The Monticellonian., 1918-11-22
CHAPTER Viii.

Chet Gormiey Tells Some News.
 F Ua4 when she came in sight of inc ParloW place on Monday after= noon. she and Prince fhat Carolyn May bethought her of the very best person in She world with whom to ad- H5se upon the mament9us question which 50 troubled her.
 Who couid be more interested in the happiness of Mss Amanda than Mir. ParloW himSelf?
 THe little girl had been eoiHg to call on Miss Amanda. AUHty Rose had said she might and Miss Amanda had invited her specially
 But the thought of taking the old carpenter into her confidence and ad- yising with him delayed that visit Mir FarloW WAS busy on some piece of cabinet work, but he nodded hrisizty to the little girl when she came to the door of the shop and looked in.
 Are yea very busy Mr Parlow?" she asked him after a Watehful min ute or two.
 My hands be, cm'lyn Nav said the carpenter in his dry voice.
 "Oh :"
 ~But I ffn listen to ye-and kin talk
 "0h. that's nice Did you hear about what happened yesterday79
 Eh:" he queried. eyfng her quizzi- eally. Does anything ever happen on Sunday? ?s
 Something did on this Sunday, cried the little girl. Didn't you hear about the snake?1
 "What dye mean-snake?s ?s
 And then little Carolyn May ex- planed. She told the story with such earnestness that he stopped working to listen.
 "Humph." was his grunted com ment at the end. "Well !"
 Don't you think that was real ex- citing?" asked Carolyn May. And Just see how it almost brought my Uncle Joe and your Miss Amanda to- gether. Don't you see?"
 Mir. Pariow actually jumped ''What's that you say, child?" he rasped out grimly. Bring Mandy and Joe Stagg together? Well, I guess notr'
 "Oh, Mr. Parlow, don't you think that would he just youthful? 2 cried the little girl with lingering emphasis upon the most important word. Don't you see how happy they would be?'
 'I don't know as anybody's per tic'lar anxious to see that daughter of mine and Joe Stagg friendly again No good would come of it
 Carolyn May looked at him sorrow fully. Mir. Parlow had quite disap pointed her. It was plain to be seer vise with about the matter. The little girl sighed.
 q really did s'pose you'd want t6 see Miss Amanda happy, Mir. Parlow, she whispered.
 Happy? Bah :" snarled the ole man, setting vigorously to work again He acted as if he wished to say nC more and let the little girl depart without another word.
 Carolyn May really could not under stand it-at least she could not i'm mediately.
 That Mir. ParloY might have a self ish reason for desiring to keep his daughter and Joseph Stagg apart dit not enter the little girls mind.
 After that Sunday walk, however Carolyn May was never so mucl afraid of her uncle as before. Why he had even called Prince good dog ' Truly Mr. Joseph Stagg was bein. transfomed-if slowly
 He could not deny to himself that to certain extent. lie was enioyina the presence of his little niece at Tn, Corners. If he only could decide jus what to do with the personal propert! of his sister Hannah and her husband down in the New York apartment Never in his life had he been so lon; deciding question.
 He had really loved Hannah H' knew it now. did Joseph Stagg. ever, time he looked at the lovely littl, child who had come 10 live with hin at The Corners. Why. just so ha, Hannah looked when she was littl, thing The same deep, violet eyes ant sunny hair and laughing lips
 Nr. Stagg sometimes actually foun, reflection of the cheerful figure o "hannah,s Car'lxn" coming betweei him and the big ledger over which h spent so many of his waking hours
 Once he looked up from the ledger it was on Saturday morning really did see the bright figure of tn litde girl standing before him. l was no dream or fancy. for old Jimmy the eat. suddenly shot to the topmos shelf sqaalling with wild abandon Prince was hosing along at carolyl iias s's side.
 s6less ne!" croaked Mr. Stage wrl & If yours. carlyn May. vii