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a girl of the limberlost-第44部分
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the result。〃
The organ began rolling out the march as they came in sight。
Elnora took her place at the head of the procession;
while every one wondered。 Secretly they had hoped that
she would be dressed well enough; that she would not
appear poor and neglected。 What this radiant young
creature; gowned in the most recent style; her smooth skin
flushed with excitement; and a rose…set coronet of red gold
on her head; had to do with the girl they knew was difficult
to decide。 The signal was given and Elnora began the
slow march across the vestry and down the aisle。 The music
welled softly; and Margaret began to sob without knowing why。
Mrs。 Comstock gripped her hands together and shut
her eyes。 It seemed an eternity to the suffering woman
before Margaret caught her arm and whispered; 〃Oh; Kate!
For any sake look at her! Here! The aisle across!〃
Mrs。 Comstock opened her eyes and directing them
where she was told; gazed intently; and slid down in
her seat close to collapse。 She was saved by Margaret's
tense clasp and her command: 〃Here! Idiot! Stop that!〃
In the blaze of light Elnora climbed the steps to the
palm…embowered platform; crossed it and took her place。
Sixty young men and women; each of them dressed the
best possible; followed her。 There were manly; fine…
looking men in that class which Elnora led。 There were
girls of beauty and grace; but not one of them was handsomer
or clothed in better taste than she。
Billy thought the time never would come when Elnora
would see him; but at last she met his eye; then Margaret
and Wesley had faint signs of recognition in turn;
but there was no softening of the girl's face and no hint
of a smile when she saw her mother。
Heartsick; Katharine Comstock tried to prove to herself
that she was justified in what she had done; but she
could not。 She tried to blame Elnora for not saying that
she was to lead a procession and sit on a platform in the
sight of hundreds of people; but that was impossible; for
she realized that she would have scoffed and not understood
if she had been told。 Her heart pained until she suffered
with every breath。
When at last the exercises were over she climbed into
the carriage and rode home without a word。 She did
not hear what Margaret and Billy were saying。 She scarcely
heard Wesley; who drove behind; when he told her that
Elnora would not be home until Wednesday。 Early the next
morning Mrs。 Comstock was on her way to Onabasha。
She was waiting when the Brownlee store opened。
She examined ready…made white dresses; but they had
only one of the right size; and it was marked forty dollars。
Mrs。 Comstock did not hesitate over the price; but whether
the dress would be suitable。 She would have to ask Elnora。
She inquired her way to the home of the Bird Woman and knocked。
〃Is Elnora Comstock here?〃 she asked the maid。
〃Yes; but she is still in bed。 I was told to let her
sleep as long as she would。〃
〃Maybe I could sit here and wait;〃 said Mrs。 Comstock。
〃I want to see about getting her a dress for to…morrow。
I am her mother。〃
〃Then you don't need wait or worry;〃 said the girl cheerfully。
〃There are two women up in the sewing…room at work on a
dress for her right now。 It will be done in time; and it will
be a beauty。〃
Mrs。 Comstock turned and trudged back to the Limberlost。
The bitterness in her soul became a physical actuality;
which water would not wash from her lips。 She was
too late! She was not needed。 Another woman was
mothering her girl。 Another woman would prepare a
beautiful dress such as Elnora had worn the previous night。
The girl's love and gratitude would go to her。 Mrs。 Comstock
tried the old process of blaming some one else; but she felt
no better。 She nursed her grief as closely as ever in
the long days of the girl's absence。 She brooded
over Elnora's possession of the forbidden violin and her
ability to play it until the performance could not have
been told from her father's。 She tried every refuge her
mind could conjure; to quiet her heart and remove the fear
that the girl never would come home again; but it persisted。
Mrs。 Comstock could neither eat nor sleep。 She wandered
around the cabin and garden。 She kept far from the pool
where Robert Comstock had sunk from sight for she felt
that it would entomb her also if Elnora did not come home
Wednesday morning。 The mother told herself that she would
wait; but the waiting was as bitter as anything she ever had known。
When Elnora awoke Monday another dress was in the hands
of a seamstress and was soon fitted。 It had belonged
to the Angel; and was a soft white thing that with a
little alteration would serve admirably for Commencement
and the ball。 All that day Elnora worked; helping prepare
the auditorium for the exercises; rehearsing the march
and the speech she was to make in behalf of the class。
The following day was even busier。 But her mind was at
rest; for the dress was a soft delicate lace easy to
change; and the marks of alteration impossible to detect。
The Bird Woman had telephoned to Grand Rapids; explained
the situation and asked the Angel if she might use it。
The reply had been to give the girl the contents of the chest。
When the Bird Woman told Elnora; tears filled her eyes。
〃I will write at once and thank her;〃 she said。 〃With all
her beautiful gowns she does not need them; and I do。
They will serve for me often; and be much finer than anything
I could afford。 It is lovely of her to give me the dress
and of you to have it altered for me; as I never could。〃
The Bird Woman laughed。 〃I feel religious to…day;〃
she said。 〃You know the first and greatest rock of my
salvation is ‘Do unto others。' I'm only doing to you
what there was no one to do for me when I was a girl
very like you。 Anna tells me your mother was here early
this morning and that she came to see about getting you
a dress。〃
〃She is too late!〃 said Elnora coldly。 〃She had over
a month to prepare my dresses; and I was to pay for them;
so there is no excuse。〃
〃Nevertheless; she is your mother;〃 said the Bird
Woman; softly。 〃I think almost any kind of a mother
must be better than none at all; and you say she has had
great trouble。〃
〃She loved my father and he died;〃 said Elnora。 〃The same
thing; in quite as tragic a manner; has happened to
thousands of other women; and they have gone on with
calm faces and found happiness in life by loving others。
There was something else I am afraid I never shall forget;
this I know I shall not; but talking does not help。 I must
deliver my presents and photographs to the crowd。 I have
a picture and I made a present for you; too; if you would
care for them。〃
〃I shall love anything you give me;〃 said the Bird Woman。
〃I know you well enough to know that whatever you do will
be beautiful。〃
Eln
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