The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1913-02-26
N0NDESCR|PT TYPE
How Polly Irving Heard of the
Last Twig on the Family
Tree.
BY lZOLA FORESTER.

FOR me?," repeated Polly She
had opened the door of room four
barely enough to see the mite that
stood waiting there. Are you sure
you've got the right room, DAM"
Dan was positive he had. He had
oeen sent up to the principals office
TOT m1sbehaving, and had been used
as handy messenger in any emer-
gency case. There was a gentleman
up there who wanted to see Miss Irv-
ing.
NOW, the strangest part was that to
Polly's knowledge no gentleman so far
had evinced any yearning to see Miss
Irving in all Miss Irving's life, and es-
pecially since she had become a kim
dergarten teacher So she hesitated.
wondering what sort of an agent had
located her there.
Well you may bring him down
here, Danny" she said finally, and
Dan sped away.
Polly went back to her desk with
fiuttering pulses. 1t was hard to face
even the forty pair of inquisitive child
ish eyes watching teacher" There
was a tiny round mirror lying in her
desk drawer, long unused, but now,
just for an instant she lifted it eau
tiously out, and looked at herself.
She saw gray eyes, rather serious and
a very decided chin. Polly loved to
tell herself that she had a decided
chin in spite of the dimple there. And
there was kink in the fair wave of
hair, too. but still, she was a rather
nondescript type of girl. She had
heard ever since she had been knee
high to the table, that she had no
charm and no magnetism. One grows
TO believe thing after it has been
drummed into one steadily
The color rose in her face at the
knock on the door. 1t was not timid
one.
Come" she called
I'm looking for Miss Irving" said
rather boyish voice, and head was
1ntruded into the sacred precinct of
room four. Can you spare teacher
just a minute. children4"'
"Yezzir," rose a buzzing chorus.
Miss living went to the door, and
stepped out into the hall, puzzled and
rather on the defensive.
You're Miss Mauline Mary Irv-
ins?" he asked, smiling down at her.
Yes, but l don't care to buy any
thing at all" began Polly firmly.
Don't you?" He was really laugh
Ing now. You will later, Miss Irv-
ing. | bring you very good news. My
name is Maynard Talbot. have
hunted all the way from London to
Chicago for you"
From London" repeated Polly,
wonderingly Why"
you are chief legatee under your
granduncle's will. | can't explain so
hurriedly, but it's matter of twenty
thousand pounds, about one hundred
thousand dollars. Sir Roberts solicit
tors sent me over to find you. May
wait until school is over"
Tiff you like" Polly faltered. She
gave him a chair near the desk. and
tried to conduct that last half hour
of kindergarten as she had done for
thirteen years, ever since she had
been girl of eighteen.
When it was over, and the last lit
tie lass had thrown her a kiss at the
door, she sighed, and turned to the
young man from Londontown.
Now tell me all about it," she said
Il knew father had relatives abroad.
but he died so long ago, and mother
was from New England, so we rather
forgot the British branch"
THE only twig left on that branch
was old Sir Robert" said her caller,
cheerfully. I've seen him several
times, whenever l had to run down to
Tiverton Manor. He died about seven
months ago. There are several very
good country places. but those go to
the next of kin. The money was his
private fortune, and he willed it to
your father or his heirs"
"Will ! have to go over there to
live?" asked Polly.
Dear. dear, no. You may live where
you like. I'm going to. I've just put
all my money into land up In Alberta,
British Columbia, you know All Of
us younger sons have a laundering for
your west and our west. There isn't
much for us nowadays over home. and
the new generation doesn't care to
hang around on bones and leavings,
sc to speak. And when a chaps not
talented, he might as well take to the
open, and hit new trail, don't you
think so?"
Listen" said Polly, eagerly, lean
ing forward, her hands clasped over
her knees. her eyes shining. why
couldn't | do that too? Why couldn't
hit a new trail. as you say, and put
my money into something way out
there where 1t Is all new and free?
I'd love to-"
But It's no place for a girl you
know" Talbot told her seriously.
I'm not just girl" protested