The Monte Vista journal., 1912-07-27

|
began unpeeling the sleeping Polly
Marie. 1T isn't q bag Of chocolate
eclairs. nor q poodle" she assured
him proudly. 'it's baby"
Polly Marie emerged like fat bios
som. and Margery stripped on tho
damp stockings and held the tiny
pink toes to the nre. Then she snug
gled deep into her chair. cuddled
Polly against her heart. and sighed
a long. deep sigh.
"Oh. honey little housel" she
whispered.
Henry lit his pipe and settled him
self deep In his arm chair.
Right little. tight little. nest" he
answered. through clouds Of smoke.
and did not even pretend to bo
ashamed OF such foolishness.
"Oh. coy. cunning home" cried
| Margery. with great content.
They sat for some time in silence
while outside the storm roared and
whistled through the trees. A vivid
fash OF lightning tore the darkness
and Marcy jumped and sQuealed.
mot afraid OF that7" asked Henry.
rs OF old.
She almost forgot whnt the an
swer should be, but got It out before
the pause was noticeable. mot when
you are here" she answered. But
Henry. what are you doing heref
thought you had rooms at the club"
Which shows how much you knew
about me. or cared" he answered
gloomily. I've been living here over
two months, with old Martha keep
ing house for me. She's gone to her
| sick daughter tonight When the
trouble got SO bad"-he WINGED and
spoke with lowered voice-"I couldn't
stand It. Marcy. l bolted from the
club one night and came back home"
He leaned over and touched one OF
Polly's pink toes. Fine kddie." he
said. very fine kiddie. But where
did you get her. Margy?"
Margery flushed with pleasure. I'm
80 glad you like her. It's Mary Halls
baby You remember poor Mary. that
went to school with me? Her .hus-
band left her nothing. you know. and
when she died the baby was put in
an asylum, horrid place where she
| had to wear uniform" She hugged
Polly Marie close. I'D been going
to see the little thing. and when the
trouble got 30 bad'-her turn to
speak with lowered voice-'I couldn't
fight 1t out alone So / went right
down and got Polly Marie for my
very own"
I'm glad" declared Wade with
satisfaction. "The little house had
always wanted baby, Marcy"
Perhaps" she suggested. III we'd
| had one 1t wouldn't have happened
as 1t did" Then. for woman must
ever meddle with the tree OF useless
knowledge. What made 1t happen,
Henry? Was It the stacks of money
that brought on our di-"
But his hand was over her lips.
| Hush. Marcy! Not one word Of
that. That happened back there in
the world. When you came through
the iron gate. under the honeysuckle
arbor, and raised the brass knocker
| on the door-you remember how wo
searched the town for that knocker?
then you left the world behind.
You must never say that word in
here. for 1t would hurt the little
brown house. You see. Marcy. the
Hteie proWH mouse lB real home,
and the minute that word is spoken,
or even thought Of. within its four
walls. a real home dies"
How stupid OF me-" she cried.
and to think I almost killed the lit
tie house. | mustn't say that word
even to tell you how sorry I am.
Henry. that / was 80 foolish and un-
forgiving?"
No. my dear. not even to give me
the chance to tell you how ashamed
! am OF the wrong l did you"
He drew bowl OF vtolets across
the table and held them toward her.
They'll make you forget. Marcy.
They grow so close to mother earth
that they know her sweet, wise So
crets."
"Oh. wild. faint. woodsy smelll"
she cried and buried her face in the
flowers.
Henry" she declared. looking up
at him with sudden understandings.
you've been working in the gar
den all day. Henry. you didn't-you
couldn't be so cruel as to plant my
pet patch1"
He nodded suiltily. How could
know this wonderful thing would
happenf"
"Oh. you're the stupid one now"
she answered joyfully. For shame
to have SO little faith. Didn't you
know I'd come homo at lastr"