Page:A Girl of the Limberlost.djvu/408

388 She lifted the violin and began to play a dainty fairy dance. "Well, bless my soul!" softly ejaculated the astounded Mrs. Comstock. "To think I was worrying for fear you couldn't take care of yourself!" Elnora laughed as she played. "Shall I tell you what he said?" inquired Mrs. Comstock. "Nope! I don't want to hear it!" said Elnora. "He is only six hours from Chicago. I'll give her a week to find him and fix it up, if he stays that long. If she don't put in an appearance then, he can tell me what he wants to say, and I'll take my time to think it over. Time in plenty, too! There are three of us in this, and one has got to be left with a sore heart for life. If the decision rests with me I propose to be very sure that it is the one who deserves such hard luck. Let's go to bed." The next morning Ammon came early, dressed in the outing clothing he had worn the previous summer, and aside from a slight paleness seemed very much the same as when he left. Elnora met him on the old footing, and for a week life went on exactly as it had the previous summer. Mrs. Comstock made mental notes and watched in silence. She could see that Elnora was on a strain, though she hoped Ammon would not. The girl grew restless as the week drew to a close. Once when the gate clicked she suddenly lost colour and moved nervously. Billy came down the walk. Ammon leaned toward Mrs. Comstock and said, "I am