a
5
iSTORY
By CHARLES CLARK MUNN
(Copyright looG, by Lcthrop, Lcc & Shepard Co.1
f , SYNOPSIS.
Chip McGulre, it lfi-yenr-oUl girl living
at Tlm'H place In the Maine woods Is
Hold by her father to Pete Uoldue. u
hulf-treel. She runs uwuy ami reaches
the camp of .Martin Krlsble, occupied by
Martin, his wife, nephew, ttuymoml Stet
Hiin, and Kiildes. Slie tells her story and
Is eared for by Mrs. Krlsble. Journey of
Frisble's party Into woods to visit father
of Mrs. I'Yisblo, an old hermit, who has
resided In the wilderness for many years.
"When camp Is broken Chip anil Itay oc
cupy same' canoe. The party reach camp
of Mrs. Krlsble' s father and are. wel
comed by him and Cy Wallter. an old
friend and former townsman of the her
mit. They settle down for summer's
stay. Chip and Uay are in love, but no
one realizes this but Cy Walker. Strange
canoe marks found on lake shore In front
of their cabin. Strange smoke Is seen
ucror.s the lake. Martin and Levi leave
for settlement to get oilleers to arrest
McGulre. who Is known as outlaw and
escaped murderer. Chip's one woods
friend, Tomah, an Indian, visits camp.
Hay believes he sees a bear on the ridge.
Chip Is stolen by Pete Holduc who es
capes with her in a canoe. Chip Is res
cued by . Martin and Levi as they are re
turning from the settlement. Bolduc es
capes. Old Cy proposes to Itay that he
remain in the woods with himself and
Amzl and trap during the winter, and he
concludes to do so. Others of the party
return to Greenvale, taking Chip with
them. Chip starts to school in Greenvale,
antl finds life unpleasant at Aunt Com
fort's, made so especially by Hannah.
Old Cy and Itay discover strange tracks
in the wilderness. They penetrate fur
ther Into the wilderness and discover the
hiding place of the man who had been
sneaking about their cabin. They Investi
gate the cavo home of McGulre during
his absence. Dolduc finds McGulre and
the two fight to the death, finding a
watery grave together. Uay returns to
Greenvale and finds Chip waiting for
him. Ray wants Chip to return to the
woods with them, but she. feeling that
the old comradeship with Uay has been
broken refuses. When they part, how
ever, it is as lovers. Chip runs nway
from Aunt Comfort's and finds another
home with .Tudson Walker. She gives her
name as Vera Haymond. Aunt Abby,
Aunt Mandy Walker's sister, visits them,
ami takes Chip home with her to Christ
mas Cove. Chip goes to school at Christ
inas Cove. She tells Aunt Abby the
story of her life. Aunt Abby tells her of
their family, and she discovers that Cy
Walker Is a long-lost brother of Judsou
Walker, but fear of betraying her hiding
place prevents her telling of Cy. Old Cy
Investigates McGuire's cave In the wilder
ness and finds a fortune that belomis
to Chip. Old Cy returns to the wilderness
camp with the news that Chip had dis
appeared and proposes to start out to
find her. He turns over to Martin a bank
book showing a deposit of IM.OOO In Chip's
name. Chip returns to the homo of .lud-
son walker at I'cacenil valley for a
summer vacation.
CHAPTER XXVII (Continued).
Martin had expected this news to be
overpowering, and a "Good God!" from
Uncle .hid, and a gasping "Land
sakes!" from Aunt Mandy proved that
It was.
Chip's face, however, was a study
First she grew pale, then flashed a
scared glance from one to another of
the three who watched her, and then
almost did her shame and hatred of
this vile parent find expression.
"I'm glad he no, I won't say so, for
he was my father," she exclaimed;
"hut I want Old Cy to have some of
the money, and Uncle .hid here, and
you folks, all. I was a pauper long
enough," and then, true to her Instinct
of how to escape front trouble, she
ran out of the room.
"She's a curls gal," asserted Uncle
J lid, looking after her as if feeling
that she needed explanation, "the most
curls gal 1 ever saw. Hut wo can't
let her go, money or no money, Mr
Frisble. 1 found her one night upon
top o' Hangall hill. She was so starved
an' beat out from trampln' sho couldn't
hardly crawl up on to the wagon, 'n
yet sho said she wouldn't be helped
'thout sho could arn it. I think she's
like folks we read about, who starve
ruther'n beg. Hut sho kin have al
we've got some day, an we jest can't
let her go."
