The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-11

voice inside. "El there YETI"
PUTTY way to answer your gran 'fa
ther. What you mean? Tain Ell. He'
went. Come and see what / want
Here's gent that'll take the secone
story front often your hands"
III the doorway stood a plain, pallit
faced girl Of medium height and frai
figure, mass Of unkempt, ash colored
hair blowing about her head.
"'Ll you come see the room, then?'
said she, with startling abruptness.
"I'll engage it without seeing it, re.
turned Marshall, on the defensive.
She looked at him oddly, her light
blue eyes doubtful. She reached and
took his bag out of his hand.
II cannot" he said in tone of voice
which would have made those who knew
him lrugh-"I cannot on any account
permit you to carry my bag" r
The blind grandfather guffawed.
"She's stronger II she looks, he said.
"shes made quick bargain bout the
room. Let her carry the bag"
Marshall bore it in and on to the
"second story 'front.'" Polly toiling up
the stairs back of him.
He took in the meagerly furnished
apartment.
II wonder if I am in my sphere
now?" be murmured.
"Whaten?"
He had forgot Polly. He turned and
found her regarding him.
II do not need you," he said.
"Thank you for carryin the bag" she
stammered and was gone.
Strange to say, her words startled
Marshall. He had discovered something
for the first time in his life-a girl was
grateful to him that he had recognized
his physical strength as superior to her
own.
He soon had occasion to ascertain that
no one considered her weaker than the
strongest. Not her blind grandfather,
who, sitting by the door weaving his
nets, babe her bring in loads of wood,
and the like, which would have been
enough for two such as she; not Ell
Drear, the moon faced miller to whom
she had plighted herself, but whom she
refused to marry in the coming June,
although in the winter she had prom
Used to do so.
Somehow me and her gran daddy
CANT make her do it nohow. y said the
miller to Marshall when he had poured
into the city mans ears the story of his
woes after that same city man had with
much freedom asked the lover the mean
ing Of very noticeable GOODNESS on the
part of the lady of his choice.
II CANT make herl" her grandfather
cried. It'll be the first time, then.
Didn't make her see your points, Ell?
Her 60 ag'in me, indeedp'
Here was tragedy. In the presence
Of tragedy all men are equal. Marshall
had found his sphere. He looked over
at Polly gathering vegetables in tho
garden, sunbonnet obscuring her face,
and she was the heroine of the tragedy.
Good for that, he would study the hero
inc. He did SO in his desultory fashion.
He watched her for several weeks. All
at once it dawned upon him that he
had seen her before he had come to her
home.
"Merciful powers" he exclaimed.
"were she and I af1inities in some pre-.
vious state of existence!
"Mr. Marshall" said she one day,
when, smoking his cigar, he stood out
side the kitchen window leaning on the
sill, she ironing inside, "I'm obliged to
tell you somethin. was to Katco, and
one time I saw you givin the children
Her face was red, perhaps from her
labors. He recollected the passing of
the serious girl at Katco-that, then,
was the previous state of existence. 1t
was disappointing.
Upon my word, Polly" said he,
4 rather thought you were not I'M
snown to me. I remembered you with
)ut being able to place you"
odd you now," she asked excitedly,
really and truly?'
Really and truly" he answered sol.
,mnly, "and I am sorry that it was at
10 anterior date to Katco. And now I'll
ell you why I am lettering outside
7our window like san ancient knight.
Mr.. Drear has taken me into his conf
lence. He is unhappy and on your &C.
cunt. That is very cruel of you, Polly,
o make unhappy those who love you"
'he let the iron slide across the table |
nd confronted him with folded arms.
"Did he dare to tell you to come to
no?" she demanded.
II have found my sphere indeed"
murmured, knocking the ash
rom his cigar, "when Polly accuses me
f being Mr.. Drear's best friend and
erceives no incongruity in that fact"
What do you say?" she asked. "Are
on maxim fun of me?"
No longer fierce, she had dropped,
AS leaning drearily upon the ironing
card, her chin upon her breast.
why, Polly" Marshall said,
should You so accuse me? Your lover
,ally did,
"Hc amt no lover; he don't caro- for
le for myself, only for my strength.
OTIS of hard work at the mill, and
ran fathers gettin ole and don't SEQ
ow III be provided for when he $ took,
I'd he's forever tcllin FL how strong !
n and economical and don't cost next
} nothin, and Oh wish / was be-
de mother and pop in the churchyard.
do indeed :"
ITO BE CONTINUED