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Bellefonte, Pa., February 21, 1913.
A GIRL
OF THE
LINBERLOST
By
GENE STRATTON-PORTER
Copyright, 1509, by Doubleday. Page
& Co.
SYNOPSIS
Althougn a good scholar, Elnora Com-
stock, entering high school, is abashed by
her country dress. She needs $20 for
Her mother is
Margaret finds Billy mischievous, but
Ger heart softens, and he is adopted.
Pete helps Elnora to collect
on Elnora. The girl Billy again.
She is “taken up” by the high school
girls.
Elnora, having musical talent, is told
by Margaret of her father's violin in
secret keeping. Margaret gets the violin
for the girl.
Her high school course completed, El-
nora needs money for gradvation ex-
penses. She needs two yellow Emperor
moths to complete a collection. Grad-
uation exercises begin.
Mrs. Comstock will not help Elnora to
get a graduation gown. The girl is dress-
ed by the Bird Woman, but Mrs. Com-
stock later gives hand embroidered gar-
ta tn haw
rs. Comstock ignorantly destroys the
moth needed by Elnora. She learns her
husband was unfaithful and regrets hes
unkindness to Einora. She will try to
capture a moth for Elnora.
Mrs. Comstock and Elnora, hunting
specimens, are joined by a young man
who offers his help.
The young man Is Philp Ammon of
Chicago, seeking health He is engaged
to Edith Carr, a society girl, and has a
sister, Polly, engaged to Tom Levering.
He intends to =»nd violets to Edith on
her birthday. Elnora is appilnied teach-
er of natural history
Philip, interested in Elnora, forgets the
violets, but Elnora sends them to him at
his temporary home in Onabasha.
The young man, called Home, asks El-
nora to kiss him goodby. She refuses. al-
though she loves him. Flnora stil! nceds
the Emperors.
[Continued from last week.]
A long time Philip Ammon sat in deer
thought. At last he raised his head.
“Well, why not?" he said. “Years
could make me no surer than | am
now, and life is short. Please ask
Banks to get me some coffee and toast.
and 1 will bathe and dress so I can
take the early train.”
“Go to your bath. 1 will attend tu
vour packing and everything. And
Phil, if 1 were you | would leave no
addresses.”
“Not an address!” said Ammon.
“Not even for Polly.”
When the train pulled out the elder
Ammon went howe to find Hart Hen-
derson waiting.
“Where is Phil?" Le demanded.
“He did not feel like facing his
friends at present. and 1 am just back
from driving him to the station. He
said he might go to Siam or Patagonia.
He would leave no address.”
Henderson almost staggered. “He's
Bot gone—und left no address? You
don’t mean it! He'll never forgive
her!”
“Never is a long time. Hart,” said
Mr. Ammon. “And it seems even long-
er to those of us who are well ac-
quainted with Phil. Last night was
pot the last straw. It was the whole
straw stack. It crushed Phil so far as
she is concerned.”
Twice Henderon opened his lips to
speak of Edith Carr's despair. Twice
he iooked into the stern, inflexible face
of Mr. Ammon and could not betray
her. He held out the ring.
“J have no instructions as to that.”
said the elder Ammon, drawing back.
“Possibly Miss Carr would have it at
a keepsake.”
“] am sure not,” said Henderso!
curtly.
“Then suppose you return it to Pes
cock. 1 will ‘phone him. He will give
you the price of it, and you might add
it to the children's fresh air fund.”
“As you choose,” said Henderson.
“Good morning!”
Then he went to his home, but he
could not think of sleep. He ordered
| club. As be sauntered into the room
' an attendant hurried to him.
, 5770.
breakfast. but he could not eat. He
paced the library for a time, but it was
too small. Going out on the streets
he walked until exhausted, then he
called a hansom and was driven to his
“You are wanted most urgently at
the 'phone. Mr. Henderson,” he said.
“You have had three calls from Main
Henderson shivered as he picked
down the receiver aud gave the call.
“ls that you, Hart?" came Edith's
voice.
“Yes.”
“Did you find Phil?"
“No; be has been home and gone
again.”
“Gone!”
The cry tore Henderson's heart.
“Shall I come and tell you. Edith?”
