The Red Cloud chief., 1918-11-28
CHAPTER vIIl-centInued.

$50, you Sec" added the child, II am
eAarity. I'm not like other girls that's
~ papas and mammas. Course I
knowed that before. but 1t didn't
seem-seem 90 hard a. 1t does now"
- confessed with q sob.
NY deari 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 Mandyi" gasped Carolyn
May. "don't you s'pose he loves other
folks. tool You know-folks he'd be-
gun to love ever 80 long agoi"
The woman's smooth cheeks burned
Suddenly and she stood up.
TN most sure he'd never stop low
ing q person II he'd once begun to
lsvs 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 your she asked Carolyn
May at last. do your
''Oh. I do I" cried tho little girl.
"Then ask him." advised Miss
Amanda. ''That's the only way to do
With Joe Stagg, II you want to get
at the truth. Out with II. square, and
ask him."
Il will do It." Carolyn May said Sc
siously.
After the child had gone the woman
went back into the little cottage and
her corntenance did not wear the fare
veil smile that Carolyn May had
looked back to see.
Gripping at her heart was the old
pain she had suffered years before and
the conflict that had scared her mind
% long ago was reused again.
'~Oh. Joel oh, Joel How could
vour abe moaned. rocking herself to
and fro. "How could your
That very night the nrst snow furry
q the season Grove against the west
window panes Of the big kitchen at the
0ta8g homestead. II was at supper
oama.
Il declare fort" said Mr.. Stage. q!
gssss winters onto m. Aunty Rose
This snow did not amount to much
q was little more than Q hoar frost, q
NJ. stage said. This might b.. how
Svsr, the last chance for q Sunda!
walk In the woods for some time ant
Carelyn May did not propose to mis-
T.
On this day she earnestly desiret
% get him of BY himself, for he
heart was filed with great purpose
She felt that they must come to a
understanding.
On this particular occasion Uncl
Joe sat down upon the log by tn
brook where Miss Amanda had ono
sat Carolyn May stood before hin
"Am I Just q charity orphanr Didn'
my papa leave any money a-tall 70
met Did you take me Just out q
eharityT
-Bless mel" gasped the hardwar
dealer.
IL wish you'd answer me. Uncl
Joe" went on Carolyn May with
brave effort to keep from crying
Joseph Stage was too blunt a PEI
son to see his way to lodging tn
question.
''Humi Well. TIL tell you. Carly
May. There isn't much left, and that
Q fact. It isn't your fathers fault, II
thought there was plenty. But a bus
ness he invested in got into bad hand
and the little nest egg he'd laid up Il
his family was lost"
'Then-then I am Just charity. An
eos Prince" whispered Carolyn Ma
81 s'pose we could 60 to the poo
house, Prince and me; but they mayn
like dogs there. You're real nice
me. Uncle Joe; but Prince and me-
We really are a nuisance to you"
The man stared at her for mOmel
In silence, but the flush that dyed h
cheeks was flush Of shame.
Don't you like 1t any more hel
with Aunty Rose and--and me2'
demanded.
"Oh, yesi Only-only, Uncle Joe.
cont want to stay. II we're a nuisac"
Prince and me. don't want to stay,
Yea oeat love me-"