The Holt County sentinel., 1921-09-09
cHIR-RUP!
BY JULIA A. PIERCE.

ror, readJusted the sailor hat.
thoughtfully 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 on so many
girls three months before. Greta had
lived on her meager savings. Now
they we're gone and she could not
stay In the room with no money to
pay the iandlady. valnly she had
gone from city to city, answering ~.
cry advertisement for which she was
applicable, but the result was always
the same.
II was mldafternoon AMI the sky
was heavy with storm clouds.
Bllndl>. glonmlly. without noticing
tho weight NJ her suitcase. Gtrta
walked IN and on--uut of the dirty
city into tie country. Finally n large
Hat s'on. beside the rDJd met her
eye Yes, she was weary. Placing
her Suitcase IN the rock she sank
down upon lt-a forlOrn little figure
indeed.
This young life, who had KEEP, her.
self pure aud sweet through all the
trials ana temptations the Vile cities
had thrown about her. had no place
to lag her head that night. M one
would ml.s her. for she had no home
and the only friend she had ever
known was somewhere IN the West
she knew not where. She had re
cclyeh To word from him since he
had left her, three years before.
She allowed herself to drop into
pleasant rcv"ry and she could see his
handsome face ~ he had tendcrly
told her NJ his lov. aud his ambitions.
II VIII he back before mary months.
and then" last embrace and
kiss, aud he had lrnped aboard the
moving express. waving and smiling.
Soon afterwards her mother died aud
all was sold to pay the funeral or'
penscs. Gretn was left pennhrss md
alone and WIS forced u seek employ.
ment IN the mill hundreds ~ miles
from her old home
II Francis had ever written. his
letters had never been forwdr,lrd.
"Chir.rup! .l,Ir.rup'" The sound
startled her aud she locked up. There
she saw q wee bird an a cherry bush,
looking straight NJ her. Again h. ~.
peated his "thir.r,ip! ,h'r.rnp!" more
emphatically thnn before.
Cheer up. How eau ~ Greis
might have been talking to person
instead OF = bird. 81 bitter was her
tone.
A. though In answer. birdie fitted
| to another branch and again broke
out: "Chlr.rup, chir.rup. chir.r.rupf"
swell, I never" exclaimed Grets,
aloud.
"Chir.rup. chir.rupi- and ne new
away,
Grsla watched him disappear high
NJ Ia the clouds Suddenly verse
OF scripture which she had learned
In school came to her: "If then God
80 cioths the grass, which In today In
the held, and tomorrow 10 east into
the oven; how much NOR. viii He
| cloths you. q ye OF little hithr II
was as though the bird had dropped
this message from heaven, whence
he had lust flown.
,Gre,a sprang to her feet, tense aud
| alert.
"Falih--falth-O ye 81 iiitl. faith
how much more win Tie clo,he you. o
| ye Of little faithf"
Yes" she thought aloud, that II
the trouble. I have lost fnl,h-all
faith-fpith In God-fsIih IN mankind
faith In myself" Then n sudden
determination and ambition fairly
shook her whole being. and. grasping
her suitcase. she started NJ 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 street, she halt
I'd n moment to let an auto pass
which was coming at law-breaking
speed. Why. It was slowing down
aud the driver was looking NJ her,
Before the car was scarcely opposite
II stopped and a tall, handsome man
sprang out with shout;
"Greta I have found You at last -
"Francls |" Greta WIS 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 ~ response, and had finally
come East to search for her; how
he had eanyassed 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 Ire had bought.
| suddenly stopping the car. he
turned and clasped the girl In his
arms.
i MY own brave. true love" he muir,
INJURED. Are you happy"
Iapnvt Sha nnnlA NOT small S.,,<