Elnora, who collects moths to pay
for her education, and lives the
Golden Rule.
Philip Ammon, who assists in moth hunting,
and gains a new conception of
love.
Mrs. Comstock, who lost a delusion and
found a treasure.
Wesley Sinton, who always did his best.
Margaret Sinton, who “mothers”
Elnora.
Billy, a boy from real life.
Edith Carr, who discovers herself.
Hart Henderson, to whom love means all
things.
Polly Ammon, who pays an old score.
Tom Levering, engaged to Polly.
Terence O’MORE, Freckles grown tall.
Mrs. O’MORE, who remained the Angel.
Terence, Alice and little brother,
the O’MORE children.
A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST
WHEREIN ELNORA GOES TO HIGH SCHOOL AND LEARNS MANY LESSONS NOT FOUND IN
HER BOOKS
“Elnora Comstock, have you lost your senses?”
demanded the angry voice of Katharine Comstock while
she glared at her daughter.
“Why mother!” faltered the girl.
“Don’t you ‘why mother’ me!”
cried Mrs. Comstock. “You know very well
what I mean. You’ve given me no peace until
you’ve had your way about this going to school
business; I’ve fixed you good enough, and you’re
ready to start. But no child of mine walks the
streets of Onabasha looking like a play-actress woman.
You wet your hair and comb it down modest and decent
and then be off, or you’ll have no time to find
where you belong.”
Elnora gave one despairing glance at the white face,
framed in a most becoming riot of reddish-brown hair,
which she saw in the little kitchen mirror. Then
she untied the narrow black ribbon, wet the comb and
plastered the waving curls close to her head, bound
them fast, pinned on the skimpy black hat and opened
the back door.
“You’ve gone so plumb daffy you are forgetting
your dinner,” jeered her mother.
“I don’t want anything to eat,”
replied Elnora.
“You’ll take your dinner or you’ll
not go one step. Are you crazy? Walk almost
three miles and no food from six in the morning until
six at night. A pretty figure you’d cut
if you had your way! And after I’ve gone
and bought you this nice new pail and filled it especial
to start on!”
Elnora came back with a face still whiter and picked
up the lunch. “Thank you, mother!
Good-bye!” she said. Mrs. Comstock did not
reply. She watched the girl follow the long walk
to the gate and go from sight on the road, in the
bright sunshine of the first Monday of September.
“I bet a dollar she gets enough of it by night!”
commented Mrs. Comstock.
