。　　〃But　for　her　a　man　would　stand　back

of　me　now；　who　would　beat　the　breath　out　of　your　sneaking

body　for　the　cowardly　thing　with　which　you　threaten　me。　

After　all　I've　suffered　you'd　drag　me　to　court　and

compel　me　to　tear　up　Robert's　property。　　If　I　ever　go　they

carry　me。　　If　they　touch　one　tree；　or　put　down　one　greasy

old　oil　well；　it　will　be　over　all　I　can　shoot；　before　they

begin。　　Now；　see　how　quick　you　can　clear　out　of　here！〃



〃You　won't　come　and　help　Maggie　with　the　dress？〃



For　answer　Mrs。　Comstock　looked　around　swiftly　for

some　object　on　which　to　lay　her　hands。　　Knowing　her

temper；　Wesley　Sinton　left　with　all　the　haste　consistent

with　dignity。　　But　he　did　not　go　home。　　He　crossed　a

field；　and　in　an　hour　brought　another　neighbour　who　was

skilful　with　her　needle。　　With　sinking　heart　Margaret　saw

them　coming。



〃Kate　is　too　busy　to　help　to…day；　she　can't　sew　before

to…morrow；〃　said　Wesley　cheerfully　as　they　entered。



That　quieted　Margaret's　apprehension　a　little；　though

she　had　some　doubts。　　Wesley　prepared　the　lunch；　and

by　four　o'clock　the　dress　was　finished　as　far　as　it　possibly

could　be　until　it　was　fitted　on　Elnora。　　If　that　did　not

entail　too　much　work；　it　could　be　completed　in　two　hours。



Then　Margaret　packed　their　purchases　into　the　big

market　basket。　　Wesley　took　the　hat；　umbrella；　and　raincoat；

and　they　went　to　Mrs。　Comstock's。　　As　they　reached

the　step；　Margaret　spoke　pleasantly　to　Mrs。　Comstock；

who　sat　reading　just　inside　the　door；　but　she　did　not

answer　and　deliberately　turned　a　leaf　without　looking　up。



Wesley　Sinton　opened　the　door　and　went　in　followed　by　Margaret。



〃Kate；〃　he　said；　〃you　needn't　take　out　your　mad　over

our　little　racket　on　Maggie。　　I　ain't　told　her　a　word　I　said

to　you；　or　you　said　to　me。　　She's　not　so　very　strong；　and

she's　sewed　since　four　o'clock　this　morning　to　get　this　dress

ready　for　to…morrow。　　It's　done　and　we　came　down　to　try

it　on　Elnora。〃



〃Is　that　the　truth；　Mag　Sinton？〃　demanded　Mrs。　Comstock。



〃You　heard　Wesley　say　so；〃　proudly　affirmed　Mrs。　Sinton。



〃I　want　to　make　you　a　proposition；〃　said　Wesley。　

〃Wait　till　Elnora　comes。　　Then　we'll　show　her　the　things

and　see　what　she　says。〃



〃How　would　it　do　to　see　what　she　says　without　bribing

her；〃　sneered　Mrs。　Comstock。



〃If　she　can　stand　what　she　did　yesterday；　and　will　to…

day；　she　can　bear　'most　anything；〃　said　Wesley。　　〃Put　away

the　clothes　if　you　want　to；　till　we　tell　her。〃



〃Well；　you　don't　take　this　waist　I'm　working　on；〃

said　Margaret；　〃for　I　have　to　baste　in　the　sleeves　and　set

the　collar。　　Put　the　rest　out　of　sight　if　you　like。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　picked　up　the　basket　and　bundles；

