The newspaper., 1908-03-27

Her teacher, however, was her stanch
friend. Aunt Comfort beamed upon
her morning and night, while Angie,
having provided her with home. raj
ment, opportunity for schooling. escort
10 church, and much good advice, felt
that she had fulfilled her duty. And
in way. she had.
But social recognition in a country
village can be made or marred by such
+. 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 to 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 to Han
nah-she failed to make friends about
the village. she won a place near to
Aunt Comforts heart.
But somehow Aunt Comfort, who
loved everybody alike, good or bad. or
at least spoke no Ill of the bad ones,
didn't count. That she must newt
ably take Chip under her motherly
wing, all recognized. She had taken
Hannah, then Angie and Meier. and
now this waif who. as Hannah insist
ed. was all bad: and according to
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
IL was true.
BY midwinter Martins new house
was all furnished, and social obliga-
tions began to interest Angie. which
made matters all the worse for Chip,
for now Hannah could persecute her
With less danger of exposure.
But Chip was hard to persecute.
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 to II.
II is certain. also. II Chip had
'Spunked up" as Hannah would call
=. now and then. IL would have been
Letter for her: but IL wasn't Chips
way. To work and suffer in silence
Lad been her lot at Tins Place. Angie
! ad said. You must obey everybody
and make friends" and impelled by
experience. and this somewhat broad
der. Chip was doing her best
One hope cheered her all that long.
Lard winter of monotonous study-the
return of Ray. and possibly Old Cy.
hen summer came. Somehow these
t.so 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 II
the little bond-a wondrous strong
one. as far as her feelings went
would still call him to her side.
IL 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.
II 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-
ward Ray. All else became an open
book to Miss Phinney.
When school was out. the two walk
ed homeward together as far as their
ways permitted. and then Chip OBJ
tained the one hour OF the day which
she felt was quite her own. At first.
during the autumn days. she had used
IL for n scamper through the nut
brown woods. When winter came and
IL was not too cold. she occasionally
visited the mill pond above the village.
where. II the conditions were right. all
the skating and sliding youth were
gathered: and when blessed spring re
turned. IL was away to the hills and
fields once more.
On Saturdays she seldom left the
house. unless sent on an errand, and
Sunday became a day of penance.
And now. when the flowers and
birds had once more returned to Green.
vale. and Ray might return any day. a
little plan that Chip had had in mind
FOR many weeks took shape. She
Knew Ray must come on the stage.
and eager for a sight of his face as
only love can make one. she meant to
be the first TO meet and greet him.
A mile down the village street and
beyond the last house was n sharp
hilltop. The stage usually reached
here about an hour after the close of
school. and TO this vantage point,
where she could hide behind stone
wall Chin now hetook herself each day