The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-01-06
POLLY'S MISTAKE.
BY E. A. MATTERS.

II always thought you liked me,
Polly!'
So do, John; I'm very fond of you,
but not in that way
Not in what way, Polly? l only
know one way of being found of people. y
"Only one way! Why, there are doz-
ems of ways
"Well, Polly, just say you'll marry
me, and you may lie fond of me in your
own way or in dozen ways. I'm not par
ticular.'
But that was just what Polly would
not do. All Johns eloquence could not
induce her to utter that simple little word
YES" AT last Johns stock of patience,
never very large, gave out, and he told
Polly that she was flinty hearted little
hirt, to pretend to be fond of him in any
way, when it was plain to be seen she did
not care button for him. That was
too much, to be called tlirt and fiinty-
hearted flint, and by John! Polly's eyes
sparkled and sharp retort was on the tip
of her tongue, when the kitchen door
opened and Uncle Silas entered.
Be you two holdin' Quaker meetin' ~
said he, as he was going out after filling
and lighting his pipe at Polly's ironing
place, or be you savin' up for the sing
in tonight: Don't over-do it, tho,
Polly, or maybe your tongue III git stiff in
the jints. Queer things is women's
tongues" And Uncle Silas went off
chsckling over his little joke
OF course after that Polly was not going
to be in any hurry to speak. Perhaps
John thinks she can't hold her tongue,
too! SHE will show him! And Polly
bites her(ips very hard and tries to look
very resolue indeed. But John had been
busy repentng for ten minutes; he got up
as his fathe shut the door and said,
quite. gently \" I'm sorry, Polly, for what
dear No aAswer-unless a big tear
that dropped sn Polly's iron Just then
might be taken Tor one.
"Well, Polly, ,never mind, I'll try to
get over being fond of you if it makes
you so unhappy; you need not cry about
it; l hope it is notso bad as that.'' And
with that John welt out to his wood
choepping and Pollyfnishea ironing and
nobody was any the wiser. That is, no.
body but Paul Pry, tile parrot, who had
heard every word AID startled Polly
dreadfdlly that same evening bv calling
out suddenly at the supper table: " Hillo!
Polly, never mind! never mind! never
mind! Poor Polly! pretty polly! don't
cry!'
However, neither Uncle Silas nor Aunt
Debby paid the least regard % Paul Pry's
rather personal and slightly Eimpertinent
remarks; but they made Polly SO nervous
with dread Of what he might say, next
that she could not eat, and thereby attract.
cd Aunt Debby's attention to herself.
BE you sick, child? You don't seen
10 have no appetite and your face is red
as beet this minute. t do hope to good
ness you amt going to be took down with
fever. Simon Brown says it's drefful bad
over 10 ROckaway."
Polly's cheeks is allus like pink hol.
lyhocks," said Uncle Silas, with glance
ct affectionate admiration in Polly's di.
2ction.
some folks admire to see red cheeks,
ana then again some doesn't. There's
Ailce Brown, now; she amt got NO more
color nor stattoo; but mos folks lows
shes drefful hansum; that young pafnter
chap from York was allus drawin' Of
her picter. For my part, think red
cheeks is healthy" and Aunt Debby
stirred her tea meditatiqely.
Alice Brown amt no more to be com.
pared to our Polly for looks nor them
: bieaehed Potato-sprouts down cellar Is at