Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-01-17
MOP LEE &. eylER4RD 60.

had grown silent, as hope slowly
ebbed. and then, almost forgetfulness
but not quite, however, for the long,
hly-dotted mill-pond Just above had
now and then been visited by them.
A certain curiously grown oak which
was secluded near its upper end was
once trysting place. and even the old
mill with its splashing wheel held
memories.
And now after 40 years, during
which she had become gray-haired and
slightly wrinkled, all these memories
returned like ghosts of long ago. No
word or hint Of them fell from her lips,
not even to Chip, who was now near
est to her; and yet had that girl been
a mind-reader. she would have seen
that Aunt Abby's persistent interest in
all she had to tell about Old Cy meant
something. Where he was now, how
soon he would learn that his brother
was still alive after alt these years.
was the one most pertinent subject
oft discussed.
How Chip felt toward him, not alone
her, but for other and more valued
heart interests, need not be specified
he had seemed almost father to her
at the lake. He was the first of her
new-found friends whose feelings had
warmed toward her, and Chip was now
mature enough to value these bless
ings at their true worth.
A certain mutual expectancy now
entered the lives of Chip and Aunt
Abby. Nothing could be done. how
ever. Old Cy had gone out into the
wide, wide world, as it were, searching
for the little girl he loved. No man
ner of reaching him seemed possible:
/ and yet, some day, he must learn
what would bring him to them as fast
/ as steam could fetch him.
81 know that he loved me as his own
child there at the lake" Chip said
ence IN an exnltant tone. His going
after me proves it; and once he hears
where am, he will hurry here, ]
, know"
Whether Aunt Abby's heart respond
ed to that wish or not, she never dis
closed.
But the days, weeks and months
swept by, and Old Cy came not
Neither did any message come to Chip
from Greenvale At first. rebelling
at Rays treatment of her, Chip felt
that she never wanted to see him
again. She had been so tender
and loving toward him at the lake.
had striven so hard to learn
and to be more like him, had
waited and watched, codnting the days
until his return, only to be told what
she could not forget and to find him
SO neglectful, so cool to her when her
! girlish heart was so full of love, that
her feelings had changed almost in
one instant, and pride had made her
bitter
truth, as Chip knew well enough; but
truth and confiding love mixed lily,
and Rays conduct, leaving her as he
/, did with scarce word or promise, was
an episode that had chilled and almost
killed Chips budding affection. AS is
always the case, such a feeling fades
and flares like all others. There would
now be brief space when Chip hoped
and longed for Rays coming, and then
days when no thought Of him came.
1t was perhaps fortunate for him
that Christmas Cove contained no Sc
rious admirer of Chip the while, else
his cause and all memory Of him would
have been swept away. But that
quaint village was peopled chiefly by
old folk, those of the male persuasion
being quite young, with few girls Of
Chips age. Few young men remained
there to make their way, and so no
added interest came to vary Chips
life.