And Martin, realizing its futility
made no further protest.
Something of chagrin also came to
him, for, broad-minded as he was, he
realized how partial neglect, the nar
row religious prejudice of Greenvale
and unwise notlco of her childish ideas
about spites and Old Tomah's superstl
tlons had all conspired to drive her
away. Sho was honest and self-respecting,
"truo blue," sis Old Cy had
said, grateful as a fawning dog for all
that had been done for her, and In
spito of her origin, a circumstance
that carried no weight with Martin,
she was one, he believed, who would
develop into splendid womanhood.
That she was well on her way toward
The Girl
fromTWs
Place
that goal, her improved speech and de
votion to these now friends gnve am
ple evidence.
And now Ray's position in this com
plex situation occurred to Mnrtln; for
this young man's interest In Chip and
almost heart-broken grief over her dis
appearance had long since betrayed
his attachment.
"I suppose you may have guessed
that there was a love affair mixed up
with this episode," he said to the two
somewhat dazed people.
"I callated thai was, that fust night,"
Uncle .hid responded, his eyes twin
kling again, "an' told Mandy so. Twits
that tnore'n anything else kept us
from qtilzzln' the gal. I knowed by
her face she had heart trouble, 'a I've
seen the cause on't."
"You have," exclaimed Martin,
astonished in turn, "for heaven's sake,
where?"
"Oh, down to the Corners, 'most a
year ago, 'n' a likely boy ho was, too."
"And never told her?"
"No, why should I, thinkln' she'd run
away from him. Wo didn't want to
spile her plans. We found out, though,
her name was McGulre, but never let
on till she told us a spell ago." And
then Uncle .hid told the story of Ray's
arrival in Rlggsville In search of Chip.
"That fellow Is my nephew, Ray
mond Stetson," rejoined Martin with
pride, "he also Is an orphan, and I
have adopted him. Chip has no cause
to be ashamed of his attachment."
"I don't callate she Is," replied
Uncle .hid. " Tnin't that that jlneral
ly makes a gal kick over the traces.
Mebbe 'twas suthln sonic o' you folks
said." And then a tiew light came to
Martin.
"Mr. Walker." he answered impres
sively; "in every village there is al
ways a meddlesome old maid who In-
Chip, with Pail in Hand, Hurried Away
to the Fields.
variably says things she'd better not,
and ours Is no exception. In this case
it was a dependent of our family who
took a dislike to Chip, it seems, and
her escapade was its outcome."
"Wal, ye've got hev charity for
'em," replied Uncle .hid, with a broad
smile. "Never bavin' suffered the
joys 'n' sorrows o' love, they look at it
sorter criss-cross, an' mobber Ibis 'un
did. Old maids are a good deal like
cider nat'rally turn to vinegar. What
wimmln need more'n all the rest is be
in' loved, 'n' if they don't get it, they
sour up in time an' ain't no comfort to
themselves nor nobody else. Then
ag'in, not bavin' no man nor no babies
to look arter, they take to coddlin'
cats n' dogs 'n' parrots, which ain't
nat'ral.
"I think," continued Uncle .hid,
"now that we've turned another fur
row, you'd best stop a day or two with
us, n' sorter git 'qualnted. We'll be
mighty glad to hev ye, mo an' Mandy,
an' then ag'in lhar's a lot o good trout
holes up the brook. We hev plenty to
eat. V mebbe a few days here in
Peaceful Valley'll sorter reconcile ye
to leavin' the gal with us." And noth
ing loath, Martin accepted.
Aunt Mandy and Chip now bestirred
themselves as never before. The
dressmaker was left to her own re
sources, Martin and Uncle .hid rigged
flshpolos and started for the brook.
Chip, with pall In hand, hurried away
to the fields, and when tea-time ar
rived, the big platter of crisp fried
trout, saucers filled with luscious
blackberries, and ample shortcake of
the same with cream that poured in
clots, assured Martin that these peo
ple did indeed have plenty to eat.
"How did this come to be named
Peaceful Valley?" he queried, when
they had gathered around the table.
"It's very appropriate."
