The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-08-27
POLLY.
CHAPTER I.

spect for your sisters or anything on this
earth. Give me my letter this instant,
sir! I would not have such work man.
aging you, my young man. if mamma
had only left your hair long enough 10
pull"
Dick, rejoicing in very close crop.
dodges under her arm as Polly makes a
grab at his bristly head.
With Don't you wish you could
get it?" and delighted cackle at her
grasping handful Of empty air instead
of his auburn locks, he makes his es-
cape, lodging the letter with a skillfui
twitch on high bracket which holds a
bust of Dickens.
The boys in the Lyons family had
come mostly girls; in fact. Dick repre-
sented the single male off-shoot, and,
like the bad little boy of the newspapers,
he wouldn't for any money have risked
being born again for fear OF coming a
girl next time.
"Joy 90 with you! Good riddance to
bad rubbish" is Polly's parting salute.
and she proceeds to fish out from behind
the plaster-of Paris coat-sleeve Of Mr..
Dickens the apple of discord. And her
color which had risen unbecomingly dur
ing the scutfle with Dick, tones down
as She reads it.
. Supposing Job had received kind
letter of invitation from one Of his moth
er's kind friends-for the first time, too
don't you think it would have riled
even him, for brown, smudgy paw,
sticky with molasses, to have seized it.
erking it out of his hands. when he was
in the midst of opening it, without so
much al. .."by your leave" and toss it up
to the ceiling?
The subject Of this visit had been
broached before; now comes the letter
bringing matters 10 focus.
"Not only putting in the peg, but
driving it home" says Kitty.
Actually names the time for you to
come" remarks Patsy; and that is more
than most city folks do. They will
come and spend weeks with their coun-
try friends in July, and then tell one to
be sure to cali when one goes to the city.
Think Of how Mrs. Aytoun treated the
Dodson's, Kitty"
And you've nothing to do but pack
up your trunk and start, Polly" says
Mrs. Lyons. innocently.
Mercy on US, mammal But pack
my trunk and start Unless I get in
myself l don't see what there'll be 10
pack it with. III depend on my alpaca
and blue poplin, I'll be leaning on a
broken reed, l am sure; and / can toss
my few things in, and then there'll be
room enough in the trunk for Tootems
and Dot t } play hide-and-seek..
"Come. now, Polly, I am sure you look
nicely in your things. Ever so much
nicer than the Dodson girls, who spend
30 much"
1t is one of Mrs. Lyons firm articles Of
belief that her girls look nicer" than
all other girls at all times. Il. fact, that
rs far as her girls are concerned, there is
nothing for heart to desire.
"And actually" cries Polly, if | had
nv hands stuffed with money at this
moment wouldn't know what to get or
how to make it. That comes of living
in the country on the road to nowhere:
If were papa I'd move tomorrow and
not hide my talents under napkin"
Tut, tut, Polly! Don't quote Scrip
ture in a fret" says Dick. Always
keep your temper. my child"
Mamma, will you please to make
Dick behavem seeing that he lodged all
Ter efforts to box his ears.
Richard. my son."
ooh, you'll scrape through" says
Kitty, taking up the thread of discourse
where it was broken by the skirmiSh
with Dick. "We'll all help you out"
"Dot, who was number four, and
always dressed in the others old clothes,
gave up on the spot all right and title
to any and everything new that she
might, could, would or should have that
winter.
The 4amily conclave was not broken
up till far into the -. hit. Certain trips
to the neighboring town were planned
nd taken, and many demands made
upon the family purse.
But at last Polly's trunk was packed
actually packed-with "good clothes, y
and there was nothing more to be done.
1t was in quite gushing state of mind
that Pollyb bundles herself up in big
shawl for a farewell walk the evening
preceding the eventful day.
Being December, there were no flowers
to assist sentiment; no nothing much,
except bare brown hills and leahesS
gaunt trees.
"The sheep were in the fold; the cows
gone home;" even the birds gone tc
roost. But she would not be baked.
"I'll try my fortune" she said; and
looking around to see that no one i:
nera, she stops before large tree. A:
one of Frances gifted writers had done
before her, she takes heavy stone anC
draws very near.
"IfI hit the tree" she says, " it shal
be a sign that before the month is out
find true love. Ifnot-then not"
Like the French philosopher, Rous
seau, she plumps the tree, and expert
ences the same feeling of relief and ex
ultation.