Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-03-07

her face she had heart trouble, n I've
seen the cause ont"
"You have" exclaimed Martin,
astonished in turn, "for heavens sake,
where?"
"Oh, down to the Corners, most
rear ago, n a likely boy he was, too"
"And never t,ld her?"
"No, why shG Id /, thinkin she'd run
away from him. We didn't want to
spite her plans. We found out, though,
her name was Mcclure. but never let
on till she told us a spell ago." And
then Uncle Jud told the story Of Rays
arrival in Riggsville in search of Chip.
THAT fellow is my nephew, Ray
mond Stetsor," rejoined Martin with
have adopted him. Chip has no cause
to be ashamed of his attachment"
Il don't callate she isl replied
Uncle Jud. faint that that jineral-
ly makes gal kick over the traces.
Mebbe twas suthin some O. you folks
said" And then a new light came to
Martin.
sively; ''in every village there is al.
ways a meddlesome old maid who in
variably says things she'd better not,
and ours is no exception. In this case
! it was dependent of our family who
| took dislike to Chip, it seems, and
her escapade was its outcome"
wal, we've got TO hev charity for
EN-" replied Uncle Jud, with a broad
smile Never havin' suffered the
| joys n sorrows O. love, they look at it
sorter criss-cross, an mebber this 'un
did. Old maids are a good deal like
cider-nat'rally turn to vinegar. What
wimmin need more'n all the rest is be-
in loved, n if they don't get it, they
sour up in time an amt no comfort to
themselves nor nobody else. Then
ag'in, not havin' no man nor no babies
to look arter, they take to coddlin'
| cats n dogs n parrots, which amt
nat'ral.
| Il think" continued Uncle Jud,
now that we've turned another fur
row, you'd best stop day or two with
us, n sorter git 'quainted. Well be
mighty glad to hev ye, me an Mandy,
an then ag'in thar's lot good trout
holes up the brook. We hev plenty to
eat, n mebbe a few days here in
| Peaceful Valley'll sorter reconcile we
to leavin' the gal with u.s." And moth
ing loath, Martin accepted.
Aunt Mandy and Chip now bestirred
themselves as never before The
dressmaker was left to her own re-
sources, Martin and Uncle Jud rugged
fishpoles and started for the brook.
Chip, with pail in hand, hurried away
to the fields, and when tea-time ar
rived, the big platter Of crisp fried
trout, saucers filled with luscious
blackberries, and ample shortcake of
the same with cream that poured in
clots, assured Martin that these peo-
pie did indeed have plenty to eat.
How did this come to be named
Peaceful Valley?" he queried, when
they had gathered around the table.
IT'S very appropriate"
WAL" answered Uncle Jud. Eve
got it from a teller that come up here
paintin' picturs one summer, an,
chuckling, twas all we got for a
months board, at that. He was a
short o. skinny critter, with long hair,
kinder pale, and chawed tobacco std
dy. He lowed his name was Grahame,
that he was in the show business n
gittin backgrounds, as he called EN-,
fer show picturs. He roved up n
down the brook, putin rocks n trees
n waterfalls on paper, allus gittin'
round reg'lar bout meal time-must
"a gained 20 pounds while here. An
then one mornin' he was missin', n
so was Aunt Mandy's gold thimble n
all her silver spoons. Shed sorter
took to him, too, he was that palaver-
in in his way"
There now ensIed a series Of Ques
tions from Uncle Jud in regard to Old
Cy-how long Martin had known him,
and all that pertained to his history.
1t was gladly recited by Martin, to-
gether with all the strange happen
ings in the wilderness, the finding of
Chip, the half-breed's pursuit and alb
duction of her, and much else that has
been told. 1t was almost midnight ere
Martin was shown to the best front
chamber, and even then he lay awake
an hour, listening to the steady pratt
tie Of a nearby brook and thinking of
all that had happened.
A tone of regret crept into his voice,
however, when, after thanking Uncle
.Jud and Aunt Mandy, and bidding
them good-by, he addressed Chip.
II wish I could take you back with
me-" he said; your return would be
such a blessing to Aunt Comfort and
my wife You may not believe it, but