“No, Tell me now.”
“When 1 got to the house Banks
said Mr. Ammon and Phil were out in
the motor, so 1 waited. Mr. Ammon
came back soon. Edith, are you
alone?”
“Yes. Go on.”
“Call your maid. 1 can’t teil you un-
til some one is with you.”
“Tell me instantly”
“Edith. he said he had been to the
station. He said Phil had started to
Siam or Patagonia, he didn’t know
which, and left no address. He said”—
Distinctly Henderson beard her fall.
He set the buzzer ringing and in a few
seconds heard voices. so he knew she
had been found. Then he crept into a
private den and shook with a hard.
nervous chill.
The next day Edith Carr started ou
her trip to Europe. Henderson felt
certain she hoped to meet Philip there.
He was sure she would be disappoint-
ed. though he had no idea where Am-
mon could have gone. Rut after much
thought he decided he would see Edith
soonest by remaining at home. so he
spent the summer in Chicago.
* * * * » . -
“Elnora,” said Mrs. Comstock,
“there's some one coming down the
road.”
“Coming here. do you think?"
“Yes: coming here, 1 suspect.”
Elnora glanced quickly at her moth-
er und then turned to the road as Phil-
ip Ammon reached the gate.
“Careful, mother,” the girl instantly
warned. “If you change your treat-
ment of him a hair's breadth he will
suspect. Come with me to meet him.”
She dropped her work and sprang up.
“Well, of all the delightful sur-
prises!” she cried.
She was a trifle thinner than during
the previous summer. On ber face
there was a more mature, patient look.
He caught both hands where she of-
fered but one,
“Elnora,” he cried, “if you were en-
gaged to me and we werc at a ball
among hundreds where | offended you
very much and didn’t even know I had
done anything and if 1 asked you be-
fore all of them to allow me to explain.
to forgive me. to wait. would your
face grow distorted and unfamiliar
with anger? Would you drop my ring
on the floor and insult me repeatedly?
Oh, Elnora. would you?”
Elnora’s big eyes seemed to leap,
while her face grew very white. She
wrenched away her hands,
“Hush. Phil, hush!" she protested.
“That fever has you again! You are
#Mrs, Comstock, | came here to ask El-
nora to marry me.”
dreadfully ill. You don’t know what
you are saying.”
“I am sleepless and echausted: I'm
heartsick, but 1 am well as I ever was.
Answer me, Elnora, woald you?”
“Answer nothing!" ccied Mrs. Com-
stock. “Hang your coat there on your
nail, Phil, and come splix some kin-
dling. Elnora, clean aways that stuff
and set the table. Can't you see the
boy is starved and tired? He's come
home to rest and get a decent meal.
Come on, Phil.”
Mrs. Comstock marched away, and
Ammon bung his coat in its old place
and followed. Out of sight and hear-
ing she turned on him.
“Do you call yourself a man or a
hound?" she flared.
“Mrs. Comstock, 1 came here to ask
Elnora to murry me,”
“The more fool you, then!” cried
Mrs, Comstock. “This time yesterday |
you were cngaged to another woman,
no doubt. Now, for some little flareup
you come racing bere to use Elnora as |
a tool to spite the other girl. A week
of sane living and you will be sorry |
and ready to go back to Chicago or,’
if you really are man enough to be
sure of yourself, she will come to claim
you. When you patch up your affairs
and go sailing away together, where
does my girl come in?"
“I am a lawyer. Mrs. Cownstock,” said
Ammon. “It appeals to me as beneath
your ordinary sense of justice to decide
a case without hearing the evidence.
It is due me that you hear me first.”
“Hear your side?’ flashed Mrs. Com.
stock. “I'd a heap sight rather bear
the girl!”
“I wish to my soul that you had
heard and seen her last night. Mrs.
Comstock,” said Ammon. “Then my
way would be clear.”
He gave his version of the previous
night.
“Do you believe me?" he finished.
“Yes,” said Mrs. Comstock.
“May I stay?’
“Oh. it looks all right for you. but
what about her?”
“Nothing so far as 1 am concerned.
