Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-11-20
CHAPTER VIII-continued.

so, you see, auueu tne cnllu, dAn
charity. I'm not like other girls that's
got papas and mammals. Course
knowed that before, but it didn't
seem-seem so hard as it does now.
she confessed with a sob.
MY dear! my dear!'' cried Miss
Amanda, dropping on her knees beside
the little girl don't talk so! know
your uncle must love you
''Oh Miss Mandy" 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 agoP
The woman's smooth cheeks burned
suddenly and she stood up.
I'm most sure he'd never stop low
ing a person if he'd once begun to
love EN-" said Carolyn May, with
high opinion of the faithfulness of
Uncle Joe's character.
do you want to know if your Uncle
Joe loves your? she asked Carolyn
May at last. "Do your"
"Oh, dol' cried the little girl.
"Then ask him." advised Miss
Amanda. THAT'S the only way to do
with Joe Stagg, if you want to get
at the truth. Out with it, square, and
ask him."
81 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 see.
Gripping at her heart was the old
pain she had suffered years before and
the conflict that had scared her mind
so long ago was reused again.
'Oh, joel Oh, Joe! How could
:'nu?" she moaned, rocking herself to
and fro. "How could your"
That very night the first snow furry
of the season drove against the west
window panes of the big kitchen at the
Stagg homestead. 1t was at supper
time.
II declare fort" said Mr.. Stage, Il
guess winters onto us, Aunty Rose"
This snow did not amount to much
ii was little more than hOar frost, as
Mr.. Stagg 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
1t.
On this day she earnestly desired
to get him off by himself. for her
heart was filled with a great purpose
She felt that they must come to all
understanding.
On this particular occasion Uncle
Joe sat down upon the log by the
brook where Miss Amanda had once
sat. Carolyn May stood before him.
"Am just charity orphan? Didn't
my papa leave any money a-tall for
me? Did you take me just out OF
charity"
"Bless met" gasped the hardware
dealer.
IL wish you'd answer me, Uncle
joe" went on Carolyn May with
brave effort to keep from crying
Joseph Stage was too blunt per-
son to see his way to lodging the
question.
Hum! Well. I'll tell you, Car'lyn
May. There isn't much left, and that's
a sact 1t isn't your fathers fault. He
thought there was plenty. But bust
ness he invested in got into bad hands
aed the little nest egg he'd laid up for
MS family was lost"
''Then-then l am just charity. And
SOS Prince" whispered Carolyn May.
81 spose we could go to the poor
house. Prince and me; but they mayn't
like dogs there. You're real nice TO
uie, Uncle Joe; but Prince and me-
we really are a nuisance to you."
The man stared at her for a moment
IN silence, but the flush that dyed his
cheeks was flush of shame.
Don't you like it any more here
with Aunty Rose and-and me?" he
demanded.
"Oh. yes, Only-only. Uncle Joe.
don't want to stay, II we're nuisance,
Prince and me. l don't want 10 stay. If
you don't love me-"
Joseph Stage had become quite ex-
cited.
"Bless met" he finally cried once
more. How do you know don't love
you. Carolyn MayT"
'Why-why- But, Uncle Joe how
DO know you do love mel? demanded
the little girl. "You never told me so =
The startled man sank upon the log
again.
sWeli, maybe that's So" he muir
INJURED. Il s'pose it isn't my way TO he
yery-very-softlike. But listen here.
Car'lyn May"
Yes. sir"
Il amt likely to tell you very fire.
quen,Iy how much IL think Of you.