Bellefonte, Pa., January 10, 1913, A GIRL OF THE LINBERLOST By GENE STRAITON-PORTER Copyright, 1909, vy Doubleday. Page & Cn SYNOPSIS Althougn a good scholar, Elnora stock, entering high school, is abashed ber country dress. She needs $20 books and tuition fees. Her mother unsympathetic, and Elnora tells her bles to Wesley Sinton, an old neighbor. When Elnora was born her father was drowned in a swamp, embittering her mother’s life. Elnora determines to raise money by gathering forest specimens. The Sintons buy clothes for her. cigh terflles, Indian relics, etc, . Mrs. Comstock’'s devotion to her hus- Elnora is delighted with her outfit. Her mother says she must pay for it. Wes- ley and Margaret Sinton discuss the girl's Pete Corson, a Limberlost frequenter, warns Elnora not to visit the Limberlost at night or go far into the swamp at any | i i i i i ; had taught him to strike the bot iron. I ways? he demunded | i Billy, a bright hut untrained little chap, with a shiftless father and hungry broth. er and sister, gets Elnora's luncheon. Wesley, troubled by Corson's warning, in- vestigates Sinton finds some one has been spying on Elnora. The girl feeds Billy again. Sig 1a “taken up’ by the high school ri Billy's father dies, and the lad is taken home by Sinton, who makes provision for his brother and sister. Margaret finds Billy mischievous, but her heart softens, and he is adopted. Pete helps Elnora to collect specimens. She buys a Mark Twain book for her mother. [Continued from last week.] drs. Comstock had started to walk slowly and meet Elnora. The girl had beeu so late that ber mother reached the Sinton gate and came up the path until the picture inside became visible, Elnora had told ber about Sinton tak- ing Billy tome Mrs. Comstock had Some curivs.iy to see how Margaret bore the unexpected addition to her family. Billy's voice, raised with ex- citement. was plainly audible. She could =ee Elnora holding him and hear his excited wall Sinton’s face was drawn and haggard and Margaret's set and defiant. A very imp of per- versity entered the breast of Mrs. Com- stock and danced there. “Hoity. toity!” she said as she sud- denls appeured in the door. “Blest if I ever henrd » man making sounds lke that before” Billy ceased suddenly. Mrs. Com: stock was tull. auguinr, and ber bair was prematurely white, for she was only thirty-six, though she looked fifty. But there was au expression on her usually cold face that was attractive Just then. und Rilly wus In search of attractions. “Do you like buys?" he questioned. “If there is unything 1 love it is a boy.” said Mrs. Comstock assuringly. Billy was on the floor. “Do you like dogs?" “Yes. almost as well as boys. 1 am going to buy un dog just as soon as | can find a good one.” Billy swept toward her witha whoop. “Do you want a boy?" be shouted. Katharine Comstock stretched out her arms and gaghered him in. “Of course ! want a boy" she re Joiced. “Maybe you'd like to have me?" of- fered Billy. 4 “Sure | would.” triumphed Mrs. Com- stock. “Any one would like to have you You are just a real boy. Billy.” “Will you take Spap?” “I'd like to bave Snap almost as well as you.” “Mother!” breathed Elnora implor- ingly. “Don't! Oh, don't! He thinks you mean it!" “Aad so | do mean it,” said Mrs. Comstock. “I'll take him in a ney, 1 throw away enough to feed a little tyke like bim every day. His chatter would be great company while you are arou. gripped ber with all puny “You can whip me all you want sald. “1 won't make a sound.” Mrs. Comstock beld him closely her hard face was softening. there could not be a doubt. “You like boys!" exulted Billy, his head dropped against Mrs, Com Billy held tight to Mrs. Comstock and Elnora “Goodby! he sald casually. “I'll come nnd see You some time.” Wesley Sinton gave a smothered sob and strode from the room. Mrs Comstock started for the door, dragging at Billy as Elnora pulled back. but Mrs Rinton was before them, her eyes tashing “Eate Comstock, you think you are mighty smart, don't yon?" she cried. “1 ain't in the Innatic asyinm, where you belong. anyway.” said Mrs. Com- stock “I am smart enough to tell a dandy boy when | see him, and I'm good and