Arizona republican., 1922-06-02
CHAPTER XIV.


Thoughts of her parents, how they
would look upon her questions. the
cause of her quickened anxiety, came
and Olive almost faltered. But II had
been with pain that she had emerged
from the chrysalis Of her girlishness;
that she had been awakened to
knowledge of what a birth shrouded
in mystery as hers had been might
mean to her--had already meant. She
must question.
Mrs. Lee gave a perceptible start
when Olive said as casually as she
could:
about myself l do not know? Any
thing you have not told me? If there
is tell me-please."
For long minute Mrs. Lee waited.
Then:
"Why-dear-I think you know
everything-all / know. l never have
tried to keep from you the story the
whole town knows. You were sent
us, dear "a miracle "a miracle
straight from God. I had wanted a
child. only He knew how badly. and
one had been denied me. He sent
YOU to ease my longing heart, my
arms that ached for a baby to hold.
What has happened, darling? Was it
something to do with that-that-
brought-you home so uexpectediy!'
Now it was Olive who hesitated.
'That-and my homesickness." Ii
mother really knew nothing but what
she. what the whole village already
knew, what need to worry her?
'.But what happened, Olive, TO
make YOU think / might know more?"
Just curiosity, dear. / got to
thinking about it. then about New
York, so big, so full of all sorts OF
people, and I thought / might some
day brush against them-or-her l
determined long ago to some time
ask you, but always forget it. There
was no writing. no trinket, nothing
by which l might have been identi-
fled? You know there always is in
stories
"No-nothing. You were neatly
dressed in clothes of good material
that was ALL / have kept every
thing. You may have them if you
WISH
please. And now we will forget
all about it. Come. let's feed the
chickens together as we used to, then
1 will gather a great armful OF daisies
for the dining room, and buttercups,
too. See how lovely they are. | don't
think anything they have in the
florists are half so wonderful" She
drew Mr.. Lee to the open window.
Olive had allowed little hope that
she might find out something about
herself. something of her real par
ents. to enter her mind. Now she felt
a resurge of the sickening faintness
in which her thoughts seemed to
swim. She had told Donald Norris
the truth. Marriage was not for her
mot for girls like her.
But of this she would not speak
to her foster mother. although they
talked of her young companions, Mrs.
Lee asking questions, Olive answer
ing. and where she could. as with
Godfrey and Grace, and some OF the
other, she gave all the information
her mother looked for-satisfied the
mother heart as to their goodness.
their fitness to be companions for her
daughter.
They passed out OF the hodse to-
gether, each with a big yellow bowl
of cornmeal porridge for the chickens.
Great spaces of sunshine were every
where, and everywhere there were
deep wells of shadow. for the two
mighty trees that stood sentinel flung
their great leafy branches wide. Fur
ther on a clump of trees communed
in friendliest fashion, then solitary
poplar. we'll grown and clean, was
contented with it's own company.
Tall. straight. and smooth h-limbed. 1t
stood in lonely grandeur. Those dear
old trees. That sunshine! Oh, the
glory of them!
From the wells of near forgetful-
ness Olive resained the gay words,