Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-02-27
CHAPTER II.-contlnued.

~
the girl with increased establishment.
He knew who this Mcclure was, and
something of his history, and that
Tins Place was a hillside clearing lar
up the river, inhabited by an irish
family devoted to the raising of pota-
toes. He had halted there. once, long
enough to observe its somewhat sloth-
full condition, and to buy pork and POI
tatoes; but this tale was a revelation
and the girl herself a greater one.
This oasis In the wilderness was
fully 40 miles above here, its only con-
nection with civilization was a seldom
used log road which only an expert
enced woodsman could follow, and
how this mere child had dared 1t, was
a marvel.
But there she was, squat on the
ground and watching them with Dig
black, pleading eye There was but
one thing to do, to care for her now'
as humanity insisted, and Angie made
the first move. 1t was in the direction
OF cleanliness; for entering the tent,
she soon appeared with some OF her
own extra clothing, soap, and towels,
and babe the girl follow her up the
river a few rods.
The moon was shining clearly bow
the treetops, the campfire burned
brightly, and Martin, Ray and Lew
were 1ounging near it when the two
returned. and in one an astonishing
Transformation had taken place.
Angie had gone away with a girl OF
ten in respect to clothing, her skirt
evidently made of gunny cloth n
reaching but little below her knees
and for a waist, what was once a
mans red flannel shirt, and both in
rags. Soiled with black mud, and
bleeding, she was an object plt1aple
beyond words; she returned a young
lady. almost, in stature, her face shin
ing and rosy, and her eyes SO tender
with gratitude that they were pathetlc.
Another change had also come with
cleanliness and clothing udden
~bashfulness. 1t vas some time ere
she could be made to talk again, but
finally that wore away and then her
StOfY CdQl6 Wudt u toAC AZ "~1
scarce credible.
1t was a fantastic, weird, almost
spookish tale,-the spectres she had
seen were SO real to her that the tell
ing made them seem almost so to the
rest, and beyond that, the girl herself
SO like a young witch, with her shad
W eyes and furtive glances, added to
the illusion.
But now came a diversion, for Lev
freshened the fire, and at a nod IRON
Angie, Ray brought forth his banjo
1t was his one pet foible, and 1t wen
with him everywhere, and now, witt
time and place so in accord, he was
glad to exhibit his talent. He was no
an expert,-a few jigs and plantation
melodies composed his repertory,- =
with the moonlight glinting through
the spruce boughs, the river murmur
ing near, somehow one could not fai
to catch the quaint humor Of "Olt
Uncle Ned" Jim Crack Corn" AM
the like, and see the two dusky lover
ms they foated down the "Tombigbe'
River and feel the pathos of "Nelli
Grey and "Old Kentucky Home"
Ray sang fairly well and in sympa
thy with each theme. To Angie an
the rest it was but ordinary; but t
this waif, who never before had hear
4 a banjo or a darby song, it was NAL
velous. Her face lit up with keen II
terest, her eyes grew misty at times
and once two tears stole down he
cheeks.
For an hour Ray was the center Q
interest, and then Angie arose.
Come, Chip" she said pleasant!
sit's time to go to bed, and you ar
to share my tent"
I'D rather not" the girl reptile
bluntly. Il amt fit. / kin jist ez we
curl 'longside o the fire"
But Angie insisted and the girl TO
lowed her into the tent.
Here occurred another incident thu
must be related. Angie, always d
vout, and somewhat ~puritanical, wa
one who never forgot her night
prayer, and now, when ready for slun
Der, she knelt on the bed of fir twig
and by the light of one small cand,
offered her usual petition, while Chi
watched her with wide and wonderin
eyes. AS might be expected, that wa
was mentioned, and with deep feelin
do We s'pose God heard ye?" 81
queried with evident candor, whe
Angie ceased.
Why, certainly" came the earne
answer; God hears all prayers"
And do the spites hear emf"
There are no such creatures
'spites,'" answered Angie, severel.
.'you only imagine them, and VIII
this Indian has told you is supers
ton"
s'But I've g 'em, hundreds on 'ei
big and little" returned the 81
stoutly.
Angie looked at her with pity.
put that notion out Of your hea
once for all" she said, almost sternl
cit is only a delusion, and no dou
told to scare you"
And poor Chip, conscious that pt
haps she had sinned in speech, sa
no more.
For a long time Angie lay sleeple
upon her fragrant bed, recalling u
waits strange story and trying
grasp the depth and breadth Of b
life at Tins Place; also to surmise,
possible, how serious a faint OF g
she had inherited. That her faith
was vile beyond compare seemed 20
tive; that her mother might have be-
scarce better was probable. No me