The midland journal., 1906-01-19

their father was to present it
through his little helper and conf
dant. The more Polly heard of this
method of teaching history without
tears" the more enchanted she was,
and, without pausing for reflection,
she exclaimed, "Of course, I'll ask
him this very minute. Wait here.
boys, till come back"
AS she crossed the wide hall lead
ing to the doctors Office, she suddenly
stopped short. How could her father
possibly spare the $40 required? Only
last night, as they stood by the win
dow, watching an old farmer bump
out of the yard in his mud-encrusted
wagon while the boys tugged into the
cellar sacks of potatoes left in pay
ment of a long unpaid account the
doctor had said in his whimsical way:
II declare, Puss, we've farm prod
uce enough to ration the Mikado's
army but I've almost forgotten what
$40 bill looks like
If Polly had been a story-book hero
inc she would have discovered in the
check for $25 which she held il her
hand, an answer to the problem, but
as she was only very human girl,
she fed to her own room and threw
herself on the bed to cry stormily:
Il just won't give up my check to
the boys"
Polly was, perhaps, excusable for
feeling that the sacrifice was too
great, for a cousin, Marion Palmer,
was to be married and had sent the
check to Polly to be used in the pur-
chase of wedding finery Weeks be-
fore the little country mouse, having
carefully examined her store of "par-
tyr frocks had been forced to aban-
don all hope of attending the wedding
receipt of this delightful bit of paper
had placed this happiness within her
reach.
The prospect of possessing frock
such as, in the ordinary course of
events, could have been purchased for
rs dollars would in any case have
been an undreamed of delight to Pol
ly, but, as it happened, that amount of
money at this time represented to her
what any girl would have agreed was
the chance of lifetime"
Pclly's chum, Lillian Stevens, the
daughter OF very rich man. had gone
into mourning for great-aunt, a1d as
the idea of wearing gowns ever so lit
tie out of date was not to be thought
of she had offered Polly, as gift. a
perfect dream of a party frock fresh
from Paris. But Doctor Adams was
unwilling to allow his daughter to ac-
cept so expensive present; where
upon Lillian, whose kind heart yearn-
ed over her pretty friend, had told
Polly she would sell it to her for SIG.
But this sum, so Insignificant to the
spoiled child Of luxury, was as far
beyond Polly's purse, as would have
been $100. the original price Of the
gown.
Lillian had insisted that Polly
should try on the fascinating dress
and Polly had not been able to resist
the temptation. The frock had fitted
perfectly and the fluffy creation of
white chiffon and lace with the touch
of pale green in ribbons and embroid
cries, was very becoming to her clear
skin, bronze hair and gray eyes.
This morning, for brief space, she
had seen herself flying to Lillian with
the price of that "love of a frock" in
her hand, but almost before she had
time to realize her good fortune, the
boys had come in with their great
news.
"It would be dreadful to disappoint
Marion by not going to her wedding
and though she told me I could use
the check for whatever l chose if l
didn't need a frock, I can't wear my
old ones so may well take advantage
Of this wonderful chance that Lillian
offers me-" argued Polly. But con-
science spoke up briskly:
Most assuredly Marion must not
be disappointed, but the boys out
ing will cost only $40 and with the
remaining five you can buy IL yards
of cheap organdie with ribbons for
~ AAAAAAA6S anu oo yOu tO maui yOOi
own clothes ever since you were IA,
and there will be plenty of time to
tuck and ruffie it to your hearts con-
tent, you can appear at Marion's wed
ding in frock quite good enough
for girl in your circumstances"
"But did so want to look stun
ming for once in my life" walled re-
bellious Polly.
Then the faces of her brothers
came before her. What good boys
they were and how eager they were
to help her in their dear, blundering
way. Even big Sam did not consider
it beneath his dignity to wash dishes
and clean windows, while little Jacks
willing feet had saved her tired ones
many step. And the boys were
growing up so fast that it would not
be long before they would be out IN
the world meeting disappointments
and hardships from which her love
would have no power to shield them.