placed　them　inside　her　room　and　closed　the　door。



Margaret　threaded　her　needle　and　began　to　sew。　

Mrs。　Comstock　returned　to　her　book；　while　Wesley　fidgeted

and　raged　inwardly。　　He　could　see　that　Margaret　was

nervous　and　almost　in　tears；　but　the　lines　in　Mrs。

Comstock's　impassive　face　were　set　and　cold。　　So　they

sat　while　the　clock　ticked　off　the　timeone　hour；　two；

dusk；　and　no　Elnora。　　Just　when　Margaret　and　Wesley　were

discussing　whether　he　had　not　better　go　to　town　to　meet

Elnora；　they　heard　her　coming　up　the　walk。　　Wesley　dropped

his　tilted　chair　and　squared　himself。　　Margaret　gripped

her　sewing；　and　turned　pleading　eyes　toward　the　door。　

Mrs。　Comstock　closed　her　book　and　grimly　smiled。



〃Mother；　please　open　the　door；〃　called　Elnora。



Mrs。　Comstock　arose；　and　swung　back　the　screen。

Elnora　stepped　in　beside　her；　bent　half　double；　the　whole

front　of　her　dress　gathered　into　a　sort　of　bag　filled　with　a

heavy　load；　and　one　arm　stacked　high　with　books。　　In　the

dim　light　she　did　not　see　the　Sintons。



　〃Please　hand　me　the　empty　bucket　in　the　kitchen；

mother；〃　she　said。　　〃I　just　had　to　bring　these　arrow

points　home；　but　I'm　scared　for　fear　I've　spoiled　my　dress

and　will　have　to　wash　it。　　I'm　to　clean　them；　and　take

them　to　the　banker　in　the　morning；　and　oh；　mother；　I've

sold　enough　stuff　to　pay　for　my　books；　my　tuition；　and

maybe　a　dress　and　some　lighter　shoes　besides。　　Oh；　mother

I'm　so　happy！　　Take　the　books　and　bring　the　bucket！〃



Then　she　saw　Margaret　and　Wesley。　　〃Oh；　glory！〃

she　exulted。　　〃I　was　just　wondering　how　I'd　ever　wait　to

tell　you；　and　here　you　are！　　It's　too　perfectly　splendid　to

be　true！〃



〃Tell　us；　Elnora；〃　said　Sinton。



〃Well　sir；〃　said　Elnora；　doubling　down　on　the　floor　and

spreading　out　her　skirt；　〃set　the　bucket　here；　mother。　

These　points　are　brittle；　and　should　be　put　in　one　at　a　time。　

If　they　are　chipped　I　can't　sell　them。　　Well　sir！　　I've　had

a　time！　　You　know　I　just　had　to　have　books。　　I　tried　three

stores；　and　they　wouldn't　trust　me；　not　even　three　days；

I　didn't　know　what　in　this　world　I　could　do　quickly　enough。　

Just　when　I　was　almost　frantic　I　saw　a　sign　in　a　bank　window

asking　for　caterpillars；　cocoons；　butterflies；　arrow　points；

and　everything。　　I　went　in；　and　it　was　this　Bird　Woman　who

wants　the　insects；　and　the　banker　wants　the　stones。　　I　had

to　go　to　school　then；　but；　if　you'll　believe　it〃Elnora

beamed　on　all　of　them　in　turn　as　she　talked　and　slipped

the　arrow　points　from　her　dress　to　the　pail〃if　you'll

believe　itbut　you　won't；　hardly；　until　you　look　at　the

booksthere　was　the　mathematics　teacher；　waiting　at　his

door；　and　he　had　a　set　of　books　for　me　that　he　had

telephoned　a　Sophomore　to　bring。〃



〃How　did　he　happen　to　do　that；　Elnora？〃　interrupted　Sinton。



Elnora　blushed。



〃It　was　a　fool　mistake　I　made　yesterday　in　thinking

books　were　just　handed　out　to　one。　　There　was　a　teachers'

meeting　last　night　and　the　history　teacher　told　about　that。　

Professor　Henley　thought　of　me。　　You　know　I　told　you　what

he　said　about　my　algebra；　mother。　　Ain't　I　glad　I　studied

out　some　of　it　myself　this　summer！　　So　he　telephoned　and

a　girl　brought　the　books。　　Because　they　are　marked　and

abused　some　I　get　the　whole　outfit　for　two　dollars。　

I　can　erase　most　of　the　marks；　paste　down　the　covers；

and　fix　them　so　they　look　better。　　But　I　must　hurry　to

the　joy　part。　　I　didn't　stop　to　eat；　at　noon；　I　just

ran　to　the　Bird　Woman's；　and　I　had　lunch　with　her。　　It　was

salad；　hot　chocolate；　and　lovely　things；　and　she　wants

to　buy　most　every　old　scrap　I　ever　gathered。　　She　wants

dragonflies；　moths；　butterflies；　and　hethe　banker；　I

meanwants　everything　Indian。　　This　very　night　she

came　to　the　swamp　with　me　and　took　away　enough　stuff　to

pay　for　the　books　and　tuition；　and　to…morrow　she　is　going

to　buy　some　more。〃



Elnora　laid　the　last　arrow　point　in　the　pail　and　arose；

shaking　leaves　and　bits　of　baked　earth　from　her　dress。　

She　reached　into　her　pocket；　produced　her　money　and

waved　it　before　their　wondering　eyes。



〃And　that's　the　joy　part！〃　she　exulted。　　〃Put　it　up　in

the　clock　till　morning；　mother。　　That　pays　for　the　books

and　tuition　and〃　Elnora　hesitated；　for　she　saw　the

nervous　grasp　with　which　her　mother's　fingers　closed　on

the　bills。　　Then　she　continued；　but　more　slowly　and

thinking　before　she　spoke。



〃What　I　get　to…morrow　pays　for　more　books　and　tuition；

and　maybe　a　few；　just　a　few；　things　to　wear。　　These　shoes

are　so　dreadfully　heavy　and　hot；　and　they　make　such　a

noise　on　the　floor。　　There　isn't　another　calico　dress　in

the　whole　building；　not　among　h