a girl of the limberlost-第56章

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comes；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃As　for　what　Miss　Carr　said　to　me；

many　things；　two　of　importance：　one；　that　I　lacked　every

social　requirement　necessary　for　the　happiness　of　Philip

Ammon；　and　that　if　I　married　him　I　would　see　inside　a

month　that　he　was　ashamed　of　me〃



〃Aw；　shockins！〃　scorned　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃Go　on！〃



〃The　other　was　that　she　has　been　engaged　to　him　for

years；　that　he　belongs　to　her；　and　she　refuses　to　give

him　up。　　She　said　that　if　he　were　in　her　presence　one　hour；

she　would　have　him　under　a　mysterious　thing　she　calls　‘her

spell'　again；　if　he　were　where　she　could　see　him　for　one

week；　everything　would　be　made　up。　　It　is　her　opinion

that　he　is　suffering　from　wounded　pride；　and　that　the

slightest　concession　on　her　part　will　bring　him　to　his　knees

before　her。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　giggled。　　〃I　do　hope　the　boy　isn't　weak…kneed；〃

she　said。　　〃I　just　happened　to　be　passing　the　west　window

this　afternoon〃



Elnora　laughed。　　〃Nothing　save　actual　knowledge　ever

would　have　made　me　believe　there　was　a　girl　in　all　this

world　so　infatuated　with　herself。　　She　speaks　casually　of

her　power　over　men；　and　boasts　of　‘bringing　a　man　to　his

knees'　as　complacently　as　I　would　pick　up　a　net　and　say：

‘I　am　going　to　take　a　butterfly。'　　She　honestly　believes

that　if　Philip　were　with　her　a　short　time　she　could　rekindle

his　love　for　her　and　awaken　in　him　every　particle　of

the　old　devotion。　　Mother；　the　girl　is　honest！　　She　is

absolutely　sincere！　　She　so　believes　in　herself　and　the

strength　of　Phil's　love　for　her；　that　all　her　life　she　will

believe　in　and　brood　over　that　thought；　unless　she　is

taught　differently。　　So　long　as　she　thinks　that；　she　will

nurse　wrong　ideas　and　pine　over　her　blighted　life。　　She　must

be　taught　that　Phil　is　absolutely　free；　and　yet　he　will　not　go

to　her。〃



〃But　how　on　earth　are　you　proposing　to　teach　her　that？〃



〃The　way　will　open。〃



〃Lookey　here；　Elnora！〃　cried　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃That　Carr