Her plans were all made to start to
Europe today. 1 suspect she is on the
way by this time. Elnora is very
sensible. Mrs, Comstock. Hadn't you
better let her decide this?"
“The final decision rests with her, of
course.” admitted Mrs. Comstock. “But
look you ome thing! She's all | have.
So far as 1 know you've always been
a man and you may stay. But if you
bring tears and heartache to her don't
have the assurance to think [I'll bear it
tamely. [I'll get right up and fight like
a catamount if things go wrong for El
nora!"
“I have no doubt but you will,” re
plied Ammon, “and § don’t blame yov
in the least if you do. 1 have the ut
most devotion to offer Elnora, a good
home, fair social position, and my fam- |
ily will love ber dearly. Think it over,
I know it is sudden. but my father ad-
vised it.”
They prepared and ate supper. Aft-
erward they sat in the arbor and talk- |
ed. or Elnora played until time for Am. |
mon to go. i
“Will you walk to the gate with me?"
he asked Elnora as he arose.
“Not tonight," she answered lightly. |
“Come early in the morning if you
like. and we will go over to Sleepy
Snake creek and hunt moths and gath-
er dandelions for dinner.”
Ammon leaned toward her. “May 1'
tell you tomorrow why I came?’ he
asked.
“I think not.” replied Elnora. “The
fact is I don't care why you came. It
is enough for me that we are your very
good friends and that in trouble you
nave found us a refuge. [ fancy we
had better live a week or two before
you say anything. There is a possibili-
ty what you have to say may change
in that length of time.”
“It will not change one iota!” cried
Ammon.
“Then it will have the grace of that
much age to give it some small touch
of flavor,” said the girl. “Come early
in the morning.”
She lifted the violin and began to
play a dainty fairy dance.
“Well, bless my soul!” softly ejacu-
lated the astounded Mrs. Comstock.
“To think 1 was worrying for fear you
couldn't take care of yourself!”
Elnora laughed as she played.
The month which followed was a rep-
etition of the previous June, with moth
hunts, specimen gathering and perfect
nights filled with music. save that Phil- |
ip was now Elnora’s avowed suitor.
Edith Carr, sick at heart, sailed for
Europe. At the end of a month Philip
asked Elnora to be his wife, but she
pleaded for more time. saying she must
be absolutely sure of herself and of him |
before she could say yes. But she con- |
sented to wear a beautiful emerald
ring which he had had sent from Chi-
cago.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Wherein Chicago Comes to the Limber-
lost.
ONK, honk, honk! Hart Hen-
derson set the alarm of the big
11 automobile going as it shot
from behind the trees lining
the Brushwood road. The picture of
a vine covered cabin, a great drooping
tree, a green clad girl and a man bend-
ing over her very closely flashed into
view. Edith Carr caught her breath
with a snap. Polly Ammon gave Tom
Several days before Edith had re-
turned from Europe suddenly. She
and Henderson had called at the Am-
mon residence, saying that they were
going to motor down to the Limberlost
to see Philip a fow hours and urged
that Polly and Tom accompany them.
§8
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FRdREREEf
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Hila
days later Edith had induced
Henderson to take her to Ona-
. By the aid of.maps they lo-
cated the Comstock land and passed
it merely to see the place. Henderson
hated that trip and implored Edith not
to take it, but she made ro effort to
conceal from him what she suffered,
and it was more than be could endure.
The sunlight etched with distinct-
pess the scene at the west end of the
chain. Instinctively, to save Edith,
Henderson set the whistle blowing.
He had thought to go on to the city,
4
turned to his sister. Instead of taking
| “Sister—dear, dear sister!”
but Polly Ammon stood, crying, “Phil,
Phil” Tom Levering was on his feet!
shouting and waving. while Edith inf=
her most imperial manner ordered him
to turn into the lane leading through
the woods beside the cabin.
“Fix it some way that I get a min-
ute alone with ber,” she commanded
as he stopped the car.
“That is my sister Poliy, her flance
Tom Levering, a friend of mine nam-
ed Henderson and”— began Ammon.
“Edith Carr,” volunteered Elnora.
“And Edith Carr,” repeated Philip
Ammon. “Elnora, be brave for my
sake. Their coming can make no dif-
ference in any way. I won't let them
stay but a few minutes. Come
with me!”