"Wal," answered Uncle .hid, "we
got It from a feller that come up hero
pntntln' plcturs one summer, an',"
chuckling, "'twas all we got for.a
mouth's board, at that. He was a
short o' skimpy critter, with long hair,
kinder pale, and chawed tobacco at id
dy, He 'lowed his name was Grahame,
that ho was In the show business n'
glttln' backgrounds, ns ho called 'em,
for show plcturs. Ho roved up V
down the brook, puttln' rocks 'n' trees
'n' waterfalls on paper, alius glttin'
'round reg'lnr 'bout meal time must
'a' gained '20 pounds while here. An'
then one inornln' he was mlssin', V
so was Aunt Mnndy's gold thimble 'n'
all her silver spoons. She'd-sorter
took to him, too, he was that palaver
In' In his way."
Thore now. ensued a series of ques
tions from Uncle .hid in regard to Old
Cy how long Martin had known him,
and all that pertained to his history.
It was gladly recited by Martin, to
gether with all the strange happen
ings In the wilderness, the finding of
Chip, the half-breed's pursuit and ab
duction of her, and much elso that has
been told. It was almost midnight ere
Martin was shown to the best front
chamber, and even then he lay awake
an hour, listening to the steady prat
tle of a near-by brook ami thinking of
all that had happened.
A tone of regret crept Into his voice,
however, when, after thanking Uncle
.hid and Aunt Mandy, and bidding
them good-by, he addressed Chip.
"t wish 1 could take you back with
me," he said; "your return would bo
such a blessing to Aunt Comfort and
my wife. You may not believe II. but
you are dear to them both. I must .In
sist that, you at least pay us a visit
soon. Here Is your bank book," ho
added, presenting It. "You are rich
now, or at least need never want, for
which we are all grateful. And what
about Ray?" ho added, pausing to
watch her. "What shall 1 say to him?
Shall I tell him to come and see you?"
Chip shook her head firmly. "No,
no," she answered, "please don't do
that. Some day I may feel different,
but not now."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Sad news arrived in Peaceful Valley
a week later, for Captain Hernia had
passed on, Aunt Abby was In lonely
sorrow, and wrote for Chip to come
iit once.
Her fate was now linked with these
people. Aunt Abby had been kind and
helpful, and Chi), more than glad to
return a little of the obligation, hur
ried to Christmas Cove.
It was a solemn and silent house
she now entered. Aunt Abby, despite
the facl that it was not a love match,
mourned her departed companion. The
mill's pertinent silence added gloom,
and Chip's smiling face and affection
ate interest was more than welcome
to Aunt Abby.
And now that concealment was no
longer needed, Chip hastened to tell
her story in full.
How utterly Aunt Abby was aston
ished, how breathlessly she listened to
Chip's recital, and how, when the cli
max came and Chip assured her that
good Old Cy Walker was still alive,
Aunt Abby collapsed entirely, sobbing
and thanking God all at once, is but
a sidelight on this tale.
"I couldn't tell you before," Chip as
sured her, while her own tears still
flowed. "I was so ashamed and guilty
all in ono, I couldn't bear to. I never
did so mean a tiling In all my life, and
never will again. Rut when Uncle
.hid told me what you didn't, and how
much he cared for me, and how you
once cared for Uncle Cy, I went all to
pieces and told the whole story and
sent word to Uncle Cy that day. I
feel so guilty now, and so mean, I
don't see how you can forgive me."
Rut Aunt Abby's forgiveness was
not slow In coming. The past ton days
of sorrow had left her heart very ten
der. In spile oT being "book-larned,"
she was very humane. Chili's sad life
and misfortunes appealed to her, as
they had to Uncle .hid, and true Chris
tian woman that she was, her heart
opened to Chip.
"I hope we shall never be parted
while I live," she said, as the tears
came again. "I have no children, and
no one to live for but my sister. I am
so wonted to Christmas Cove, I could
not feel at home anywhere else. If
Uncle .hid will consent, I will adopt
you leglly, and when I am laid away
all I have shall be yours."
And so Chip McGulre, waif of the
wilderness, child of an outlaw, once
sold to a human brute, yet fighting
her wny upward and onward to a bet
ter life, despite every drawback, now
found a homo and mother.
No light of education had Illumined
her pathway, no Christian teaching
and no homo example, only the inborn
and God-glven impulse of purity, self
respect and gratitude; and yet, llko a
bud forcing its way up out of a muck
lica)) and into the sunshine, so Chip
emerged to win respect and love.
