第9章 CHAPTER II(2)

"No,not poor at all,come to think of it,"answered Margaret.

"It's a peculiar case.Mrs.Comstock had a great trouble and she let it change her whole life and make a different woman of her.She used to be lovely;now she is forever saving and scared to death for fear they will go to the poorhouse;but there is a big farm,covered with lots of good timber.The taxes are high for women who can't manage to clear and work the land.There ought to be enough to keep two of them in good shape all their lives,if they only knew how to do it.But no one ever told Kate Comstock anything,and never will,for she won't listen.

All she does is droop all day,and walk the edge of the swamp half the night,and neglect Elnora.If you girls would make life just a little easier for her it would be the finest thing you ever did."All of them promised they would.

"Now tell me about your hair,"persisted Margaret Sinton.

So they took her to a toilet counter,and she bought the proper hair soap,also a nail file,and cold cream,for use after windy days.Then they left her with the experienced clerk,and when at last Wesley found her she was loaded with bundles and the light of other days was in her beautiful eyes.

Wesley also carried some packages.

"Did you get any stockings?"he whispered.

"No,I didn't,"she said."I was so interested in dresses and hair ribbons and a--a hat----"she hesitated and glanced at Wesley."Of course,a hat!"prompted Wesley."That I forgot all about those horrible shoes.

She's got to have decent shoes,Wesley."

"Sure!"said Wesley."She's got decent shoes.But the man said some brown stockings ought to go with them.

Take a peep,will you!"

Wesley opened a box and displayed a pair of thick-soled,beautifully shaped brown walking shoes of low cut.Margaret cried out with pleasure.

"But do you suppose they are the right size,Wesley?

What did you get?"

"I just said for a girl of sixteen with a slender foot.""Well,that's about as near as I could come.If they don't fit when she tries them,we will drive straight in and change them.Come on now,let's get home."All the way they discussed how they should give Elnora their purchases and what Mrs.Comstock would say.

"I am afraid she will be awful mad,"said Margaret.

"She'll just rip!"replied Wesley graphically."But if she wants to leave the raising of her girl to the neighbours,she needn't get fractious if they take some pride in doing a good job.From now on I calculate Elnora shall go to school;and she shall have all the clothes and books she needs,if I go around on the back of Kate Comstock's land and cut a tree,or drive off a calf to pay for them.

Why I know one tree she owns that would put Elnora in heaven for a year.Just think of it,Margaret!It's not fair.One-third of what is there belongs to Elnora by law,and if Kate Comstock raises a row I'll tell her so,and see that the girl gets it.You go to see Kate in the morning,and I'll go with you.Tell her you want Elnora's pattern,that you are going to make her a dress,for helping us.And sort of hint at a few more things.

If Kate balks,I'll take a hand and settle her.I'll go to law for Elnora's share of that land and sell enough to educate her.""Why,Wesley Sinton,you're perfectly wild.""I'm not!Did you ever stop to think that such cases are so frequent there have been laws made to provide for them?

I can bring it up in court and force Kate to educate Elnora,and board and clothe her till she's of age,and then she can take her share.""Wesley,Kate would go crazy!"

"She's crazy now.The idea of any mother living with as sweet a girl as Elnora.and letting her suffer till I find her crying like a funeral.It makes me fighting mad.

All uncalled for.Not a grain of sense in it.I've offered and offered to oversee clearing her land and working her fields.Let her sell a good tree,or a few acres.

Something is going to be done,right now.Elnora's been fairly happy up to this,but to spoil the school life she's planned,is to ruin all her life.I won't have it!If Elnora won't take these things,so help me,I'll tell her what she is worth,and loan her the money and she can pay me back when she comes of age.I am going to have it out with Kate Comstock in the morning.Here we are!

You open up what you got while I put away the horses,and then I'll show you."When Wesley came from the barn Margaret had four pieces of crisp gingham,a pale blue,a pink,a gray with green stripes and a rich brown and blue plaid.On each of them lay a yard and a half of wide ribbon to match.

There were handkerchiefs and a brown leather belt.In her hands she held a wide-brimmed tan straw hat,having a high crown banded with velvet strips each of which fastened with a tiny gold buckle.

"It looks kind of bare now,"she explained."It had three quills on it here.""Did you have them taken off?"asked Wesley.

"Yes,I did.The price was two and a half for the hat,and those things were a dollar and a half apiece.

I couldn't pay that."