The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1913-05-09
%N1NDESCRIPT TYPE
How Polly Irving Heard of the
Last Twig on the Family
Tree.
BY IzoLA

Nv 0I AA6AL AOOAlg Oall
Dan was positive he had. He had
been sent up to the principals office
for misbehaving, and had been used
as a 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 kin
o~ergarten 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
huttering pulses. 1t was hard to lace
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 a kink in the fair wave Of
hair, too, but still, she was a rather
nondescript type of girl. She had
heard eve since she had been knee
high to the table, that she had nc
charm and no magnetism. One grows
to believe a thing after 1t has been
drummed into n steadily.
The color rose in her face at the
knock on the door. 1t was not a timid
one.
Come" she called.
I'm hooking for Miss Irving" said
a rather boyish voice, and a head was
intruded into the sacred precinct of
room four. Can you spare teacher
just a minute, children? ?"
"Yezzir," rose a buzzing chorus.
Miss Irving went to the door, and
stepped out into the hall, puzzled and
rather on the defensive.
You're Miss Mauline Mary lrv-
mgr he asked, smiling down at her.
Yes, but l don't care to buy any
fhAng at ALL" began Polly firmly.
Don't your" 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. l can't explain SC
hurriedly, but it's a matter Of twenty
thousand pounds, about one hundred
thousand dollars. Sir Roberts solici
tors sent me over to find you. May
wait until school is OVER"
Tiff you like Polly faltered. She
gave him a chair neal the desk, and
tried to conduct that last half hour
of kindergarten as she had done for
thirteen years, eve since she had
been a 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 mar from Londontown.
Nov 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 severa.
times, whenever l had to run down t
T1verton Manor. He died about sever
months ago. There are several very
good country places, but those go tc
the next of kin. The money was his
private fortune, and he willed It tC
your father or his heirs"
"Will have TO go over there tC
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 h%ankering fol
your west and our west. There ISM
much for us nowadays over home, ant
the new generation doesn't care tc
hang around on bones and ~leaVings
SC to speak. And when a chaps no.
talented, he might as we'll take to the
open and hit a new trail, don't you
think so?"
Listen" said Polly, eagerly, lean
ing forward, her hands clasped oveI
her knees, her eyes shining, "Why
couldn't / do that too? Why couldn't
l hit a new trail. as you say, and put
my money into something way Out
there where It is all new and free
I'd love to-"
'rBut it's no place for a girl yor
know" Talbot told her seriously.
I'm not just a girl" protested
Polly. IF I we're twenty and pretty Il
might be different, but I'm not. I'm
thirty-one, and very ordinary"
ooh, but you're not. you know" he
declared,
Yes. / am" Polly insisted. g
never expect to marry, but want q
great big place OF my own that car