Elnora stepped in beside
her, bent half double, the whole front of her dress gathered into a sort
of bag filled with a heavy load, and one arm stacked high with books. In
the dim light she did not see the Sintons.
"Please hand me the empty bucket in the kitchen, mother," she said. "I
just had to bring these arrow points home, but I'm scared for fear I've
spoiled my dress and will have to wash it. I'm to clean them, and take
them to the banker in the morning, and oh, mother, I've sold enough
stuff to pay for my books, my tuition, and maybe a dress and some
lighter shoes besides. Oh, mother I'm so happy! Take the books and bring
the bucket!"
Then she saw Margaret and Wesley. "Oh, glory!" she exulted. "I was just
wondering how I'd ever wait to tell you, and here you are! It's too
perfectly splendid to be true!"
"Tell us, Elnora," said Sinton.
"Well sir," said Elnora, doubling down on the floor and spreading out
her skirt, "set the bucket here, mother. These points are brittle, and
should be put in one at a time. If they are chipped I can't sell them.
Well sir! I've had a time! You know I just had to have books. I tried
three stores, and they wouldn't trust me, not even three days, I didn't
know what in this world I could do quickly enough. Just when I was
almost frantic I saw a sign in a bank window asking for caterpillars,
cocoons, butterflies, arrow points, and everything. I went in, and it
was this Bird Woman who wants the insects, and the banker wants the
stones.
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