The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-09-08
CHIR-RUP!
BY JULIA A. PIERCE.


Greta gave her trim little figure
one last criticising glance in the mir
rOr, readjusted the sailor hat,
thOughtfulIy pulled on her gloves
then picked up the suitcase which
contained all of her earthly posses
sions and stepped out of the room
She did not lock the door, but left
the key in the inside, for she would
never be coming back.
Since the mill had laid of so many
girls three months before, Greta had
lived on her meager savings. Now
they were gone and she could not
stay in the room with no money to
pay the landlady. Vainly she had
gone from city to city, answering ev-
cry advertisement for which she was
applicable, but the result was always
the same.
II was mid-afternOOn and the sky
was heavy with storm clouds.
Blindly, glOOmily, without noticing
the weight of her suitcase, Greta
walked on and on-Out of the dirty
city into the country Finally a large
far stone beside the, road met her
eye. Yes, she was weary. Placing
her suitcase on the rock she sank
down upon ia fOrIOrn little figure
indeed.
This young life, who had kept her
self pure and sweet through all the
trials ana temptations the vile cities
had thrown about her, had no place
to lay her head that night. No one
Ia I,.v. oh Ia.
and the only friend she had ever
known WAS somewhere in the West
she knew not where. She had re
ceivcd 80 word from him since he
had left her three years before.
She allowed herself to drop into
pleasant revery and she could see his
handsome face as he had tenderly
told her of his love and his ambitions.
81 Will be back before many months.
and then" n last embrace and
kiss, ana he ha1i leaped aboard the
moving express, waving and smiling.
Soon afterwards her mother died and
all was sold to pay the funeral ex-
penseS. Greta was left pennileSs and
alone and was forced to seek employ
ment in the mill hundreds of miles
from her old home.
If Francis had ever written, his
letters had never been forwarded.
"Chir-rup! chir-rup!'' The sound
startled her and she looked up. There
she saw a wee bird on a cherry bush,
looking straight at her. Again he re
peated his "Chir-rup! chir-rupr' more
emphatically than before.
might have been talking to a person
instead of a bird. so bitter was her
tone.
AS though in answer, birdie fitted
to another branch and again broke
out: ''Chir-rup, chir-rup, chir-r-rup!"
well, never :" exclaimed Greta,
aloud.
'Chir-rup. chir-rup!" and he flew
away.
Greta watched him disappear high
up in the clouds. Suddenly a verse
of scripture which she had learned
in school came to her: IF then God
so clOthe the grass, which is today in
the field, and tomorrow is cast into
the oven; how much more will He
clOthe you, o We of little faith?" 1t
was as though the bird had dropped
this message from heaven, whence
he had just flown.
Greta sprang to her feet, tense and
alert.
"Faith-faith-O We of little faith
how much more will He clothe you, o
We of little faith?"
Yes" she thought aloud, that is
the trouble. have lost faith-an
faith-faith in God-faith in mankind
faith in myself" Then a sudden
determination and ambition fairly
shook her whole being, and, grasping
her suitcase, she started at a brisk
walk toward the city. Yes, some way
would be provided, she felt certain
now
AS she was entering the city and
was about to cross a street, she halt
ed a moment to let an auto pass
which was coming at law-breaking
speed. Why, it was slowing down
and the driver was looking at her
Before the car was scarcely opposite
it stopped and tall, handsome man
sprang out with a shout: /
"Greta I have found you at last -
Francis :" Greta was swept into
his arms and into the car.
They drove on, out into the coun-
try, back along the road Greta had
just come, and Francis told her how
he had written letter after letter,
with no response, and had finally
come East to search for her; how
he had canvassed city after city and
had decided at last to give up the
search and return without his loved
one. Briefly he related his expert
ences and pictured to her the great
ranch he had bought.
Suddenly stopping the car, he
turned and clasped the girl in his
arms
My own brave, true love,v he MUIR
INJURED. care Won hanr,r9,5