Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-01-04
POLLY'S BISCUIT.
And Her Choice OF a Defender In
q Pending Suit.

polly. don't buy your pearls to-
day" Polly Rutherford looked up
quickly from the jewelers. case she was
bending over. and saw MIR. McIlwaine
standing at her side.
"Why shouldn't buy to-dayP" she
cried. Il have had this hundred dollars
In gold for almost year. Mr.. Nell
waine, trying to make up my mind what
/ wanted most. Now, my birthday is
almost here again; and l am afraid
grandpa will make this do for two
birthdays, if l don't hurry and spend
it."
But Polly's gay little laugh was
checked by look of funmistakable COM
passion in the gentleman's eyes. The
color faded little from her bright
young face. but she would not ask any
questions here in the crowded store.
You may put them back to-day, Mr..
West" she said to the jeweler. "rn
come again tomorrow"
"Very well, Miss Rutherford" said
the vexed salesman, concealing his
disappointment. 81 shall reserve them
for YOU"
Polly left the tempting store with
Mr.. McIlwaine, and, once on the street,
turning upon him a pair of frank.
questioning eyes, which he found hard
TO answer.
Paul Mcllwaine was a friend of the
Rutherford family, but not specially of
little Polly. She was only sixteen, a
mere child to the hard-working lawyer
Of thirty, and one whom he considered
as altogether frivolous and empty. Polly
was an only daughter. living with a
widowed mother in her grandfather's
elegant house; and if she was not a
spoiled girl. it was not the fault of the
dOting old grandfather. whose idol she
had been from her babyhood.
"What did you mean, Mr.. Nell
waine?" she asked. presently, finding
that the questioning look brought no
reply. And then, seeing how embar-
rassed he seemed about answering, she
said. with a sudden fear: Have you
been at grandpa's since left? Is any
thing the matter?"
They are all WELL" he said, answer
ing the thought which he knew was in
her mind; "but something has hap
pened, Polly, of course, or l would not
have interfered with your purchase"
20. tell me, tell mer' said the girl,
in an agitated voice. "Why do you
keep me in Suspense?"
What 3 blunderer l amr' thought
her companion. "If tell her out here
on the street, there will be scene. But
] am in for it now, and if l don't tell
her suppose there will be q scene.
That's the way with these fine young
ladies'"
lit is hard thing to say to you.
Polly; but your grandfather has failed. I"
Failed" repeated Polly. vaguely;
'you mean he has lost all his money!
Is that all Is that what you were
afraid to tell me?"
THAT ALI means a good deal more
than you seem to understand" said
Paul McIlwaine, impatiently. ''It
means loss and disappointment and
poverty to one of the best gentlemen
in the world. 1t means hard work to
your mother. who has no strength for
work; to YOU"
He stopped. and Polly said quickly,
feeling the tinge of contempt in his
tone:
Never mind about me. But see
now how bad it will be. Poor grand
pa! Mr.. McIlwaine, does-must-will
anybody else lose by grandpa's fail
ure?"
ut is too soon to say positively" he
replied, ''but / think not. / think he
has quit business in time to save his
creditors any appreciable loss"
POlly's head was up now, and her
eyes shining. Dear old grandpa, I"
she said, 'bless his hearti / am
ashamed that l asked the question.
might have known! But oh! I'm so
much obliged to you for keeping me
from spending my hundred dollars. II
was very kind of you, very. 1 don't
know how you came TO find me. How
long have you known about grandpa?''
1T only came out this morning, and
took US all entirely by surprise. But
here we are at your door. Goodbye,
my dear. If l can be of service to you
in any way Che had meant to offer her
money, but he was suddenly afraid to
speak of such thing to the spirited
looking girl before him), remember the
long intimacy between our families
gives me a right to help YOU"
Thank YOU" she said. simply. II
was all she had voice for; and using
her latch-key. she let herself into the
house.
BLESS mer' said the young lawyer,
as he walked of; .sbut the girl has
pluckl 1t was very pretty. and entirely
womanly, too. the way she thought oi
others. her grandfather and the cred
itors. / didn't think little Polly had il
in her.
If he had seen little Polly at this min.
ute. he might not have thought she had
90 much in her. She had slipped noise.