The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-11-01
CHAPTER VIil-Continued.

10
$50, you see," added the child, 81 am
charity. I'm not like other girls that's
got papas and mammals. Course 1
knowed that before, but 1t didn't
seem-seem so hard as 1t does now"
she confessed with sob.
"My dear! my dearw cried Miss
Amanda, dropping on her knees beside
the little girl, don't talk sol know
your uncle must love YOU"
ooh, 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 ago?"
The woman's smooth cheeks burned
suddenly and she stood up.
SIN most sure he'd never stop low
ing a person If he'd once begun to
love 'em," 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
ooh, do !" 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 1t, square, and
ask him."
II viii 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, Joe! Oh, Joe! How could
your" she moaned, rocking herself to
and fro. How could you?"
That very night the first snow furry
of the season drove against the west
window panes Of the big kitchen at the
Stage homestead. 1t was at supper
time.
~ declare fort" said Mr.. Stage, II
guess winters onto us, Aunty Rose"
This snow did not amount to much;
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 Off by himself. for her
heart was filed with great purpose.
She felt that they must come to an
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.
"A-n just charity orphan? Didn't
my papa leave any money a-tall for
me? Did you take me just out OF
charityT
"Bless mew gasped the hardware
dealer.
FL wish you'd answer me, Uncle
joe" went on Carolyn May with a
brave effort to keep from crying.
Joseph Stage was too blunt a 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 fact. 1t isn't your fathers fault. He
thought there was plenty. But a bust
ness he invested in got into bad hands
and the little nest egg he'd laid up for
his family was lost"
'Then-then I am just charity. And
SOS Prince" whispered Carolyn May.
IL s'pose we could 60 to the poor
house, Prince and me; but they mayn't
like dogs there. You've real nice to
me, Uncle Joe; but Prince and me
we really are a nuisance to you"
The man stared at her for moment
In silence, but the flush that dyed his
cheeks was a flush of shame.
Don't you like It any more here
with Aunty Rose and-and me" he
demanded.
''Oh. yesi Only-only, Uncle Joe,
don't want to stay. II we're a nuisance,
Prince and ma. don't want to stay, II
you don't love me-"