The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-12-19
CHAPTER vnI-Continued.

Nv
$50, you see," added the child. II am
charity. I'm not like other girls that's
got papas and mammas. Course /
knowed that before, but 1t didn't
seem-seem so hard as 1t does now"
she confessed with a sob.
my dear! my deari" cried Miss
Amanda, dropping on her knees beside
the little girl. don't talk sol I know
your uncle must love you"
"Oh. Miss Mandyw gasped Carolyn
May. don't you s'pose he loves other
folks, too? You ~know-folks he'd be-
gun to love ever SO long agoT
The wOman's smooth cheeks burned
suddenly and she stood up.
I'm most sure he'd never stop low
ing a person II he'd once begun to
love EN-" said Carolyn May, with a
high opinion Of the %faithfulness Of
Uncle Joe's character.
do you want to know II your Uncle
Joe loves youT" she asked Carolyn
May at last. ado your
"Oh, l do !" cried the little girl.
"Then ask him." advised Miss
Amanda. ''That's the only way to do
with Joe Stage, II you want to get
at the truth. Out with 1t, square. and
ask him."
II will do It," Carolyn May said Sc
riously.
After the child had gone the woman
went back into the little cottage and
her countenance did not wear the fare
well smile that Carolyn May had
looked back to e
Gripping at her heart was the old
pain she had suffered years before and
the conflict that had scared her mind
80 long ago was reused again.
ooh, goei oh, Joel How could
your" she moaned, rocking herself to
and fro. "How could your
That very night the first 10 furry
of the season drove against the west
window panes Of the big kitchen at the
Stagg homestead. It was at supper
time.
II declare fort,~ said Mr.. Stage, u
guess winters onto us, Aunty Rose
This snow did not amount to much
Il was little more than a h0ar frost, as
Mr.. Stage said. This might be, how
ever, the last chance for a Sunday
walk In the woods for some time and
Carolyn May did not propose to miss
It.
On this day she earnestly desired
to get him OF by himself. for hel
heart was filed with a great purpose
She felt that they must come to ar
understanding.
On this particular occasion Uncle
Joe sat down upon the log by thu
brook where Miss Amanda had once
sat. Carolyn May stood before him
"Am I Just q charity orphan3 Didn'
my papa leave any money a-tall 10
mel Did you take me just out O.
charity"
"Bless mel" gasped the hardware
dealer.
I'll wish you'd answer me. Uncl'
joe" went on Carolyn May with
brave effort to keep from crying
Joseph Stagg was too blunt . per
son to see his way to lodging tn
question.
"Humi Well. I'll tell you, Carly
May. There isn't much left, and that
a fact. 1t isn't your fathers fault ID
thought there was plenty. But a busi
ness he invested In got into bad hand
and the little nest egg he'd laid up 10
his family was lost"
'Then-then I am just charity. An
eos Prince" whispered Carolyn May
I'll s'pose we could 60 to the poor
house, Prince and me; but they mayn'
like dogs there. You're real nice I
me, Uncle Joe; but Prince and me-
we really are q nuisance to you"
The man stared at her for q momen
In silence, but the flush that dyed hi
cheeks was q flush Of shame.
Don't you like It any more her
with Aunty Rose and-and mer' b
demanded.
"Oh, yesi On%ly--only. Uncle Joe,
don't want to stay. II we're q nuisance
Prince and me. ! don't want to stay. !
~ donst lave ma