Wherever the trees fell the moisture
dried, the creeks ceased to flow, the river ran low, and at times the
bed was dry. With unbroken sweep the winds of the west came, gathering
force with every mile and howled and raved; threatening to tear the
shingles from the roof, blowing the surface from the soil in clouds of
fine dust and rapidly changing everything. From coming in with two or
three dozen rare moths in a day, in three years' time Elnora had grown
to be delighted with finding two or three. Big pursy caterpillars could
not be picked from their favourite bushes, when there were no bushes.
Dragonflies would not hover over dry places, and butterflies became
scarce in proportion to the flowers, while no land yields over three
crops of Indian relics.
All the time the expense of books, clothing and incidentals had
continued. Elnora added to her bank account whenever she could, and drew
out when she was compelled, but she omitted the important feature of
calling for a balance. So, one early spring morning in the last quarter
of the fourth year, she almost fainted when she learned that her funds
were gone. Commencement with its extra expense was coming, she had no
money, and very few cocoons to open in June, which would be too
late. She had one collection for the Bird Woman complete to a pair of
Imperialis moths, and that was her only asset. On the day she added
these big Yellow Emperors she had been promised a check for three
hundred dollars, but she would not get it until these specimens were
secured.
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