Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-03-07
CHAPTER XVIII.

n week ldJeT, lOT Sdpldiu pChiio hou
passed on, Aunt Abby was in lonely
sorrow, and wrote for Chip to come
at once.
Her fate was now linked with these
people. Aunt Abby had been kind and
helpful, and Chip, more than glad to
return a little of the obligation, hur-
ried to Christmas Cove.
It was a solemn and silent house
she now entered. Aunt Abby, despite
the fact that it was not love match,
mourned her departed companion. The
mills pertinent silence added gloom,
and Chips smiling face and affection
ate interest was more than welcome
to Aunt Abby.
And now that concealment was no
longer needed, Chip FASTENED to tell
her story in full.
How utterly Aunt Abby was aston
ished, how breathlessly she listened to
Chips recital, and how, when the eli
max came and Chip assured her that
good Old Cy Walker was still alive,
Aunt Abby collapsed entirely, sobbing
and thanking God all at once, is but
a sidelight on this tale.
Il couldn't tell you before" Chip as
sured her. while her own tears still
flowed. II was so ashamed and guilty
all in one, l couldn't bear to. l never
did so mean thing in all my life, and
never will again. But when Uncle
Jud told me what you didn't, and how
much he cared for me, and how you
once cared for Uncle Cy, l went all to
sent word to Uncle Cy that day. /
feel so guilty now, and so mean, l
don't see how you can forgive me-"
But Aunt Abby's forgiveness was
not slow in coming. The past ten days
of sorrow had left her heart very ten
der. In spite of being "book-larned,'
she was very humane. Chips sad life
and misfortunes appealed to her, as
they had to Uncle Jud, and true Chris
tian woman that she was, her heart
opened to Chip.
Il hope we shall never be parted
while live" she said, as the tears
came again. II have no children, and
no one to live for but my sister. / am
so wonted to Christmas Cove, I could
not feel at home anywhere else. II
Uncle Jud will consent, 1 will adopt
you leglly, and when / am laid away
all l have shall be yours"
And so Chip Mcclure, waif Of the
wilderness, child of an outlaw, once
sold to q human brute, yet fighting
her way upward and onward TO bet
ter life, despite every drawback, now
found home and mother.
No light of education had illumined
her pathway, no Christian teaching
and no home example, only the Unborn
and God-given impulse OF purity, self
respect and gratitude; and yet, like
bud forcing its way up out of muck
heap and into the sunshine, so Chip
emerged to win respect and love.
But all her history is not told yet.
She still lacked even n common edu-
cation. There was still an old man
seeking to fild her, who was yet wan
dering Ear. A homeless, almost
friendlta A. old man was he, whose life
had gor@ amiss, and whose sole ambi-
ton was 90 do for her and find content
in her happiness. A wanderer and re-
cluse for many years. he was still
more so now, and out CT place as well
among the busy haunts Of men. More
than that, he was an object of curios-
ity to all grown people and the jest OF
the young. as he tramped up and
down the land in search of Chip.
And what a pitiful quest it was
this asking the same question thou
sands of times, this lingering in towns
to watch mill operatives file out, this
on again, and repeat it for months and
months.
There was still another link in this
chain-a boy, SO far as experience
goes, who was only deferred from un-
wise haste by cool-headed man.
you had better not go to Chip
now" Martin said to him on his return
from Peaceful Valley. she Is an odd
child of nature, and you won't lose by
waiting. My advice to you is to for
get her for the present, find some
profitable occupation, and then, when
you have made little advancement
in life, go and WOO her if you can. To
try it now is foolish"
It was cold comfort for Ray.
One Of Chips first acts of emancipa-
ton was to write to Aunt Comfort and
Angie, assuring both of her love and
best wishes, and thanking them for ell
they had done. Both letters were
cramped in chirography, but correct in
spelling, and in Angles was note for
Martin, asking that he draw 500 Of
her money and send it to her, and as
much more to pay some one to follow
Old Cy. The latter request Martin ig-
nored, however, for he had already set
the machinery of newspaperdom at
work, and an advertisement for infor-
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