glad to get him. [I'll love to have him!" “Well, you won't have him!" ex- claimed Margaret Sinton. “That boy Is Wesley's. He got him and brought him here. You can't come in and take him like that. Let go of Rim!" Wesley Sinton appeared behind Mar: garet in the doorway, and she turned to him. “Make Kate Comstock let go of our boy!" she demanded. “Billy, she wants you now,” sald Wesley Sinton. “She won't whip you. and she won't let any one else. You cau bave stacks of good things to eat, ride in the carriage and have a great time. Won't you stay with us?" Billy drew away from Mrs. Com: stock and Elpora. He faced Margaret, his eres shrewd with unchildish wisdom Necessity to drive the bard bargain, “Can | have Soup to live hers al “Yes. you can bhuve all the dogs yon want,” sald Margaret Sinton, “Can 1 sleep cinge enoih so's 1 enn touch yon?" “Yes. fon ean move your lounge sp so that yon cam bold mv band.” wld Margaret. “Do you love me now?’ questioned Billy, “I'N" try to love vou it you are a good boy.” sald Marzaret, “Then | guess I'l! stay.” said Billy. walking over to her. Out in the picht Linors and ner wouther went down the rond In the moonlight, and every few rods Mrs. Comstock laughed aloud. “Mother, | don't understand you,” sobbed Elnora. “Well, maybe when you have gone to high school long yon will,” said Mrs. Comstock “Anyway, you saw me bring Mag Sinton to her senses, didn't you?” - ® LJ ® On Sunday, while Mrs. Comstock was in town with the Sintons, Elnora, al- though repeatedly cautioned not to en- ter the Limberiost alone, went after specimens and was soon carrying five fine cocoons of different species as her reward. She pushed back her hair and guzed around longingly. A few rods Inside she thought she saw cocoons on a bush, to which she went and found several. Sense of cau. tion was rapidly vanishing: she was in a fair way to forget everything and | plunge into the swamp when she! thought she heard footsteps coming | down the trall She went back and came out almost facing Pete Corson. | That ended her difficulty. She had | known him since childhood. When she wood schoolhouse Pete had been one of | Came Out Almost Facing Pate Corson. the big boys at the back of the room. He had been rough and wild, but she never had been afraid of him, and of- ten he bad given ber pretty things from the swap. “What luck!” she cried. “1 promised mother I would not go inside swamp alone, and will you look at cocoons I've found! There “What are those 5 seis fisf i Ai and I've four years in the high school yet. That's a long time. | might get them.” “Can every kind there is be found | here?” more than I need of one kind | can trade them with collectors farther north and west so | can complete sets. It's the only way | see to eurn the money. Look what | have already. Big gray cecropius come from this kind, brown polyphemus from that and green lunas from these. You aren't working on Sunday. Go with me just an hour, Pete!” The man looked at her narrowly. She was young. wholesome and beau- tiful. She was innocent, intensely in earnest and she needed the money—he knew that. “You didn’t tell me what scared you," he said. “Oh, 1 thought 1 did! Why, you know, | had Freckles’ box packed full of moths and specimens, and one even- ing | sold some to the Bird Woman. Next morning ! found a note telling me it wasn't safe to go inside the swamp. That sort of scared me. | think I'll go ulone rather than miss the chance, but I'd he so bappy If you would take care of me. Then I could go anywhere 1 chose, because if | mired you couid pull me out. You will take care of me, Pete? That was the finishing stroke. “Yes. I'll take care of you." prom ized Pete Corson. “Goody!” sald Eloora. “Let's start quick! And Pete. you look at these closely, and when von are bunting or going along the road if one dangles under your nose von cut off the little twig and save it for me. will you?” “Yes, I'll save you all | see.” prom- ised Pete. He pushed back his hat and followed Elnora. She plunged fearlessly through bushes, over under- brurh and across dead logs. One min. ute she was crying wildly that here was a big one, the next she was reach- ing for a limb