Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-10-11

tWlnklng stars, and this matchleSS
music became new wonder-world to
her
Her eyes gIistened and grew tender
with pathos. She had no more idea
than a child why she was happy.
Each day sped by on wings of wind,
each hour, with her one best com
panion, the most joyful, and so, day
by day. poor Chip learned the sad
lesson of loving.
But never a word or hint Of this
fell from her lips. Ray was so far
above her and such a young hero, that
she, homeless outcast, tainted by
the filth and service of Tins Place
could only look to him as she did to
the moon
Not for one instant did he realize
the growing independence and self-re-
lance of this wilderness waif, or how
the first feeling that she was a burden
upon these kind people would chafe
nd vez her defiant nature. until she
would scorn even love, to escape it.
Just now the tender impulse of
love vas all Ray felt or considered.
This SRI Of sweet sixteen ard utter
confidence in him was Sc eIth4ailtng
IN spite CT her crude speech and lack
Ct education, her Kisses were 81 nuch
lis to take Wiener ctaree ss'e-ad.
md himself a1eh-a ing hero in her
sight, at be thcueht of naught else
In It's, or ar least so far as his
reasoning went, they were Ike two
zrown-up children entering new
world-the enchanted garden OF love
Or like two souls merged into one in
impulse yet in no wise conscious Why
or for what all-wise purpose.
For them alone the sun shone,
tirds sang. leaves rustled. fawers
doomed and the blue LAKE ppiad.
scr them alone was all this charm
ing chance given, with all that made
II enhancing. For them alone was
life. love- and lips that met in ecstasy.
Oh, wondrous beautitudei Oh,
heaven-born Joy! Oh, divine Illusion
nat builds the world anew and build
ing thus, believes its secret safet
But Old Cy, wise old observer of all
things human, from the natural at
traction of two children to the philoso-
ply of content, saw and understood.
Not for worlds would he hint this
to Angie or Martin. Full well he knew
how soon this "weavin' O. the threads
O Affection would be frowned upon
by them; but he loved children as few
men do.
This summer-day budding of ro-
nance would end in a few weeks,
these two were happy now-let them
remain so, and perhaps in Chips case
it might prove the one best incentive
to her own improvement.
And now as he watched them day
by day, came another feeling. Home
less all his life so far. and for many
years a wanderer, these two had
awakened the home building impulse
in his. He could not have a home
himself, he could only help them to
enc in the future, and to that end and
purpose he now bent his thought.
1t was midsummer when Martin and
his party returned to the lake with
Chip In two weeks the new log
cabin-a large one, divided into three
compartments-was erected and ready
for occupation.
Working as all the men had done
from dawn until dark to complete
this cabin, no recreation had been
taken by anyone except Ray and
Chip; and now Martin, a keen sports
man, felt that his turn had come
The trout were rising night and morn
all over the lake, partridges so tame
that they would scarce fly were as
plenty as sparrows, a half-dozen deer
could be seen any time along the lake
shore-in fact, one had already fur
nished them venison-and so Martin
now anticipated some relaxation and
sport.
But Fate willed otherwise
One of Old Cy's first and most far
sighted bits of work, after being left
with the hermit the previous autumn,
had been the erection of an ice-house
out OF large saplings. 1t stood at the
foot of high bank on the north of
the knoll and close to the lake, and
here, out of the sunshine, yet handy
to FIJI, stood his creation Its double
walls of poles were stuffed with moss,
its roof chinlled with blue clay,
sliding door gave ingress, and even
now, with summer almost gone, an
ample supply Of ice remained in it.
In the division of duties among
these campers, Levi usually started
the morning fire while Old Cy visited
the ice-house for anything needed One
morning after the new cabin was COM
pleted, he came here as usual.
A fine string Of trout caught by Mar
tin and Ray the day before were
hanging in this iee-house, and secur-
ing what was needed, Old Cy closed
the door and turned away. AS usual
with him, he glanced up and down