Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-05-18
PoLLY's DOINGs


Folly closed the door behind Miss
Mason and then nank into a chair
across the table from me.
can men are workable" she began,
sententiously.
"A generality" said 1. "An in
stancef"
Il vas Just going to give It. You no.
ticed Miss MnsOn's left handY
Yes: / couldn't help it, Who Is hep
mir. Herrick you know him. A
very clever fellow. Almost as clever
dis y0u are, Tom" She was smiling
lust n bit.
Remarkable man." | agreed, heart
lily vhereat the smile increased.
ayes" Polly folded her arms on the
table and. leaning forward, gazed COM
placently across ut me. "1t's all my
doing too"
'Indeedr' | cried. "why, you're a
genius. Polly" a know how to make
her snilel How did you do it?"
"Nell, I knew she loved him and he
loved her hut
you knew-but how" l interrupt
ed.
Polly twitchcd her shoulders and
threw her head to one side. Easy
enough Eva told me that She cared.
And. well. you see, one doesn't need
telling when a mans in love"
] ignored the down-thrOwn gaunt-
let Perhaps she would smile again.
But he, poor fellow hadn't the
heart to make known his heart-I saw
that. They were up here day before
yesterday. While | was making ready
to brew some tea a little idea jumped
up in my head. You know they come
to me that way sometimes"
/ nodded.
81 didn't stop to think, but turned
around to face them with the teaball
dangling from one finger.
by the way l said, 4 suppose it
won't he out of the way for me to CON
gratulate you twoY
" What forT asked Eva. looking up.
She was surprised. MIR. Herrick just
looked blank.
oh you're too innocent, I said
with a sly smile-I really did it well,
Tom Perhaps it hasn't been an
nounced yet but everybody knows just
the same. | think it is splendid You
two were made for each Otherr'
You ought to have seen them, Tom.
Eva turned white and then began TO
flush. Poor Mr. Herrick was red from
the first. He seemed trihe agitated." ;"
Polly smiled reminiscently, then
went on:
"He got up from his chair rather
hurTiedly. 'But-but'-he gasped
" oh, the waterp l cried, whirling
about It's boiling overp 1t wasn't,
of course, for I hadn't lit the lamp be-
meath the kettle yet. But they were
too excited to notice that.
Excuse me-but--you know start.
ed Mr.. Herrick
Just my luckp l broke in, lifting
the lid of the caddy and looking in.
Not n leaf of tea in the house. I'll
have to run down and buy some. EX-
cuse me minute
Permit me, said Mr. Herrick,
eagerly. Pll go down and get it,
What, trust man to buy tea for
mer / shook my head. Never! l al
ways want to see it myself
81 pinned on my hat and then went
down to the fiat below and talked to
Mrs. Nelson for half an hour about her
rheumatism. When | came back up
they were looking happy enough, so |
knew all was well. | acted as though
I didn't know anything had happened
and finished making the tea"
"Yes. but the tear l queried. 'You
didn't bring any up"
Polly looked at me half-pityingly.
''Why, you goose, you. I'd filed the
caddy up only the day before"
''But didn't they noticeY
'NoticeT she laughed. "They were
noticing nothing then but themselves
Besides, l wouldn't have cared if they
had"
Polly gazed at me, smiling medita.
lively, for over a minute.
"Well| said l.
"Welh that's all. Only, when they
left. Eva ran back and told me what
had happened. OF course l was kind
enough to be surprised. To-day she
came up to show me the ring. There's
the story"
''Polly," l sa' once again, with con
viction in my voice, you're a genius
why, yes" she admitted, compla
Gently.
"But, do you know" she went on
speaking rather mournfully, it seemed
to me. I'm half sorry now / did it,
'Sorry-whyT l was unsuspicious
"Because"-there was a teasing
smile in her eyes, but her voice was
very demure-"becsuse | rather want
ed him myself. LEROY NJ. Scott, In
Chicago Journal.