Mexico Missouri message., 1908-02-20
CHAPTER xvIlI.-contInued.

For a long hour she sat there while
the tide OF feeling ebbed and tears
came unchecked, and then the reac.
ton came. With 1t, also, came some
thing OF the old courage and defiance
that had once led her to face night,
danger, and so miles OF wilderness
alone.
Il have made a mistake" she said,
sitting up. and Hannah was right. /
am a nobody here and Ray has been
told so and has kept away
And now with returning calm, and
soothed, maybe, by the still, ethereal
night, she saw herself. her past and
present, as Il all was. Back In an In.
slant she sped in thought to the mo-
ment when. kneeling to these people.
she begged for food; back to that first
prayer she ever heard in the,tent, and
tho offer of rescue that followed.
And then her life here, with all its
hopes and humiliation. rose before her.
1T was all wrong, my coming here,
she said, looking away to the village
where lights twinkled; Il am not their
sort, nor they mine. I'd better go
away"
Then. lifted a wee bit by this new
resolve, she rose and returned to the
house.
The tall clock in the sitting.room
was Just Ginning ten when she en-.
tered, and Aunt Comfort was there
| alone.
Raymond was here this evening,
she said kindly, "and waited quite q
spell. Where have you been?"
"Oh, nowhere" answered Chip
pleasantly, only was lonesome and
went out for walk
Little did good Aunt Comfort realize
what a volcano OF hope. despair, shame
and tender love was concealed beneath
that calm answer, or the new resolve
budding in Chips heart
No more did Ray suspect 1t when ht
met her coming home from school the
next afternoon.
For during those two wretched houri
when she was alone on the worr
schoolhouse step. poor Chip Mcclure
the low.born. pitlful waif. had become
q woman and put away girlish i'm
pulses.
II couldn't come to see you that frs
evening"" he said at once. for uncle
and aunty kept me talking till bed
time. Where were you last night?"
"Oh, l didn't much think you woulC
come" answered Chip, calmly, smil
ing at him in a far-on way. Il am
nobody here, as you will soon find out
and / don't expect-anything. / go
lonesome last night and went OF for |
walk"
Ray looked at her in wide-eyet
establishment. And we'll he might, 70
only two short days since she ha'
met him, an eager. simple girl, ant
now she spoke like a woman. N
word, no hint OF his neglect. escape,
her; but a cool indifference was az
parent.
Tell me about the woods and OIL
Cy," she said, not waiting for him 4
speak again, and. how is the hermit
want to know all about them"
, "Oh, leit EN- all right" answere
, Ray, sullenly, for like a boy he wante
, 90 be coaxed. And then, urged a llttl
, by Chip, he told his winters exper
, ence.
One episode interested her most q
all--the strange trapper's doings, hi
: theft OF their game, their pursuit c
him and discovery of his hiding spot.
Il know who that was" she sale
! when II was all described. 1T was m
a father, and II he had caught you sp!
q ing upon him, guess he'd shot 20
4 Goth. He always used to go som'
; where trapping every fall; but NJ
! body could ever find where"
This return 10 the memories OF III
5 wilderness wore away something
e Chips cool reserve. and when III
), house was reached her eyes had grow
q tender.
Il shall be glad 10 see you often-s
LA your folks win let you come