Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-05-07
CHAPTER Xxx.

~ AS" " 49, O0P ~ S~
life that had now become unbearable,
and then the end came. 1t was has
tened, perhaps, by Hannah, for that
ill-tempered spinster had been ever
watchful, and with shrewd insight had
seen or guessed all that had trans
pired.
81 s'pose We know why the Frisbies
hurried away so soon after Ray got
back" she said to Chip that last day.
IF you don't, I can tell ye. 1t was
cos they noticed the COINS on tween
you an him an wanted to head it off"
Not a word of protest came from the
poor child in response to this sheer,
and that night she wrote two notes,
n to Miss Phinney, the other to Aunt
Comfort. Then, making a bundle of
the few belongings she could call her
own-the beaded moccasins, cap and
fur cape old Tomah had given her, and
other trifes-she waited until almost
midnight and stole out of the house.
Where to go, she knew not nor cared
only to leave Greenvale and all the
shame. sorrow, and humiliation it held
for her, and make her own way in the
world as best she could.
The village street was as silent as
midnight always found it. The low
murmur of the Mizzy Falls whispered
down the valley. A half-moon was
Just rising, and as Chip reached the
hilltop where she had waited for Ray,
she halted. From here must be taken
the last glance at Greenvale, and as
she turned about a sob rose in her
heart, in spite of her stern resolve, for
ties cannot be sundered easily.
And how vivid and life-lasting was
that picture! The two long rows OF
white houses facing the broad street,
the tall-spired church in the middle Of
them; scattered dwellings to the right
and left; away to n side the little
brown schoolhouse that had been her
Mecca; the stream that wound
through the broad meadows; and over
all the faint sheen of the rising moon
Only for a moment she paused for
this good-by look, then turned and ran
On and on she sped mile after mile, up
hill, down hill, hating now and then
for breath until a cross-road was
reached, and here she stopped. Here
also came the question of direction.
To follow the main road was to reach
Riverton, between which and Green
vale the stage journeyed. To go there
meant being recognized perhaps. In
her study Of geography, she had found
that the village which was her birth
place lay northeast from Greenvale.
She meant sometime and somehow to
reach that spot and visit her mothers
grave once more, and also, If possible,
to send word to Old Tomah.
From now on the road became mar
row. Miles elapsed between houses,
and Chip, wearied and heavy-eyed,
could only creep along. The way be-
came more devious now, bending
around a wooded hill and then cross
ing a wide swamp to enter a stretch
of forest. Direction became lost in
these turnings, the road grew hilly
and less travelled. The moon scarce
showed 1t; and Chip, almost exhaust
ed, stumbled over stones and felt that
she was becoming lost in an unset.
tied country. And then, just as she
emerged from a thicket and assembled
a low hill, the light of coming dawn
faced her, and with it the need of sleep
and concealment.
Full well she knew she must avoid
all observing eyes and place many
more miles between herself and Green.
vale to be certain of escape. And
then, as the daylight increased, she
caught sight Of an old, almost ruined
dwelling half hid among bushes just
ahead. Even II empty, as it appeared,
1t would serve for shelter, and finding
1t so, she crept in, SO wearied that she
fell asleep at once on the warped and
mouldy floor.
1t was only a brief nap, for soon the
rattle Of a passing farm wagon woke
her, but refreshed somewhat by 1t, she
again pushed on.
Soon a brook, singing cheerfully as
1t tumbyed down a ledge, was reached
and here Chip bathed her face and
hands and drank Of the sweet, cool
water.
Hunger also asserted itself, but that
did not daunt her. She had faced IL
once before.
Then something of a plan as to her
future movements began to shape 1t,
self in her mind, following which
cpme an increased courage and self
reliance. Not a cent did she now pos