Rut all her history is not told yet.
She still lacked even a common edu
cation. There was still an old man
seeking to find her. who was yet wan
dering afar. A homeless, almost
friendless old ma'n was he, whoso llfo
had gone amiss, and whose solo ambi
tion was to do for her and find content
In her happiness. A wanderer and re
cluse for many years, he was still
more so now, and out of place as well
among tho busy haunts of men. More
than that, he was an object of curios
ity to all grown people and the jest of
the young, as ho tramped up and
down tho land in search of Chip.
And what a pitiful quest it was
tills asking the same question thou
sands of times, this lingering in towns
to watoh mill operatives file out, this
peering into stores and marts, to ko
on again, and repeat It for months and
months.
There was still another link In this
chain a boy, so far as experience
goes, who was only deterred from un
wise haste by a cool-headed man.
"You had better not go lo Chip
now," Martin said to him on his return
from Peaceful Vallely. "She Is an odd
child of nature, and you won't lose by
waiting. My advice to you Is to for
get her for the present, llnd some
profitable occupation, and then, when
you have made a little advancement
In life, go and woo her If you can. To
try It now Is foolish."
It was cold comfort for Ray.
Ono of Chip's first acts of emancipa
tion was to write to Aunt Comfort and
Angle, assuring both of her lovo and
best wishes, and thanking them for all
they had done. Roth letters wero
cramped In ehlrogrnphy, but correct In
spelling, and in Angle's was a note for
Martin, asking that he draw $100 of
her money and send It to her, and as
much more to pay some one to follow
Old Cy. The latter request Martin Ig
nored, however, for he had already set
the machinery of newspapcrdoni at
work, and an advertisement for Infor
mation or that wanderer was flying
far and wide.
Of the money sent her, Chip made
odd and quite characteristic uses, only
one of which needs mention the pur
chase of a Wunjo. Had Ray known
this, and that the tender memory it
invoked was the reason for this In
vestment, he would have had less
cause for grief. Hut Ray did not,
which wits all the better for him.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Life, always colorless at Christmas
Cove, except In midsummer, now be
came changed for Aunt Abby. For all
the years since her one girlish ro
mance had ended, she bad been a pa
tient helpmate to a man she merely
respected. Religion had been her chief
solace. The annual visit lo her sis
ter's gave the only relief to this mo
tionless llfo, monotonous as the tides
sweeping in and out of the cove; but
now a counter-current slowly Unwed
Into It.
Chip, of course, with her winsomo
eyes and grateful ways, was Its main
spring, and so checkered had been her
career and so humiliating all her past
experiences, that now, escaped from
dependence and feeling herself a val
ued companion, she tasted a new and
joyous life. Ho I rue was this, that
hard lessons at school, the regularity
of church-going, and tho unvarying
tenor or it all seemed less by com
parison. Another undercurrent, aside from
Chlji's devotion, also swept Into Aunt
Abby's feelings, tho strange emotions
following Hie knowledge I hat her for
mer lover was still alive. For many
years she had waited and hoped for
this sailor boy's return; then her heart
bad grown silent, as hope slowly
ebbed, and then, almost forgetrulncss
but not quite, however, for tho long,
lily-dotted mill-pond just above had
now and then been visited by them.
A certain curiously grown oak which
was secluded near Its upper end was
once a Irystlng-plnco, and even the old
mill Willi its splashing wheel held
memories.
And now after -10 years, during
which she bad become gray-haired and
slightly wrinkled, all these memories
returned like ghosts of long ago. No
word or hint of them fell from her lips,
not even to Chip, who was now near
est to her: and yet had that girl been
a mind-reader, she would have seen
that Aunt Abby's persistent Interest In
all she had to tell about Old Cy meant
something. Where he was now, how
soon he would learn that his brother
was still alive after all these years,
was the one most pertinent subject
oft discussed.
How Chip felt toward him, not alone
for I he heritage he had secured for
her, but for other and moro valued
heart Interests, need not be specified.
He had seemed almost a father to her
at the lake. Ho was tho first of her
new-found friends whose feelings had
warmed toward her, and Chip was now
mature enough to value these bless
lugs at their true worth.
A certain mutual expectancy now
entered the lives of Chip and Aunt
Abbv. Nothing could be done, how
over. Old Cy had gone out Into tho
wide, wide world, as It were, searching
for the little girl he loved. No man
nor of reaching him seemed possible;
and yet, some day, be must learn
what would bring him to them as fast
as steam could fetch him.
