The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-01-08

laugh at the sight-they were so sure
they could overrun him with twenty
yards. Polly Ann stood crying at one
side. But her weeping changed to a
laugh when she saw Silas steadily draw
ing away from his pursuers. They ran
their best, but the little darting shadow
in front was soon lost to view.
"Well! You have made nice mess
Of things" Sam said angrily as he
walked with Polly Ann toward the
house. ''Lost five dollars, which we so
much need, and angered the butcher so
it is likely he will not come here to buy
again. Then should like you to tell
me what father will do when his note
falls due? If he does not pay it, we shall
lose our land, our home, and all be-
cause of your willful ways"
81 could not sell Silas, not for any
thing" Polly Ann repeated. IT hate
the butcher anyway Whenever he
comes again shall take my dear piggy
and run away"
When Sam had told his tale, grand
mother scolded properly, and even Polly
AIMS father looked bit severe He
was in strait, was Farmer Ware, and
it did seem wicked to let little senti-
mentt stand in the way of very good
bargain, Still the girl was clearly with
in her rights. He had given her the ami
NAL when it;looked to be dead. Her
care had brought it back to life and
growth, but he had not counted upon
anything so irrational as this. AS Sam
had said, it was not the loss of actual
profit so much as the butchers discom-
future which he mended. He had cattle
to sell and big pigs. Upon them he de-
pended to meet payment soon falling
due. So he shook his head and said a
trifle sadly.
81 fear, little daughter, your Silas
will turn out to be q pretty costly lux
ury."
Then Polly Ann cried and ran back
to the orchard, where she found Silas
lying in nest Of fresh earth, grunting
out his pleasure in the sunshine and
the sweet apples with which he had
supplemented his breakfast of milk. 1t
seemed to her there was a CLEAN Of fun
in his little slant eyes. Anyway he got
up and rubbed affectionately against
her elbow when she sat down beside
him, then sat up on his launches and
held out fore foot to be shaken, after
diverting fashion his mistress had
taught him.
~ cannot be sorry kept you, What
ever comes Of it, ?" Polly Ann said, bal
ancing stick across his pink nose He
grunted again and winked his little
eyes more knowingly than ever, as
though saying, "You are very wise"
But poor Polly Ann did not think so
two weeks later, when she saw her ia
ther look SO worn and aged and heard
him say he had no money to meet his
note. Her heart was in her throat in
deed when Sam burst in with wonder
full tale of how rich lady at the hotel
near by had lost diamond bracelet
with her baby's picture under the dia-
monds and was offering thousand dol
lars to any one who should find and
bring it back to her.
"Where did she lose it?" asked Farmer
Ware.
"No one knows exactly. 1t was some
where in the pastures yesterday. She
walked long way, and this jewel was
always worn because of the picture,
Sam answered. sob, if only could find
it, how happy l should be!'
eff only could find the lost jewel,
how happy l should ber' Polly Ann
echoed in Silas' ears about five minutes
later. He looked up at her with COM
pretending grunt, then caught her frock
in his mouth and drew her toward the
pasture.
"Oh, you dearl Does it mean you can
find it for me! know you are not just |
q pig" Polly Ann cried, running after
him. She could scarcely keep up with |
him, and it seemed to her that each of |
his small funny squeals was answered |
from the air overhead. Up and down |
they went, in and out of highways and
byways, but all the time they were
drawing nearer the big spring beneath
the poplar root, where it was said the
fairies danced each night of the full
moon. When they came to it, the little
pig was no more pig. Instead Polly
Ann saw the sauciest tricksy elf in IA
long loose white coat that hid all but
his tiny, pointed shoes.
Look and see what you can find in
the spring" the elf said, bowling po-
litely "You ought to find something
worth all this trouble, but one is never
sure. Ny brothers and sisters are SO
full Of frolic these days they may have
been fooling me. "
Polly Ann ran to the waters edge
and lay fiat, so her face was but little
way above the dancing ripples. At first
she could sec nothing but the pebbles
and gravel at the bottom, with little
ish darting here and there. But after
ong look she caught CLEAN of dull
yellow beneath little heap of sand,
thrust down her arm to the elbow and
lrew up something, all of linked beaten
gold, with what seemed like water
lrops full of sunshine, set hard and fast
n big cluster at one end.
"Ho! You rascals! She has found it
II spite of you'll" the elf who had been
,ilas shouted aloud. Then Polly Ann
aw that all the bank was full of other
Ives. But she did not stop to notice or