Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-06-25

few hours for pickerel and perch, and
had a fish fry and picnic dinner.
The next day they visited q strange,
romantic grotto up in the mountains.
known as the VOLTS Den, and here a
table was set, broiled chicken, sweet
corn, and such toothsome fare formed
the meal, with nut-gathering for
amusement.
Squirrel and partridge shooting also
furnished Martin a little excitement.
When he and Angie insisted that they
must leave, both host and hostess
showed genuine regret. A few re-
marks made by Angie to her former
protege, in private, the last evening
of this visit, may be quoted.
Il must insist, my dear child" she
said, that you make us a visit in the
near future. You left us under an en-
tirely false impression. and it has
grieved me more than you can i'm
agine. There vas never a word of
truth in anything that Hannah said.
She was spiteful and malicious and
desired to get even with you for a
hurt to her pride. We had no thought
of hurrying away to the woods to sep
arate you and Ray for any reason
whatever. Of course, as you must
know, l had no suspicion of any at
tachment between you, and if l had, l
certainly should not have tried to
break it off in that way. That is a
matter that concerns only you and
him. My own life experience shows
that first love is the wisest and best,
and while you were both too young
then for an engagement, you must be-
lieve me when l tell you that | had no
wish to interfere"
And so the breach was healed.
This visit of the Frisbies to Peace
full Valley also awakened something of
repentance in Chips mind, and more
mature now, it occurred to her that
leaving Greenvale as she did, was,
after all. childish.
Then Angles part in this drama of
her life now returned to Chip in a
new light. Once she began to reflect,
her self-accusation grew apace and her
repentance as well. Now she began
to see herself sas she was at Tins
Place.
Il think l treated my Greenvale
friends very ungratefully," she said to
Aunt Abby one evening after they had
returned to Christmas Cove once more,
and what Mrs. Frisbie said to me has
made me realize it. I know now that
few would have done what she did for
me. ! was an ignorant, dirty, home.
less creature and no relation of hers,
and yet she took charge of me, bought
me clothes, paid all my expenses going
to G~reenvale, clothed me there, and
always treated me nicely without my
ever asking for it.
"The Frisbies certainly ran some
risk by keeping me at their cabin
when they knew that half-breed was
after me. | don't know why they
should have done all this. l was moth.
ing to them. And yet when | recall
the night l stumbled into their camp,
how Mrs. Frisbie dressed me in her
own clothes, shared her tent with me,
and even prayed for me, l feel
ashamed to think of what | have done.
l did think that Mrs. Frisbie despised
me from what Hannah said, | know
now that | was wrong, and running
away as | did, vas very ungrateful."
II think it was, myself" responded
Aunt Abby, land yet believing as you
did, Mrs. Frisbie ought not to blame
you. l don't think she does, either.
She seems a very sensible woman, and
| like her. You made your mistake in
not confiding in her more. You should
have gone to her as you would to a
mother, in the first place, and told her
just what Hannah had said to you and
how you felt about it. To brood over
such matters and imagine the worst
possible, is unwise in any one. / think
from what you have told me, that this
person who sneered against you so
much must have had a spite against
you"
Hannah was Jealous, l know" Chip
interrupted, smiling at the recollec-
ton, "and l hurt her feelings because
l asked her why she didn't shave"
Didn't shaNe!", exclaimed Aunt
Abby, wide-eyed; what do you mean?"
"Why she has whiskers, you see,"
laughed Chip, almost as much as
some men-a nice little mustache and
some on her chin. told her the next
day after | got there l thought she
was a man dressed as a woman. l
snickered, too, | remember, when l
said it, for she looked SO comical-
like a goat, almost-and then | asked
her why she didn't shave. l guess she
laid it up against me eve after"
"She revenged herself amply, it
seems" answered Aunt Abby.
When Christmas neared, and with
it a vacation for Chip, new impulses
came to her: a desire to visit Green
vale once more and make amends as
best she could to her friends there;
and her ~gift-giving desire was quick
ened by the coming holidays. She now
felt that she had ample means to graf
ify this latter wish. Day by day, since
meeting Angie again, her sense of OBJ
legation had increased, and now it was
in her power at Christmas-tide to re-
pay at least a little of the debt.
Others were also included in this
generous project: Uncle Jud, Aunt
Mandy, her foster-mother, Aunt Abby,
as well; and then there was Old Cy,
whom most of all she now desired to
make glad. That was impossible, how