The Portland daily press., 1899-01-18

dHrk Il cUIFit,l nttt III ny - ~. w oftE ttn'c
and set him down on the other side"
l"Goodness, Polly, you don't mean to
tell me that you carried him in your
armsl" Jonessy exclaimed.
"wcll, Just did, and III swear to II be-
fore Joe or anybody"
II wouldn't do II IL was you" said
.Ionessy earnestly. "why, there isn't
soul in Pineviile would believe you could
do it,"
Gould do what!"
"why, carry Joe Peterman in your arms,
Of course"
"Jim Jonessy. you are fool y she cried,
very red in the face. at is Joe's old Dom
mick rooster / have been talking about.
"Why, yes, of course, stammered
Jonessy in confusion, trying to smile. Il
was Just teasing you, Polly, knowing you
and Joe were such old friends.
"But did Joe say he was going to take
me to court2" she asked.
"Not exactly, but advised him to go
and talk the matter over with you. Say,
Polly. Won two ought to make up. You
take my advice" said Jonessy.
Then Jonessy went one way, and Polly
wont the other, each one busy with many
thoughts
That evening Mrs Jonessy asked her
husband how many fees the new office had
brought him.
"Thls Is the first day, you know" he
smiled family II have just been setting
the wheels in motion today, and the fees
will come in after awhile.
eyes, when Joe Peterman and Polly
MAY get married" she said, laughing.
.Ionessy had accomplished something
that day. He had set Joe and Polly think
ing about each other Joe's long, lantern
jawcd face, usually sober and solemn, had
relaxed into smiles several times, and once
he had actually caught himself humming
an old song that had lain forgotten for
years within him. On the other hand,
Polly's round and rosy face, that was sup.
posed to wear smile even In sleep, was
very thoughtful and sad and while bend
ing above the steam from the fragrant tea
pot at the supper table her eyes seemed
filled with unshed tears.
Poor Joe," she sighed as she sat down
to her lonely meal ~ thought sure that
he would get over IL and marry some one
else, but it seems that he doesn't care any
more than do for nybody, and both Of
us just persist In being wrong, when only
word from either of us would make
things so different"
ssuHh tifH % baN tStiliN III de Nht oHth
door, and when Polly saw that it limped
slightly ON one leg she sprang up from the
table and caught It In her arms.
Poor Kittyr she murmured. Il won
der who hurt her. You can't tell, can
your"
Il can, said manly voice in the door
way, and moment later Joe entered the
room. "Jonessy told me today that you
intended to sue me for throwing brick
bat at your cat, he said.
Polly eyed her visitor closely for mo-
mcnt, and, seeing that his eyes were upon
her supper table instead of upon herself,
the hard lines that had come around her
lips relaxed into "A smile.
Come in, Joe" she said gently. "Will
you take cup OF tea with meY"
Then you amt mad because / crippled
your oaty"
Joe" she cried, trying to look severe
will YOU take cup OF tea with mef'
Yes. You amt mad, Polly?'
Polly did not reply, but busted herself
roflling the teapot and making room for
him at the table
When Joe was seated at the table, Polly
sat down opposite to him and watched
him In silence for several minutes.
so Jim Jonessy has been telling you
that was about 10 take you TO court for
crippling my cat, has hef" said she ut last
Il met him when he came from your
house, and he limited that you might have
me prosecuted because your old Dominick
rooster came over here and got himself
crippled the other day. >"
II never said no such thing, PollyV
cried Joe
"Nor did L, said Polly.
Il never mentioned rooster to him.
"And | never said cat. +"
Il wonder how he found QUIT" cried
Joe.
Il guess our consciences gave it away.
When l think of 1t now, he never said
rooster to me until l had told him all
about it myself, " said Polly, smiling.
Il remember now that 1t was tho same
with me and the cat, " said Joe. Il know
l wanted to tell you how sorry was, and
it was all could think of when Jonessy
came to see me.
Il am sorry, too, Joe" said Polly, land
hope you won't think that l have done 1t
on purpose.
Somehow the summer dusk gathered
around them and neither seemed 70 notice
1t, rs they talked on and on across the TIA
bic between them. After awhile, however,
Polly rose and went to the open door,
where Joe followed her
Say, Polly" he said, taking her unre-
sisting hand, II have been sorry for ev-
erything all these years. Won't you say
that you will forgive mef"
Polly looked up into his face.
Il have been sorry too, Joe-oh, SO
sorryl"
Just then Polly's cat purring softly,
,,,bhal barsaIf au,ipSt .Ioa'S Leo and at
the same moment old Dominick crowed
Justify ON his own side OF the fence.
Now, in Pineville good many things
are dated from the time when Joe Peter
man and Polly May got married. BUT
falo Express.