The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-11

- nave done everything 10 riettSe
him said Polly in broken words. her
face covered with her handkerchief.
4 wondered what was the matter
with you, Polly" said her mother ten
Derby.
4 .sDear. dear chIlds' said the tinker.
rising and patting her head. The
chaplet on thy brow an thee weep
ing. fairest flower of air.
4 have wished that was deadr'
I The words came ia q little moan be-
tween soils.
Because love hath led thee 10 the
4 great river o tears2 Nay. child: it's a
winding river an crosses MI the roads"
He had taken her handkerchief and
with a tender touch dried her eyes.
snow ! can see thee smiling. an thy
Iashes, chld-they are like the spray o.
the fern tip when the dew IS on IT,"
Polly rose and went away into the
house. Darrell wiped his eyes. and the
widow sat. her chin upon her hand.
looking down sadly and thoughtfully.
Darrell was first to speak.
Did 1t ever occur 10 We. Martha
Vaughn. this child o thine is near
woman. but has seen nothing o the
worId?"
= think of that often said she, the
mothers feeling IN her voice.
Wen. If | understand him. it's q
point OF honor with the boy not to
pledge her TO marriage until she has
seen more O. life an made sure OF her
own heart Now. consider this: Let
her 60 to the school at Hillsborough.
an I'll pay the cost
The widow looked up at him without
speaking
I'm an old man near the end o. the
journey. an we've known me many
years. Darrell went on. There's moth
ing can be said against tt. Nay; III
have no thanks. Would ye thank the
money itself. the bits o paper? No:
nor Rodericz Darrell. who in this bust
ness is no more worthy o. gratitude.
Hushl Who comes?'
1t was Polly herself IN short red
skirt. her arms bare to the elbows. She
began to busy herself about the house.
TOO bad you took off that pretty
dress. Polly" said Irove when he re-
turned
She came near and whispered to him. |
This said she. looking down sad |
", sis like the one L wore when you
first came"
swell. first I thought of your arms"
said he. 'They were so lovelyl Then |
of your eyes and face and gown. but |,
now l think only of the one thing
Polly
The girl was happy now and went
on with the work. singing. while Trove
lent hand.
A score OF people came up the hill /
from Pleasant valley that night. Tunk
went after the old maids and came
with them in5the chaise at supper time.
There were two wagon loads of young
people, and before dusk men and their
wives came sauntering up the road
way and in ut the little gate
Two or three Of the older men wore
suits of black broadcloth. the stock and
rolling collar-relics of "old decency"
back in Vermont or Massachusetts or
Connecticut Most were in rough
homespun over white shirts with no
cuffs or collar All gathered about
Darrell who sat smoking outside the
door. lie rose and greeted each one OF
the women with a bow and a compli-
ment The tinker was man of unfail-
ing courtesy. and one thing IN him was
extremely odd-even there in that land
of pure democracy-he treated scrub
woman with the same politeness he
would have accorded the finest lady.
But he was in no sense a fatterer.
None that saw him often were long in
ignorance of that. Ills rebuke was
even quicker than. his compliment, as
many had reason to know
Half an hour before dark the yard
was thronged with people. They lis
tened, with smiles or faint ripple of
merry feeling. as he greeted each.
Good evening. Mrs. Beach, he
would say. "Ah. the snow is falling on
thy head. An the sunlight upon thine
dear girl" he added, taking the hand
of the woman's daughter.
''An' here's Mr.. TiIiy back from the
far west" he continued. How fare
We. sor?"
I'm well, but a little too fat" said
Thurston Tilly.
well, scr. unless it make thy heart
heavy, be content
"Good evening Mrs. Hooper. That
is a cunning hand with the pies.
"Ah, Mrs. Rood, may the mouse new
err leave thy meal bag with a tear in his
eye.
Not a gray hair in thy head, Miss
Tower, nor even gray thought.
'An' here's Mrs. Barbour Twill
make me sweat to carry me pride now.
How goes the battle2"
The Lord has given me sore af-
fiction" said she.
Nay, dear woman" said the tinker
Ia that tone so kindly and resIstless,
nr--rI-l