The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-02-04

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speak Of such thing to the spirited.
looking girl before him). remember the
long intimacy between our families
gives me right to help you"
THANK you," she said. simply. /,
was all she had voice for; and using
her latch-key. she let herself into tin
house.
''Bless mer' said the young lawyer,
As he walked off; ''but the girl ha.
pluck! twas very pretty. and entirely
womanly, too. the way she thought o.
others, her grandfather and the cred.
itors. l didn't think little Polly had Il
in her."
II he had seen little Polly at this min
ute. he might not have thought she had
SO much in her. She had slipped noise
lcssly into the great handsome front
parlor. and dropped down on one of the
low, cushioned divans. .'all in . heap"
as the girls say. For two whole hours
she kept herself hid in the parlor. no
body knowing she was in the house;
and, in that lone, silent time. when she
heard only the tinkling little bronze
clock and her own irregular breathing.
something happened to Polly. almost
like what happens to the moth when it
comes out Of the cocoon. It happened
10 the Polly that was hid away inside
of the Polly that everybody knew. And
who shall say that this great, startling
change of fortune was not sent to keep
that inside Polly from being smothcred
and dwarfed by the outside Polly?
When she went to find her mother
and grandfather, it was with a bright
face and steady voice.
A few days after this Polly brought
up dainty little breakfast to her
mother, who was quite overcome by
their disaster, as was the poor old
grandfather.
"Comc, mother" Polly said. blithely.
Il made these biscuit; and you've got
to eat two. What good thing it was
that you had that hobby about teach
ing me to do things! Doesn't it fit in
nicely now?"
at was a theory of your fathers"
answered the mother, in a depressed
tone. Il promised him. when you were
wee baby in long clothes, that would
have you taught to do everything that
women can do. and, Of course. after
his death. / felt the more bound to do
it But don't know why you should
make so much of it now. You can't
support yourself making biscuits.''
Il don't know" said Polly. care
lessly. Il don't know" she repeated
more earnestly, springing up and walk
ing about the room. as ii her mind were
not following her footsteps.
In few weeks the Rutherfords had
moved into small downtown house,
with all the available rooms s'let;" and
poor old Mr.. Rutherford was trying
feebly to discharge the duties of a
small-salaried Office into which his
friends had put him.
Polly's mother seemed quite crushed
at first; but the girl herself was buoy
ant with hope, as every young girl has
. right to be, no matter what her style
Of living is or is not.
Thanks to Mr. McIlwainc, she had
her hundred dollars now to invest in
an enterprise on which she had set her
heart far more than it had ever been
set on the pearls. And along with the
dollars she had also to invest
In it youth, health, good sense. a brave
spirit and a proud independence. What
else needed she for happy and sue
cessful lifep
Her enterprise began with a visit
basket in hand. to seven or eight Of the
best city hotels. and as many Of the
restaurants. To all of them she offered
} daily, weekly or tri-weckly supply Of
her dainty little beaten biscuit such as
she had learned to make down in East
srn Virginia, from famous old cook,
who had in slave days belonged to her
lathcr's family. She was successful
almost up to her own expectations. and
lar beyond her mothers; and her ella
ion could not but infuse some hope into
hat lady's weak spirit
I'VE must have new name for your
biscuit, Miss" said one wise old res
;aurant keeper. what shall we call
hemp
Call them" said Polly, hesitating
Ind laughing. ''call them the Polly
volly-winkum biscuit"
Tho Polly-wolly-winkum biscuit got
o be the fashion that winter. After
firing one good cook at what seemed
uinous wages, second and third had
o be engaged; but Polly put ON her
yreat kitchen apron. tied up her abund-
mt hair into high knot, and spent
our hours Of every day in her kitchen
lersef. No plea of other enOa0aments-