"1 know that he loved mo as his own
child there at tho lake," Chip said
once in an exultant tone. "His going
after mo proves It; and onco ho hears
where I am, ho will hurry here, I
know."
(TO UK CONTINUED.)
Interesting Circumstance.
Excavations In Roino being con
ducted on the Palatine hill have shown
a curious and interesting circum
stance. The Necropolis has boon
found to contain remains of the ninth,
eighth, sixth and fourth centuries be
fore Christ. All fragments of tho snv
entli and fifth centuries aro lacking
and archaeologists aro engaged in a
closo study of the field in order to
find tho reason.
AN INTERESTING
CHEMICAL EXPERIMENT
Any Child Can Do It Tho Result Is
Almost Like Magic Useful, Too.
Anything In the nattiro of a chem
ical experiment Is always Interesting
nnd usually educative. Hero In a sim
ple experiment which any child can
perform and which Is Instructive In a
very practical way: Get n bit of Whltu
Lead about the size of a pea, a piece
of charcoal, a common candle In a
candlestick, and a blow-pipe. Scoop
out a little hollow in the charcoal to
hold tho White Lead, then light the
candle, take tho charcoal and lead In
one hand and tho blow-plpo In tho
other, with the largo end of the blow
pipe between the lips; blow the flame
of tho candle Htendlly against the bit
of White Lend on tho charcoal and If
the White IAond Is pure It will pres
ently resolve Itself Into little shining
globules of metallic lead, under tho
intense heat of tho blow-pipe, leaving
Ho residue.
If, however, the White Lead Is adul
terated In the slightest degree, It will
not wholly change Into lend. So, It
will be seen, that, this experiment is
not only an entertaining chemical
demonstration, but also of practical
use in the home. White Lead Is tho
most Important Ingredient of paint.
It should be bought pure and unadul
terated and mixed with puro linseed
oil. That Is the best pnlnt. Tho
above easy experiment enables any
one to know whether the pnlnt Is the
kind which will wear or not.
Tho National Lead Company guar
antee that white lead taken from a
package bearing their "Dutch Roy
Painter" trade-mark will prove abso
lutely puro under the blow-plpo test;
and to encourage people to make tho
test and prove the purity of paint bo
fore using It, they will send free a
blow-plpo and a valuable booklet on
paint to anyone writing thoin asking
for Test Equipment. Address Na
tional Lead Company, Woodbrldgo
Hulldlng. New York City.
A good disposition Is moro to bo
prized than Jewels of gold or sllvor. It
Is moro precious than sapphires, and
nil the riches of the mighty aro not
to bo compared to it. Murtincnu.
One of the
Essentials
of tho happy homes of to-day is a vast
fund of information an to tho best methods
of promoting health and happiness and
right living and knowledge of the world'a
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Products of actual excellence and
reasonable claims truthfully presented
and which liavo attained to world-wido
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ing the best the world affords.
Ono of tho products of that class, of
known component parts, an Ethical
remedy, approved by physicians and com
mended by tho Well-informed of tho
World as a valuable and wholesome family
laxativo is tho well-known Syrup of Figs
and Elixir of Senna. To get its beneficial
effects always buy the genuine, manu
factured by the California Fig Syrup Co.,
only, and for sale by all leading druggists.
-n
in decorating the walls of II
your home, can be most II
surely effected by using II
I N
Th SanitaiyWall Coating
The soft, velvety Alabas
tine tints produce the most
artistic effects, and make the
home lighter and brighter.
Sold by Paint, Drug-, Hardware and
General Stores in carefully sealed
and properly labeled packages, at
ftOc the package (or white and
55c the packaco for tints. See
that tho name Alabastine" Is on
each package before it Is opened
cither by yourself or the vorkmen.
Tht Alabastine Company
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Bastern Office, 105 Water Street,
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" PARKER'S"
MAIK OALSArVJ
Clean. ci and beautifies tlw lialr.
Promotes n luxurlni.t Erowtti.
Nrver I'allo to Itustnro Qvny
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Curcn icnlp dlicaiej i: ba(r fallinz.
.ru .....I al ..... II I...
IT- ww w
"rSSSWflS'Jhompson's Eye Water