“Do 1 looked scared?’ inquired El-
nora serenely. “This is why you have
noi had your answer. I have been
waiting just six weeks for that motor.
You may bring them to me at the
arbor.”
She could see that Miss Carr was
splendidly beautiful, while she moved
with the hauteur and grace supposed
to be the prerogatives of royalty. And
she had Instantly taken possession of
Philip Ammon. But Ammon also had
a brain which was working with rapid-
ity. He knew Elnora was watching
so he swung around to the others.
“Give her up. Tom! he cried. “I
didn’t know I wanted to see the little
nuisance so badly, but I do. How are
father and mother? Polly. be good to
Elnora,” he whispered.
“Um-huh.” assented Polly. And aloud,
“I pever saw such a beauty. Thomas |
Asquith Levering, you come straight |
here and take my hand!” 1
Edith’'s move to compel Ammon to |
approach Elnora beside her had been |
easy to, see; also its failure. Hender-
son stepped into Ammon’s place as he
Polly's hand Levering ran to open the
gate. Edith passed through first, but
Polly darted in front of her on the
run. with Phil holding her arm, and
swept up to Elnora. Polly looked for
the ring and saw it. That settled mat-
ters with her.
“You lovely, lovely. darling girl!"
she cried, throwing her arms around
Elnora and kissing her. With her lips
near Eluora's ear. Polly whispered.
Elnora drew back, staring at Polly
in confused amazement. She was a
beautiful girl dressed in some wonder-
ful way. Her eyes were sparkling
and dancing. and as she turned to
make way for the others she kept one
of Elnora’s hands in hers. Edith bow-
ed low. muttered something and touch-
ed Elnora's fingers. In that instant
only pity was in Elnora’s breast for the
flashing dark beauty.
“Come into the shade.” she urged.
“You must have found it warm on
these country roads. Won't you lay
aside your dust coats and have a cool
drink? Philip, would you ask mother
to come and bring that pitcher in the
springhouse #*
They entered the arbor, exclaiming
at the dim, green coolness. Mrs. Com-
stock came deliberately, talking to Am-
mon as she approached. Elnora gave
her one searching look, but could dis-
cover only an extreme brightness of
eye to denote any unusual feeling.
Polly Instantly went to her and held
up her face to be kissed. Mrs. Com-
stock's eyes twinkled, and she made
the greeting hearty.
Soon the pitcher was empty, and EI
nora picked it up and went to refill it.
While she was gone Henderson asked
Philip about some trouble he was hav-
ing with his car. They went to the
woods and began a minute examina-
tion to find a defect which did not ex-
ist. Polly and Levering were having
an animated conversation with Mrs.
Comstock. Henderson saw Edith arise.
follow the garden path next the woods
and stand waiting under the willow
which Elnora would pass on her re-
turn. It was for that meeting he had
made the trip. He got down on the
ground, tore up the car, worked. asked
for help and kept Philip busy screwing
bolts and applying the oil can. All the
time Henderson kept an eye on Edith
and Elnora under the willow. But he
took pains to lay the work he asked
Philip to do where that scene would
be out of his sight. When Elnora
came around the corner «ith the pitch-
er she found herself facing Edith Carr.
“] want a minute with youn” said
Miss Carr.
“Very well,” replied Elnora. walk:
ing on.
“Set the pitcher on the bench there,”
commazded Edith Carr as if speaking
to a servant.
“1 prefer not to offer my guests a
warm drizk,” sald Elnora. “I'll come
back if you really wish to speak with
me.”
“1 came solely for that.” said Ea
:
“It would be a pity to travel so far in
this dust and heat for nothing. T'll only
:
:
:
'
:
“Miss Carr wishes to speak with me.”
The gir! slowly and gravely walked
back to the willow.
“Will you be seated?’ she po
litely.
Edith Carr glanced at the bench.
while a shudder shook her.
yourseif engaged to him?"
“By what right do you ask such per-
sonal guestions as those?’ inquired E!
nora.
“By the right of a betrothed wife. |
have heen promised to Philip Ammon
all time.”
[Continued on page 7, Col. 1.1
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