girl　is　the　handsomest　dark　woman　I　ever　saw。　　She's　got

to　the　place　where　she　won't　stop　at　anything。　　Her　coming

here　proves　that。　　I　don't　believe　there　was　a　thing

the　matter　with　that　automobile。　　I　think　that　was　a

scheme　she　fixed　up　to　get　Phil　where　she　could　see　him

alone；　as　she　worked　to　see　you。　　If　you　are　going

deliberately　to　put　Philip　under　her　influence　again；　you've

got　to　brace　yourself　for　the　possibility　that　she　may　win。　

A　man　is　a　weak　mortal；　where　a　lovely　woman　is　concerned；

and　he　never　denied　that　he　loved　her　once。　　You　may　make

yourself　downright　miserable。〃



〃But　mother；　if　she　won；　it　wouldn't　make　me　half　so

miserable　as　to　marry　Phil　myself；　and　then　read　hunger

for　her　in　his　eyes！　　Some　one　has　got　to　suffer　over　this。　

If　it　proves　to　be　me；　I'll　bear　it；　and　you'll　never　hear　a

whisper　of　complaint　from　me。　　I　know　the　real　Philip

Ammon　better　in　our　months　of　work　in　the　fields　than　she

knows　him　in　all　her　years　of　society　engagements。　

So　she　shall　have　the　hour　she　asked；　many；　many　of　them；

enough　to　make　her　acknowledge　that　she　is　wrong。　

Now　I　am　going　to　write　my　letters　and　take　my　walk。〃



Elnora　threw　her　arms　around　her　mother　and　kissed

her　repeatedly。　　〃Don't　you　worry　about　me；〃　she　said。　

〃I　will　get　along　all　right；　and　whatever　happens；　I　always

will　be　your　girl　and　you　my　darling　mother。〃



She　left　two　sealed　notes　on　her　desk。　　Then　she

changed　her　dress；　packed　a　small　bundle　which　she

dropped　with　her　hat　from　the　window　beside　the　willow；

and　softly　went　down　stairs。　　Mrs。　Comstock　was　in

the　garden。　　Elnora　picked　up　the　hat　and　bundle；　hurried

down　the　road　a　few　rods；　then　climbed　the　fence　and

entered　the　woods。　　She　took　a　diagonal　course；　and　after

a　long　walk　reached　a　road　two　miles　west　and　one　south。　

There　she　straightened　her　clothing；　put　on　her　hat　and　a

thin　dark　veil　and　waited　the　passing　of　the　next　trolley。　

She　left　it　at　the　first　town　and　took　a　train　for　Fort　Wayne。　

She　made　that　point　just　in　time　to　climb　on　the　evening

train　north；　as　it　pulled　from　the　station。　　It　was　after

midnight　when　she　left　the　car　at　Grand　Rapids；　and　went

into　the　depot　to　await　the　coming　of　day。



Tired　out；　she　laid　her　head　on　her　bundle　and　fell　asleep

on　a　seat　in　the　women's　waiting…room。　　Long　after　light

she　was　awakened　by　the　roar　and　rattle　of　trains。　　She　washed；

re…arranged　her　hair　and　clothing；　and　went　into　the　general

waiting…room　to　find　her　way　to　the　street。　　She　saw　him　as

he　entered　the　door。　　There　was　no　mistaking　the　tall；

lithe　figure；　the　bright　hair；　the　lean；　brown…splotched　face；

the　steady　gray　eyes。　　He　was　dressed　for　travelling；　and

carried　a　light　overcoat　and　a　bag。　　Straight　to　him　Elnora

went　speeding。



〃Oh；　I　was　just　starting　to　find　you！〃　she　cried。



〃Thank　you！〃　he　said。



〃You　are　going　away？〃　she　panted。



〃Not　if　I　am　needed。　　I　have　a　few　minutes。　　Can　you

be　telling　me　briefly？〃



〃I　am　the　Limberlost　girl　to　whom　your　wife　gave　the

dress　for　Commencement　last　spring；　and　both　of　you　sent

lovely　gifts。　　There　is　a　reason；　a　very　good　reason；　why　I

must　be　hidden　for　a　time；　and　I　came　straight　to　youas

if　I　had　a　right。〃



〃You　have！〃　answered　Freckles。　　〃Any　boy　or　girl　who

ever　suffered　one　pang　in　the　Limberlost　has　a　claim

to　the　best　drop　of　blood　in　my　heart。　　You　needn't　be

telling　me　anything　more。　　The　Angel　is　at　our　cottage

on　Mackinac。　　You　shall　tell　her　and　play　with　the　babies

while　you　want　shelter。　　This　way！〃



They　breakfasted　in　a　luxurious　car；　talked　over　the

swamp；　the　work　of　the　Bird　Woman；　Elnora　told　of　her

nature　lectures　in　the　schools；　and　soon　they　were

good　friends。　　In　the　evening　they　left　the　train　at

Mackinaw　City　and　crossed　the　Straits　by　boat。　　Sheets　of

white　moonlight　flooded　the　water　and　paved　a　molten　path

across　the　breast　of　it　straight　to　the　face　of　the　moon。



The　island　lay　a　dark　spot　on　the　silver　surface；　its　tall

trees　sharply　outlined　on　the　summit；　and　a　million　lights

blinked　around　the　shore。　　The　night　guns　boomed　from

the　white　fort　and　a　dark　sentinel　paced　the　ramparts

above　the　little　city　tucked　down　close　to　the　water。　

A　great　tenor　summering　in　the　north　came　out　on　the　upper

deck　of　the　big　boat；　and　baring　his　head；　faced　the　moon

and　sang：　　〃Oh；　the　moon　shines　bright　on　my　old

Kentucky　home！〃　　Elnora　thought　of　the　Limberlost；　of

Philip；　and　her　mother；　and　almost　choked　with　the　sobs

that　would　arise　in　her　throat。　　On　the　dock　a　woman　of

exquisite　beauty　swept　into　the　arms　of　Terence　O'More。



〃Oh；　Freckles！〃　she　cried。　　〃You've　been　gone　a　month！〃



〃Four　days；　Angel；　only　four　days　by　the　clock；〃

remonstrated　Freckles。　　〃Where　are　the　children？〃



〃Asleep！　　Thank　goodness！　　I'm　worn　to　a　thread。　　I　never

saw　such　inventive；　active　children。　　I　can't　keep　track　of　them！〃



〃I　have　brought　you　help；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃Here　is　the

