The newspaper., 1908-05-29

plex series of moods of peculiar effect.
and her conduct must be judged ac-
cordingly.
First, the dense ignorance of years
at Tins Place, with its saving grace
of disgust at such surroundings and
/ such life. Then a few months with
people so different and so kind that 1t
| seemed an entrance into heaven, to be
followed by weeks of a 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 a dependent pauper.
and then her flight into the world and
away from all that stung her like SO
many whips.
But a 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. 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 1t
was forwarded to Christmas Cove.
MY Dear Chip" it began.
Il feel that you will not care to hear
from me. and yet / must 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 IL only too well now. when IL Is
too late. But 1 am more Of a man to-
day. hope. and some time shall come
and try to obtain your forgiveness for
being so blind. No one ever has been.
and / know no one ever will be. what
you are to me. As Old Cy says. Bless
ings brighten as they vanish and now.
after this long separation. one word and
one smile from dear little Chip would
seem priceless to me, and ! shall come
and try To win IL before many months
II am here with Uncle Martins old
guide. Levi. We are going into the woods
tomorrow to gather gum and trap until
spring. have hired two other men to
help. and hope to do well and make some
money. think you will be glad TO know
that Old cy here this summer and
was we'll He does not know that you
have been found. and is still hunting for
you. Levi told m. that the people here
are much Interested In you. that they
have fixed up the yard where your moth
er is buried. and he put up small stone
II wish could hear from you. but
there Is no chanc. now. Please try to
forgive "A foolish boy for being stupid.
and think OF me as you did during those
happy days by the Lake. Goodbye.
RAY"
How every word of this haif-boyish.
halfmanly ietter was read and re-read
by Chip; how ii woke the old memories
of the wilderness and OF herself.
ragged waif there: and how. somehow.
in spite OF pride and anger. a little
thrill of happiness crept into her heart
needs no explanation.
But she was not quite ready yet to
forgive him. and what he failed to say
when he might. still ranked in her
feelings.
But Old Cy. that kindly soul. so like
a father, Almost did she feel that to-
meet him would be worth more than
to see any one else in the world. And
to think he was still hunting for her.
far and near.
And now. quite unlike most young
ladies'. who deem their love missives
sacred, Chip showed hers to Aunt
Abby.
Its from Raymond Stetson." she
said. rather bashfully. "a boy who was
In the woods with those people who
were kind TO me. and we became very
good friends
Aunt Abby smiled as she perused its
contents.
And so he was the cause OF your
running away from Greenvale." she
said. why didn't you write him a
note of thanks after you learned he
had been searching for you? | think
he deserved that much at least
Il wouldn't humble myself" Chip
answered spiritedly. "and then ! was
ashamed to let any one know ! had
used his name. ! hadn't time to think
what name to give when Uncle Jud
asked me, and his was the first that
came to mind" she added naively.
Aunt Abby laughed.
Il guess Master Stetson won't find
forgiveness hard to earn" she said.
and then her face beamed at the dis
closure OF a romance while she read
the letter a second time.
But there was more to tell, as Aunt
Abby knew full well, and now, bit by