Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-01-17

With his caro-. Aunt Abby opened this
and saw the card. and the next. day
she commissioned the stage driver to
deliver Abe box, card and all. to Mr..
Goednow at his boarding house.
A long and adroitly worded letter
to Chip came day later. so humble.
30 aattering, and 50 importuning that
IL made her laugh.
Il think that fellow must have gone
crazy" she said. handing the letter to
Aunt Abby. he runs on so about how
he can't sleep nights from thinking
about me He says that he must 30
away next week and shall die II he
can't see me once more. What aiis
him, anyway"
Nothing. except evil Intentions" re-
sponded Aunt Abby, perusing the mis-
sive. He must think you fool to be-
tieve such bosh." she added severely.
after finishing 1t. Honest love doesn't
grow like a mushroom In one night.
and the difference between his posi-
ton and yours gives the lie to all he
says. | hope he will go away next
week, and never come back"
Whether Chips studied avoidance
!. of him, combined with the spubbing.
served its purpose. or he decided his
quest was hopeless. could only be
guessed, for he was seen no more near
the mill. and the next week his yacht
left Christmas Cove. and Chip felt re-
lieved
1t had been an experience quite new
to her, and, in spite OF its annoyance,
somewhat exciting. II also served an
other purpose OF more value.--it re-
called Ray to her by sheer force Of
contrast She had felt hurt ever since
the night she left Greenvale. She
had meant to put him out of her
thoughts and forget all the silly hours
and promises at the lake; and yet she
never had succeeded. Instead, her
thoughts turned to him in spite OF her
pride.
And now. contrasting and compar-
ing that honest. manly lad, a playmate
only, and yet lover as well, with this
polished, fulsome. fattering, shifty-
good. only made Ray. with his far DIFF
ferent ways, seem the more attractive.
Then conscience began to smite her.
She had yielded to pride and put him
away from her thoughts. His uncle
had almost pleaded for her to return
to Greenvale, If only for a visit. She
knew Ray had spent weeks in search
ing for her; yet not once in all the two
years since they parted had she sent
him line of remembrance.
More mature now, Chip began to see
her own conduct as 1t was. and to real
lie that she had been both ungrateful
and heartless; but she could not con-
Abby.
Chips life had been strange, COM
pick series of moods of peculiar effect,
and her conduct must be judged &C
cordingly.
First. the dense ignorance of years
at Tins Place, with its saving grace
Of disgust at such surroundings and
such life. Then few months with
people SO different and SO kind that It
seemed an entrance into heaven. to be
followed by weeks Of growing real
ization that she was nobody, and an
outcast unfit for Greenvale.
And then came the climax Of all
this: the bitter sneers OF Hannah,
Rays cool neglect, the consciousness
that she was only q dependent pauper,
and then her flight into the world and
away from all that stung her like SO
many whips.
But revulsion OF feeling was com
Ing. Chip, no longer simple child of
the wilderness, was realizing her own
needs and her own nature Something
broader and more satisfying than
school life and the companionship of
Aunt Abby was needed; yet how to
find 1t never occurred to her.
With September came Aunt Abby's
annual visit to Peaceful Valley. A few
days before their departure. Chip re.
ceived a letter which was SO unexpect-
ed and so vital to her feelings that II
must be quoted.
1t was dated at the little village OF
/ Grindstone, directed to Vera Mcclure,
care Of Judson Walker, by whom 1,
was forwarded to Christmas Cove.
MY Dear Chip 1t began.
II feel that you win not care to hear
from me, and yet raust write know
| am more to blame than anyone for the
way you left Greenvale and that you
must consider me foolish boy, without
much courage, which have been. and
realize IT eGly too well now, when II Is