The Brushwood road and the redredging of the big Limberlost ditch had been more than she could pay from her income,and she had trembled before the wicket as she asked the banker if she had funds to pay it,and wondered why he laughed when he assured her she had.For Mrs.Comstock had spent no time on compounding interest,and never added the sums she had been depositing through nearly twenty years.Now she thought her funds were almost gone,and every day she worried over expenses.
She could see no reason in going through the forms of graduation when pupils had all in their heads that was required to graduate.Elnora knew she had to have her diploma in order to enter the college she wanted to attend,but she did not dare utter the word,until high school was finished,for,instead of softening as she hoped her mother had begun to do,she seemed to remain very much the same.
When the girl reached the swamp she sat on a log and thought over the expense she was compelled to meet.
Every member of her particular set was having a large photograph taken to exchange with the others.Elnora loved these girls and boys,and to say she could not have their pictures to keep was more than she could endure.
Each one would give to all the others a handsome graduation present.She knew they would prepare gifts for her whether she could make a present in return or not.
Then it was the custom for each graduating class to give a great entertainment and use the funds to present the school with a statue for the entrance hall.Elnora had been cast for and was practising a part in that performance.She was expected to furnish her dress and personal necessities.
She had been told that she must have a green gauze dress,and where was it to come from?
Every girl of the class would have three beautiful new frocks for Commencement:one for the baccalaureate sermon,another,which could be plain,for graduation exercises,and a handsome one for the banquet and ball.
Elnora faced the past three years and wondered how she could have spent so much money and not kept account of it.
She did not realize where it had gone.She did not know what she could do now.She thought over the photographs,and at last settled that question to her satisfaction.She studied longer over the gifts,ten handsome ones there must be,and at last decided she could arrange for them.The green dress came first.
The lights would be dim in the scene,and the setting deep woods.She could manage that.She simply could not have three dresses.She would have to get a very simple one for the sermon and do the best she could for graduation.
Whatever she got for that must be made with a guimpe that could be taken out to make it a little more festive for the ball.But where could she get even two pretty dresses?
The only hope she could see was to break into the collection of the man from India,sell some moths,and try to replace them in June.But in her soul she knew that never would do.No June ever brought just the things she hoped it would.If she spent the college money she knew she could not replace it.If she did not,the only way was to secure a room in the grades and teach a year.Her work there had been so appreciated that Elnora felt with the recommendation she knew she could get from the superintendent and teachers she could secure a position.
She was sure she could pass the examinations easily.
She had once gone on Saturday,taken them and secured a license for a year before she left the Brushwood school.
She wanted to start to college when the other girls were going.
If she could make the first year alone,she could manage the remainder.But make that first year herself,she must.
Instead of selling any of her collection,she must hunt as she never before had hunted and find a Yellow Emperor.
She had to have it,that was all.Also,she had to have those dresses.She thought of Wesley and dismissed it.
She thought of the Bird Woman,and knew she could not tell her.She thought of every way in which she ever had hoped to earn money and realized that with the play,committee meetings,practising,and final examinations she scarcely had time to live,much less to do more than the work required for her pictures and gifts.Again Elnora was in trouble,and this time it seemed the worst of all.
It was dark when she arose and went home.
"Mother,"she said,"I have a piece of news that is decidedly not cheerful.""Then keep it to yourself!"said Mrs.Comstock."I think I have enough to bear without a great girl like you piling trouble on me.""My money is all gone!"said Elnora.
"Well,did you think it would last forever?It's been a marvel to me that it's held out as well as it has,the way you've dressed and gone.""I don't think I've spent any that I was not compelled to,"said Elnora."I've dressed on just as little as Ipossibly could to keep going.I am heartsick.I thought I had over fifty dollars to put me through Commencement,but they tell me it is all gone.""Fifty dollars!To put you through Commencement!
What on earth are you proposing to do?"
"The same as the rest of them,in the very cheapest way possible.""And what might that be?"
Elnora omitted the photographs,the gifts and the play.
She told only of the sermon,graduation exercises,and the ball.
"Well,I wouldn't trouble myself over that,"sniffed Mrs.Comstock."If you want to go to a sermon,put on the dress you always use for meeting.If you need white for the exercises wear the new dress you got last spring.
As for the ball,the best thing for you to do is to stay a mile away from such folly.In my opinion you'd best bring home your books,and quit right now.You can't be fixed like the rest of them,don't be so foolish as to run into it.Just stay here and let these last few days go.You can't learn enough more to be of any account.""But,mother,"gasped Elnora."You don't understand!""Oh,yes,I do!"said Mrs.Comstock."I understand perfectly.
So long as the money lasted,you held up your head,and went sailing without even explaining how you got it from the stuff you gathered.Goodness knows I couldn't see.
