The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-07-22
Polly and the
Death Trap
BY cHAS. SLoEA REID.
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-beon stool. milking a one-horned
@ow. \ man stood a few feet be-
Ind her with his back against the
fence He was quite different from
7olly's kind, as any stranger might
have guessed. He was town man
Polly was a mountain girl
Polly kept busy with her milking
and the man talked volubly. as he
usually did II was sunset and the
shadow OF night already had fallen
apon the valley below. giving a dus-
Ky hue to the foliage Of the distant
trees. II was the hour when Polly
usually MIXED the one-horned COW
in the evening; and II was not by ac-
eident that the man was there. talk
ing to her. Polly wore no bonnet
and the mass OF curling brown hair
which hung about her neck and
shoulders was ravishing In the rich
ness Of its effect. Obviously she was
glad Of the mans presence, for a
certain happiness and certain
amount Of embarrassment, when he
was near. Invariably set her heart
o humping in a way that caused the
he color in her cheeks 70 come and
20 like the CLEAN OF a red ripe cher
ry in a f1tful. sunlight.
Polly" said the man, as he rat
led on from one SUBJECT to another,
sithout taking the trouble to round
ais periods, that COW worries me.
think. since she cannot have a uni
.orm pair Of horns, 1t would be much
,etter If she had none at all. What
10 you think about it?"
Yes, l think she'd look better
Eithout any, 'less'n she had two. But
{ reckon she couldn't help losin the
Jther one"
How did she lose it. anyway"
"She fell into a blind ditch and
Jroke it of tryin' to get out"
What is a blind ditch, Polly?-
TITS a gulley that has been kiver-
I'd over with bresh an sich like"
That's a pretty dangerous sort
II thing to have about the place
snt it?"
Yes, reckon It is. Never know
shere ye're goin' to land. some
lines, If ye break through the
Jresh."
Il guess It would be we'll for
hap to be careful in climbing about
.hese hills, them"
"As I've hinted to ye once or twice
.lready, it's a good idea to be keer-
al in several ways. Mr.. Gordon"
"Oh. don't call me Mr.. Gordon.
'olly. say Ma1ey. 1t would sound
iore like you cared little. you
now. And you do, don't :! ou. Pol
~ There's no one listen!-g. won;
on tell me yes?"
But Polly was silent AMI her very
Hence assured the man that she did
ara.
Her task was soon finished. and
Folly arose from the milking stool.
iordon advanced to take the pail.
his little gallantry he had paid
sgularly every evening for fort
ight; and Polly had come to accept
90 as a matter OF course. So they
alked along together, she in her
-nple nature unable TO conceal her
carts growing fondness for this
ranger; and he apparently pleased
ith her manifested liking.
Later, when the evening meal was
lished; and Gordon, with the Blake
4mily, sat near the fireplace, he en-
raining the rest with stories OF
avel and incidental anecdotes. the
partition of head and shoulders
.,4, EA1
caused the narrator to pause in
ie of his stories. The head and
..oulders were those of stout
,ung mountaineer, and the face
ould have been one marvelously
.ndsome with the added expression
cultivated mind.
At the pause in Gordon's story.
.,lly turned her head; and when her
re alighted upon the man at the
.ndow she lowered her eyebrows.
Ben Martin had been her acknowl-
sed lover for long time; and
w as she thought OF how her heart
d gone away from him. little
.rg of something like remorse
jubled her bosom.
Ben stood silently gazing In the
.ndow for several minutes, then he
oke in a tone of voice more that
command than Of entreaty.
Polly, I want ye to come out
;re a minute" he said; there's
mething l got to say to you"
The girl glanced at Gordon, then
ose. Gordon chuckled TO himself.
knew how matters had stood be-
cen the two and he suspected that
Is was to be one more appeal Oh
lrtin's part.
When Polly came up TO where
stood at the edge of the road,
man took her hand.
Polly" he began and his voice
fully of emotion, Il can see In.
.osin' ye, an it's breakin my
lrt. girl"
What do ye mean, Benz"
! guess ye know, what / mean,
lily. But / want to tell ye, that
ip's a skunk, jest a plain skunk
pertends to be prospectin round
o. l..