Charlevoix county herald., 1908-02-08

wore wig and seemed to exude
rules and discipline, lacked the kindly
interest of Miss Phinny.
Chip, almost n mature young lady,
was aligned with girls and boys of
10 and IL, and once more the same
shame and humiliation had be en-
| dured. II wore away in time. how.
ever. for she had made almost mar
velous progress under Miss Phinney
Her mind was keen and quick. and
once at study again. she astorished
Mr.. Bell. the master.
F.: Something OF her old fearless self
i reliance now came to her aid, also.
| IL had made her dare 60 miles OF viii.
derness alono and helpless. II had
spurred her to escape Greenvale and
her sense OF being dependent pau.
per, and now that latent force for
good or i'll still nerved her
But Christmas Cove did not suit
her. The sea that drew her eyes
with its vastness seemed To awe her.
! Tho great house, brown and moss
! coated where she lived, was barnlike,
and never quite warm enough. The
| long street she traYersed four times
! daily was bleak and wind-swept. Aunt
Abby was austere and lacking in cor
diaiity; and Sundays-well, Sundays
We're Chips one chief adherence.
Another influence an insidous
| heart hunger she could not put away
now added to her loneliness in the
new life. 1t carried her thoughts back
to the rippled, moonlit lake, where
Ray had picked his banjo and sung
| to her; even back to that first night
by the campfire when she had watch.
ed and listened TO him in rapt adj
miration. 1t thrilled her as naught
else could when she recalled the few
| moments at the lake men, unconscious
of the need of restraint, she had let
| him caress her.
Then the long days of watching for
his return were lived over, and the
one almost ecstatic moment when he
had leaped from the stage and over
the wall, with no one in sight, while
he held her in his arms.
And then-and this hurt the most
that last evening before they were to
part again, when beside the firefy-lit
mill pond ne had the chance to say
so much and said-nothing
1t was all a bitter-sweet memory,
which she tried to put away forever
the night she left Greenyale. She
was now Vera Raymond No one
could trace her; and yet, so at odds
were her will and her heart, there
still fingered the faint hope that Ray
would sometime and homehow find
her out
And so, studying faithfully, ofte>
lonesome. now and then longing for
the bygone days with Ray and Old
Cy, and always hoping that she might
some time return to Peaceful Valley,
Chip passed the winter at Christmas
Cove
Something of success came to her
through it all. She reached and re-
tanned head positions in her classes.
\ word of praise came occasionally
from Mr.. Bell. Aunt Abby grew less
austere and seemed to have little
pride in her. She became acquainted
with other people and in touch with
young folks, was invited to parties
and sleigh-rides. The vernacular OF
Tins Place left her, and even Sun
days were less a torture, in fact, al
most pleasure, for then she saw
most of the young people she mingled
with, and now and then exchanged a
bit of gossip.
Her own dress became of more in
terest to her Aunt Abby, fortunate
ly for Chip, felt DESTROYS that her ward
should appear well, and Chip, thus
educated and polished in village life,
to degree at least, fulfilled Aunt
Abby's hopes.
Another success also came to her,
for handsome as she undeniably was,
with her big. appealing eyes, her
splendid black hair, and well-rounded
form, the young men began to seek
her. One became persistent, and
when spring had unlocked the long,
curved bay once more. Chip had be-
come almost leader in the little cir
Gle OF young people.
Her life with these who had taken
! her in charge also became more har-
monious. In fact, something of affec-
ton began to leaven it, for the reason
that never once haG Aunt Abby ques-
toned Chip as to her past. Aunt Mandy
and Uncle Jud had both cautioned her
as TO it's unwisdom, and she was broad
and charitable enough to let il remain
closed book until such time as Chip
was willing to open it; and for this,
more than all else that she received,
| Chip felt grateful. But one day it
came out-or at least a portion of it
Il suppose you have often won
| dcred where | was born, and who my
parents were" Chip said, one Sunday
afternoon, when she and Aunt Abby
were alone, land / want 10 thank you
for never asking" And then, omit
! ting much, she briefly outlined her
/ hictnrV