Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-06-06
CHAPTER XVII.


Hannah, who from wounded vanity
and petty jealousy became her enemy
from the outset.
Aunt Comfort did not know It. An
gle was not conscious OF the facts. or.
busy with her own social duties and
homemaking, gave them no thought.
And yet, inspired by Hannah's mali
cious tongue. Greenyale looked upon
poor Chip as one it was best TO avoid
With Angie as sponsor, she had been
made one OF the Christmas church
decorators. and had been twice invited
90 parties, only 20 exasperate Hannah
all the more and cause an increase Of
sneers.
She's nobody an an upstart." Han
nah said at the first meeting OF the
village sewing circle after Chips ad-
vent. AN I've my doubts about her
father an mother ever bein' married.
Then she's an middle an believes In
lnjun sperrits an hobgoglin things she
calls spites. an is a regular heather. 1
don't trust her a mint, an never leave
the house 'thOut I lock up my things"
Much more OF this sort fell from
Hannahs lips whenever occasion Of
aNAfAf AAA0AAM never MlLnAu nearing OF
Aunt Comfort or Angie. Neither did
the townspeople enlfghten them, and
so the undercurrent OF innuendo and
gossip. once started by Hannah. spread
until all Greenvale looked askance at
Chip.
There was also some color for this
ill repute. for Angie had concealed
nothing. and Chip. fooHshly perhaps,
had asserted her belief when IL would
have been better 10 conceal Il.
The parson also. chagrined at his
failure 20 make a convert OF the girl.
referred 10 her as "rebeliious. obsti-
nate in her ideas. and one who needed
chastening."
Her teacher. however. was her stanch
friend. Aunt Comfort besmed upon
her morning and night. while Angie.
having provided her with home. raj
ment. opportunity for schooling. escort
60 church. and much good advice. felt
that she had fulfilled her duty. And
in a way. she had
But social recognition in a country
village can be made or marred by such
a person as Hannah. and quite un-
known TO those most interested. Chips
popularity was not decreed. Neither
was she conscious OF this undercur-
rent Each day she went 20 and re-
turned from school in sturdy sort OF
way. A most devoted pupil. she never
failed TO thank her teacher for every
word OF help. and if-thanks 70 Han
nah-she failed 10 make friends about
the village. she won a place near 10
Aunt Comforts heart
But somehow Aunt Comfort. who
loved everybody alike. good OF bad. or
at least spoke no an OF tho bad ones.
didn't count. That she must newt
ably take Chip under her motherly
wing. all recognized. She had taken
Hannah. then Angle and Meier. and
now this waif who. as Hannah insist
ed, was all bad. and according 70
Greenvale's belief. Aunt Comfort
would keep on taking In" homeless
waits and outcast mortals as long as
she lived. or house room held out. And
II was true.
BY nidWinter Martins new house
was all furnished. and social obliga-
lions began TO interest Angie. which
made matters all the worse for Chip,
for now Hannah could prosecute her
with less danger OF exposure
But Chip was hard TO prosecute.
She had known adversely in its worst
form. Her life at Tins Place had
been practical slavery. and the worst
that Hannah could do was as PIN
pricks compared 70 It,
IL is certain. also. II Chip had
spanked up" as Hannah would call
it. now and then. it would have been
better for her: but II wasn't Chips
way. To work and suffer in silence
had been her lot at Tins Place. Angie
had said. You must obey everyb body
and make friends" and impelled by
experience, and this somewhat broad
order. Chip vas doing her best.
One hope cheered her all that long,
hard winter OF monotonous study-the
return of Ray. and possibly Old Cy,
when summer came. Somehow these
two had knit themselves into her life
as no one else had or could. Then she
wondered how Ray would seem TO and
feel toward her when he came, and IL
the little bOnd-a wondrous strong
one, as far as her feelings went
would still cali him 10 her side.
or love and its real meaning she
was scarce conscious as yet. She sim
ply felt that this youth with his sunny
face and brown eyes was the one be-
ing on earth she wished to please. All
the romance and pathos Of that sum
mer idyl, all the moonlight and canoe
ing, all the songs he had charmed her
with, and every word and act of his
from that first evening when, ragged
and starving, she had stumbled into
the camp. until she had parted from
him with misty eyes. had been lived
over by her countless times.
1t had all been a beacon of hope to
her IN the uphill road toward the tenn
pie OF learning; and how hard she had
studied. and how patiently she had
tried to correct her own speech, not
even her teacher guessed.
Il is also possible, in fact almost GER
tain, that that unfortunate waits some
what pitiful tale had won her teach
er's interest and affection as naught
else could. Only one reservation was
made by Chip-her own feelings to-