In the first place, when she reached the little farm
on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was
not at home. His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was
glad to see her. When Nan spread the check before him and told
him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the
crippled boy was delighted.
It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the
black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life;
only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the
check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a
catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of
goods at any of the local stores.
Nan lingered, hoping that Toby would come home. It finally grew
so late that she dared not wait longer. She had been warned by
Aunt Kate not to remain after dusk in the swamp, nor had she any
desire to do so.
Moreover there was a black cloud rolling up from the west. That
was enough to make the girl hurry, for when it rained in the
swamp, sometimes the corduroy road was knee deep in water.
The cloud had increased to such proportions when Nan was half way
across the sawdust desert that she began to run. She had
forgotten all about the smoking tree.
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