Limberlost　girl　in　whom　the　Bird　Woman　is　interested。　

Miss　Comstock　needs　a　rest　before　beginning　her　school

work　for　next　year；　so　she　came　to　us。〃



〃You　dear　thing！　　How　good　of　you！〃　cried　the　Angel。　

〃We　shall　be　so　happy　to　have　you！〃



In　her　room　that　night；　in　a　beautiful　cottage　furnished

with　every　luxury；　Elnora　lifted　a　tired　face　to　the　Angel。



〃Of　course；　you　understand　there　is　something　back　of

this？〃　she　said。　　〃I　must　tell　you。〃



〃Yes；〃　agreed　the　Angel。　　〃Tell　me！　　If　you　get　it　out

of　your　system；　you　will　stand　a　better　chance　of　sleeping。〃



Elnora　stood　brushing　the　copper…bright　masses　of　her

hair　as　she　talked。　　When　she　finished　the　Angel　was

almost　hysterical。



〃You　insane　creature！〃　she　cried。　　〃How　crazy　of　you

to　leave　him　to　her！　　I　know　both　of　them。　　I　have　met

them　often。　　She　may　be　able　to　make　good　her　boast。　

But　it　is　perfectly　splendid　of　you！　　And；　after　all；　really

it　is　the　only　way。　　I　can　see　that。　　I　think　it　is　what　I

should　have　done　myself；　or　tried　to　do。　　I　don't　know

that　I　could　have　done　it！　　When　I　think　of　walking　away

and　leaving　Freckles　with　a　woman　he　once　loved；　to　let

her　see　if　she　can　make　him　love　her　again；　oh；　it　gives　me

a　graveyard　heart。　　No；　I　never　could　have　done　it！　　You　are

bigger　than　I　ever　was。　　I　should　have　turned　coward；　sure。〃



〃I　am　a　coward；〃　admitted　Elnora。　　〃I　am　soul…sick！　

I　am　afraid　I　shall　lose　my　senses　before　this　is　over。　

I　didn't　want　to　come！　　I　wanted　to　stay；　to　go　straight

into　his　arms；　to　bind　myself　with　his　ring；　to　love　him

with　all　my　heart。　　It　wasn't　my　fault　that　I　came。　

There　was　something　inside　that　just　pushed　me。　　She　is

beautiful〃



〃I　quite　agree　with　you！〃



〃You　can　imagine　how　fascinating　she　can　be。　　She　used

no　arts　on　me。　　Her　purpose　was　to　cower　me。　　She　found

she　could　not　do　that；　but　she　did　a　thing　which　helped

her　more：　she　proved　that　she　was　honest；　perfectly

sincere　in　what　she　thought。　　She　believes　that　if　she

merely　beckons　to　Philip；　he　will　go　to　her。　　So　I　am　giving

her　the　opportunity　to　learn　from　him　what　he　will　do。　

She　never　will　believe　it　from　any　one　else。　　When　she　is

satisfied；　I　shall　be　also。〃



〃But；　child！　Suppose　she　wins　him　back！〃



〃That　is　the　supposition　with　which　I　shall　eat　and　sleep

for　the　coming　few　weeks。　　Would　one　dare　ask　for　a　peep

at　the　babies　before　going　to　bed？〃



〃Now；　you　are　perfect！〃　announced　the　Angel。　　〃I　never

should　have　liked　you　all　I　can；　if　you　had　been　content

to　go　to　sleep　in　this　house　without　asking　to　see

the　babies。　　Come　this　way。　　We　named　the　first　boy

for　his　father；　of　course；　and　the　girl　for　Aunt　Alice。　

The　next　boy　is　named　for　my　father；　and　the　baby　for

the　Bird　Woman。　　After　this　we　are　going　to　branch　out。〃



Elnora　began　to　laugh。



〃Oh；　I　suspect　there　will　be　quite　a　number　of　them；〃

said　the　Angel　serenely。　　〃I　am　told　the　more　there　are

the　less　trouble　they　make。　　The　big　ones　take　care　of　the

little　ones。　　We　want　a　large　family。　　This　is　our　start。〃



She　entered　a　dark　room　and　held　aloft　a　candle。　　She　went

to　the　side　of　a　small　white　iron　bed　in　which　lay　a

boy　of　eight　and　another　of　three。　　They　were　perfectly

formed；　rosy　children；　the　elder　a　replica　of　his　mother；

the　other　very　like。　　Then　they　came　to　a　cradle　where　a

baby　girl　of　almost　two　slept　soundly；　and　made　a　picture。



〃But　just　see　here！〃　said　the　Angel。　　She　threw　the　light

on　a　sleeping　girl　of　six。　　A　mass　of　red　curls　swept

the　pillow。　　Line　and　feature　the　face　was　that　of　Freckles。　

Without　asking；　Elnora　knew　the　colour　and　expression

of　the　closed　eyes。　　The　Angel　handed　Elnora　the　candle；

and　stooping；　straightened　the　child's　body。　　She　ran

her　fingers　through　the　bright　curls；　and　lightly　touched

the　aristocratic　little　nose。



〃The　supply　of　freckles　holds　out　in　my　family；