above her head or on ber knees overturning dead leaves un- der a hickory or oak tree or pushing aside black muck with her bare hands as she searched for buried pupae cases [Por the first hour Pete bent back bushes and followed, carrying what found one. “Is this the kind of thing you are looking for?" he asked bashfully as he presented a wild cherry twig. “Oh, Pete, that's a prometheal I didn't even hope to find one.” “What's the bird like?" asked Pete. “Almost black wings.” said Elnora, “with clay colored edges and the most | wonderful wine colored flush over the | under side If it's a male and stronger wine above and below If it's a fe-| male. Oh, aren't 1 happy! leave here and come back for them?” “That would be all right.” Relieved of his load, Pete began work. First he narrowly examined St. “"ary’s Beer. “No; not all of them, but when | ail be under, on what bushes did cater- the cocoons Elnora had questioned her as to what would he like. He began eyes of a trained woodman in her behalf. He saw several so ly and moved through the softly that Elnora watching him. Presently rying the specimens and was ing the trips of Investigation to which was a cocoon and which a curl- ed leaf, or he was down on his digging around stumps. As he worked he kept asking questions. What kind of logs were best to look beside, what trees were pupae cases most likely to | pillars spin most frequently? Time passed. as It always does when one's | occupation is absorbing. | When the Sintons had taken Mrs. Comstock home they stopped to see if Elnora was safe. She was not at home, and they had not seen her along the way. Mrs. Comstock called about the edge of her woods and received no reply. Then Sinton turned and drove back to the Limberlost. He left Mar garet and Mrs. Comstock holding the [Continued on page 7. Col. 1.1 Medical. Dire Distress. IT IS NEAR AT HAND TO HUNDREDS OF Elnora discovered. Then he! “How would it do to make what & sat on the front bench of the Brush-| YO" have into a bunch that we could BELLEFONTE READERS. Don’t neglect Backache is the } oy 8 cry for help, Waverly Oils. Next to Sunlight § oy EE Family Favorite Oil Your dealer gots it in barrels direct FREE—320 page book—all about oil. WAVERLY OIL WORKS CO. Pittsburgh, Pa. Gasolines Lubricants The sunshine of lager beer satisfaction radi- ates from every bottle of ELK COUNTY BREWING COMPANY'S EXPORT. glass is a sparkl- exquisite taste any brewer’s sibly create. Our ment is equipped latest mechani- and sanitary de- the art of brew- cently installed a ment ranking Our sanitasy ilizing the bottles filled, and the of pasteurizing } has been auto- guarantees the our product, We at the brewery tles, as exposure to light Elk County Brewing Company ST. MARYS, PENNSYLVANIA The : Pennsylvania : State : College EDWIN ERLE SPARKS, Ph.D., L.L. D., PRESIDENT. Retablished and maiotained by the joint action of the United States Government and the and Education ‘TUITION FREE to both sexes; incidental charges era middle of September; second for Teachers about the third Monday of June announcements, etc., address THE REGISTRAR, State College, Pennsylvania. Firet semester of Peuiuuy; each year. 57-26 The Pennsylvania State College. Summer For catalogue, bulletins, Every ing draught of and is as pure as skill can pos- entire establish- with the very cal inventions vices known to ing, having re- bottling equip- second to none. methods of ster- before they are scientific process the beer after it matically bottled lasting purity of bottle our beer | in AMBRE bot- injures flavor. 5743-14 semester the first ewe ee VT YY VT TNT TY YY TY Dry Goods Etc. LYON & COMPANY. Clearance Sale ) of (—— ALL WINTER GOODS. O90 We begin our pre-inventory Clearance Sale now. All odds and ends in every department must be sold at and below cost. Watch for the sign of the Rummage table. It means A BIG SAVING TO YOU. P9090 Special Low Prices on All Coats, Suits and Furs during this CLEARANCE SALE Lyon & Co. ... Bellefonte Yeager’s Shoe Store “FITZEZY” The Ladies’ Shoe that Cures Corns ET Sold only at Yeager’s Shoe Store, Lush Arcade Building, BELLEFONTE, PA. J
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers