The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-07-01
CHIR-RUP!


one last criticising glance In the mir
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 Ibid off so many
girls three months before, Greta had
lived on her nsager 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 ev4
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 large
fiat stone beside the road met her
eye. Yes, she was weary. Placing
her suitcase on the rock she sank
down upon it-a forlorn little figure
indeed.
This young life, who had kept her
self pure and sweet through all the
trials and temptations the vile cities
had thrown about her. had no place
to lay her head that night. No one
would miss her, for she had no home
and the only friend she mad ever
known was somewhere in the. West
she knew not where. She had re-
ceived no 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.
IL will be back before many months.
and them" last embrace and
kiss, and he had 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 cherry bush.
looking straight at her. Again he re-
peated his-"Chir-rup! chir-rupw more
emphatically than before.
"Cheer up. How can IT Greta
might have been talking to person
instead Of 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, l never!" exclaimed Greta,
aloud.
"Chir-rup, chir-rupr and he flew
away.
Greta watched him disappear high
up in the clouds. Suddenly az 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 faithT 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
ye of little faith2"
"Yes," she thought aloud, that is
the trouble. l have lost faith-all
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 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
speed. Why, 1t was slowing down
and the driver was looking at her.
Before the car was scarcely opposite
1t stopped and tall, handsome man
sprang out with shout:
"Gretal have found you at last r.
"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-" he mur-
INJURED. Are you happyT"
Happy She could not speak, but
nestled closer to his shoulder.
Presently Greta lifted her head az