Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-03-20

house for him; then Phil, and by his
side lady. With unnatural fire in her
blue eyes she scanned the stranger,
noting the clear, olive cheek, the grace
full undulating walk, the gait, which
something rich and foreign. That,
then, was Phils wife, the woman he
preferred to all others! And with a
sudden power of hatred, Polly felt that
she hated her All the sweet, even
pulses of her noble nature seemed turu-
ed into bitterness and fire.
She looks old for Phil, doesn't
she 2" whispered the other girl.
She did, but how beautiful And
still, as the service went on, what a
mockery it seemed-the prayer in which
she did not join, the sermon which
spoke of people as thankful, happy !
She rose with the others, she bent her
head, and all the time something iing-
led in her ears the one phrase, Phil,
is married, Phil is married - till it
seemed as if she could not bear it.
Long afterwards, when she was happy
again, that wretched morning would
come back to her as visions of fever to
unconscious of noticing-a late caDker-
worm walking up Mary Jane Oaks bon
net string: the scrap of newspaper left
on Deacon Bunker's face from his
morning shaving, and on which could
be plainly read, Lost and strayed, "
with the after clew of "heifer D just
below She remembered the exact
position in which Phil stood as he held
the hymn-book open f)r his-wife !
Once he half turned and glanced at the
gallery. That was too much. Polly
drew tight the green curtain and look
ed no more.
"You're pale o-day," whispered the
friendly gossip in the rear, e or else
your hat isn't becoming"
This reused her pride. Bad as it
was to be miserable, it was worse to be
pitied; she bit her lips till they were
red, and (taking advantage of the last
prayer, [ am sorry to say) inflicted up
on her cheeks series offurtive pinches
which restored their bloom. Coming
down stairs with the rest, she saw, she
was sure, Phil lingering as if to speak
Cruel, insulting, she would not see !
Leaning on James arm, chatting, all
bloom and animation, she brushed
past. "Polly," he half exclaimed, then
paused. Backs are sometimes as ex-
pressive as faces. Polly said distinct,
ly as back could. "Don't speak to
me-" Phil looked after them a mo-
ment, then suppressing low whistle,
he plunged his hands into his pockets
and took the opposite direction But
lon T., h.
done so. "She didn't see me" he
said to himself, "that was it. Well,
I'll go over this evening at all events,
and find out what it MEANS"
Oh what a miserable day it was All
the little carefully prepared for pleas
ures were so many goads and stings to
poor Polly. The turkey choked the
children's merriment stunned her. And
there were all the relations to be seen
to-aunt AlInlra and Uncle Jacob,
cousin Jane with her family ana the
new baby. But for all her heartache,
the little maid was true to herself. Only
Mrs. Pursall, with motherly instinct,
OWNED that something was the matter,
To the rest Polly was her usual self,
prettier than usual, if anything, and
gayer with that deep flush on her cheeks,
and the saucy tongue, that barbed with
inward misery, had a smart answer for
all and each.
At last the dinner ended, amidst
praises loud and high. The fire was
replenished, the candles lit, evening
and a general romp set in. Amidst the
hustle Polly could slip away for mo-
ment unperceived. She had found a
thing to do" as Mrs. Browning says.
Climbing a chair in the dark pantry,
she felt about Yes, there it was. Just
SO she had meant to come and lift it
down for Phil With tight-set lips she
carried the dish through the hall to the
back door, where a faithful beast of
nondescript breed was wont to lie on a
convenient door mat.
"JoWler-J owler-poor fellow" she
said, "Here's something for you," and
she held out PhiI's pie. -.s '.t
Never was a dog awakened by q
daintier morsel It was a very heroic
vengeance that, but somehow it suited
Polly's feelings, and that was certain
tragic quality in her manner, as she
stood there looking at the demolish-
ment which would have struck an unin-
terested spectator as infinitely comic.
AS the last crUmb vanished, however
the last twirl of the EP pa different
mood asserted itself. She put her head
III childish fashion against the door,
and, with the empty plate in her hand,
began to cry-a silent, miserable crying,
with a little dumb moan running
through it like a child's
It was just then that somebody pass
ing up the walk, came upon her-some-
corners" and leaped the garden fence in
his way. A tall, brown-haired fellow,
with merry, kind eyes, in which Won
derment showed as he took in the as
tonishing spectacle.
"Hallo!' he began "why, it's
bless my soul, Polly Why, Polly
what is the matter, dear!"
At the sound of the voice Polly start
ed, as if stung. She gave little
scream, then recollected herself, would
have dashed past him into the house,
but strong hand held her back.
"What is the meaning of this?" said
Phil. "You here, and crying, on
Thanksgiving night-the night when
we were going to be so happy Tell
me what it is, Polly, darling? Can't [
help you2 Aren'tyou glad to see me ?"
"Why? You ask me that? Be-
cause "-suddenly remembering what
she implied" because you have no
right to speak to me-to anybody-in
that way any more, now that you are
!" '55.. .ss
"Eh?" calculated Phil, "and vino
says | am married ?"
Polly, with dilating eyes, perused
his face. She could not speak.
" I'm not married." continued Phil,
" whoever says SO. And I can't imagine
how such tiding got about. And that
you should - he stopped.
"The lady in church !" gasped Polly.
" Well, what about her 2" said Phil
sharply. That was Wills wife-my
brother Will, you know, or rather you
don't know, for you were little girl
when he went to South America. It
seems he ran away with beauty and
an heiress, and the letter they wrote
never reached us; and the first thing