The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-01-16
"ONE OF THE HANDS,"

some OF THE HANDS,"
"You won't throw me over for this, Pol
ly. after all these years =
The tone was one OF passionate entreaty,
and Polly trembled.
I'm not throwing you over. Dennis
try and understand. Its only To wait a
little longer"
The broad chest heaved under the blue
flannel shirt.
"0nly to wait, Harent | waited. Pol
lyg waited patiently? Is mans love
nothing, that il must be set aside for a
drunken brute of father. who's 80 blind
with drink half his time that he can't tell
the difference between you and black Han
nahs and the little house all ready
Yes. know. Dennis; but promise j.
promise; and have promised mother To
let nothing come between me and father
As long "a he lives. And he has turned
against YOU. Dennis. now at the last min
ute. and we can't be married just nowr
He turned fiercely upon the spare little
q figure AT his side. =" A woman i the cold
est hearted creature on Gods green earth I.
Ii had everything in my hands-as you
have now-not heaven nor earth could
stop me. And here you stand-my
God,''
down in the village; ii would never be
hers. and with the thought came silent
little ghost Of sigh; but she had sailed
ciose-rcefed so often since yenturing upon
the stormy sea of this mans love. that she
did not blunder now. Laying one slender
hand upon his arm, she raised her patient
eyes to his face.
Don't you know that ii is hard for me,
too. Dennis.''
Long af,crward those words and that
look haunted him. but he needed neither
then. Catching her hand, hs crushed it
in one of his. like feather.
It's the last time, Polly; I've said it
and Ill stand to il. Ill never ask you
again. 80 help me God. Will you come =
10 Dennis, you know can't,'
Then goodbye; promise is prom
iso, he added bitterly. a he turned and
walked away. without once looking back.
Without once looking back. And Polly.
looking after him with her lips To the hand
he had held. knew that he was hers no
longer.
"God bless him." she said fervently.
shin and all his. forever
She took up the weary burden of her
life anew. III her courage failed or her
heart faltercd, none knew-none save God.
Dennis dropped entirely out of her life;
no widow was ever more dcSolate. She
had had visions of a little child. with Den
Mss handsome face-she was very
plain herself. poor Polly "a little
child who should sometimes call her
mother; but that could never be.
l am not sure but this child of her dreams
had been her sweetest fancy, for il will
never die to her though it, grave is made
In that shadowy ideal kingdom where she
dwelt aforetime.
There was nothing but reality left. and
though she felt il more and more as the
days went on. she worked on faithfully.
When her father. miserly even i'm his cups.
said to her i'm his thick. drunken voice,
"No tea tonight, Polly; we are poor. very
poor. But I've saved four crackers for
your supper. I'm good father To you.
Polly she only put out a thin hand
such a thin hand to take them. and a
"Thank you. father" and no look OF dis
gust on her face. though they smelled OF
tobacco and rum.
Perhaps the old man thought the ravens
fed his daughter, for he made no effort to
do 80 himself. III ever. in am uncommon
iii OF generosity, he brought home any
thing, he always asked for il again i'm the
morning. and ate il himself. Polly was
used to il. She had her dinner and break
fast with an eccentric old lady who liked
TO have her around, - and paid her a small
sum weekly for the privilege. So Polly
wrote the old lady's letters. and mended
her stockings for about year. and then
change came. Going home, with the
leaves dropping Silly about her. just as
they did on that evening-how long ago
she found her father mt home before her.
lie was trembling and whimpering. drop
ping weak tears over a weak and diving
fr.
You're late, Polly; what makes you
later when want you.''
Polly laid away her wraps quietly i'm her
old-naidsh way, asking kindly questions
the while
l. anything the matter. fatherg''
I'm not well taken care of. I'm cold
and hungry. You're getting close. Polly,
close. when you won't get your old father |
amouthful OF tea when you've plenty Of
money!
Polly put her shawl on again.
Where are you goingg | want you
here. you're mighty fond of leaving me
alone" Polly, patient and long-suilering.
put away her shawl. and reckoning TO
boy Who stood on the street outside. sent
Tor what She wanted. Then she mcnded
The Tire and sat down To wait.
ou'yc not been good e. me. Polly, |
tis last year: you've not been cheerful. |
can't bear q long face; YOU ought to