The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-10-07
Polly Grey F:
BY Nan Todd.
s!.IIlAlsAAlGN
BY Nan Todd.


1t was a glorious June morning.
Across the meadows waited a breeze
as delicate in fragrance as the color
ing of the trees and grass over which
it danced. But in spite Of all this
summer sweetness, Polly Grey was not
happy. 1t was the day of the first
picnic of the year, which glowing
event was to be celebrated in some
nearby woods. Polly had planned to
go, when her mother had been unex-
pectedly called to nurse a sick neigh
Dor, and the little girl had been oblig-
ed to stay at home and care for her
aged, helpless grandmother; besides,
there were cakes to bake, and this is
not any fun on summers day. The
Greys were poor 1t was only by her
skill in cooking that Mrs. Grey man
aged to find a livelihood for the little
family of three. Folly sighed Woe
fully as she opened the oven door. The
cakes were not near done. The day
was not a bit as she had planned.
Hello" called voice suddenly
from the outside.
Hello" Polly answered, unlatching
the kitchen door upon four girls gath
cred near the steps.
Cant you go to the picnic, Poll?'
asked one of the group.
''Nope."
"Why?"
Mothers gone away. I've got to
stay at home and take care of grand
ma There are some horrid cakes to
bake, too"
For Nancy Hydes wedding,
s'pose. My! | should think you'd feel
grand havin' your ma bake cakes for
that wedding. I'd love to go. The
man Nancy is goin' to marry is awful
rich. You could carry the cakes over,
Poll, and maybe you could see some
thing" But Polly was inconsolable.
well, I'd leave my grandma for
minute" tempted another voice. 'She
wouldn't mind if you ran down to the
woods and right back
But as Polly Grey would make no
plans. the girls, ANXIOUS to join their
friends, hurried away leaving a disap-
pointed, teary-eyed girl to watch them
until they had disappeared in the bend
of the road.
Polly" called Grandmother Grey
presently from across the kitchen.
What are you doing? When is your
mother coming back?" and the grand
child dutifully answered the old lady's
questioning.
Later, the cakes were put upon a
high schelf out of the old cat, Tabby's
reach The work done, the morning
dragged into early afternoon. Grand
mother Grey had fallen asleep in her
armchair, and the big kitchen was
very still. Polly leaned disconsolately
on the table and rocked out VI rne
window, frowning deeply.
1.-THE cakes are all baked, and |
wouldn't be but a minute" she whis-
pered trying to convince herself of
the business of her thoughts. She
turned and tiptoed TO her grandmoth-
ON the sleeping old lady. Polly was
certain her grandmother har never neg
lected duty; but then grandma had
lived in time when, according to
stories, girls never wanted to be dis
obedient. Tabby rubbed against her
little mistress dress, but the girl paid
no heed. She was thinking of her
friends, the deep woods-and her
mothers tired face. Two minutes
dragged by.
She felt suddenly oppressed. With
haste, she opsaed the door and, as
she did so, the draft caused a volume
Of smoke to pour from every conceiv-
able crevice of the kitchen stove. Tab
by rushed out of doors. Polly, dazed,
followed, stumbling down the steps.
What met her eyes made her poor lit
tie heart fairly stop beating. For near
the chimney, where the roof sagged, a
brick had broken away and a fame
was fiendishly tapping the rotten shin
giles.
''Oh, what will ! do?" sobbed the
frightened girl. She looked frantically
down the road, but not a person was
in sight. She ran back into the house,
crying, "Grandmal"
The room .was already blue with
smoke. The woman had awakened.
what is the matter?" she asked.
"Oh-l must get you away. The
house is on fire. I'll drag your chair
out. Sit awful still. Oh please, grand
ma, I'm rot afraid
= 1t was no easy tack TO pull the chair
across the kitchen floor; but Polly
gained her ground inch by inch. Then
came the question OF how she could