Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-16

1H II. A1iAII oASi1Is4I.
INJURED: cit won't come down with Macs
consent, and you better not try it with
out.
A step on the grass made her glance
up. Her Yight-hand neighbor was ap-
preaching.
Il saw you out here and I thought I'd
leave the dishes standing for few mo-
ments while l ran across to see you.
It's almost as warm as June Mrs.
Porter sat down heavily upon the steps.
She was as large and coarse and COM
monty colored as Polly was small and
fine and beautifully tinted. How things
are coming up she exclaimed. "Your
yard looks grand.
But for one thing" said Polly.
But for one thing agreed Mrs. Porter.
understanding instantly. Why don't
Mac take that fence down?"
He seems peculiarly attached to it, y
Polly answered. with hard little laugh
Mrs. Porter looked at her quickly. She
had come long way down the perilous
path of matrimony and she recognized
a new symptom in Polly's laugh. "Oh.
we'll. it isn't such a bad fence she
replied
Its coming down. Mrs. Porter" Polly
said emrhatically. IT'S coming down if
/ have to take it down myself.
oh | wouldn't do that! You'll find 1t
quite a task. l dare say Mac himself
will remove it when he gets around to it. ;"
Il shan't wait for him to do it, said
Polly vehementiy. I've got my mind
made up. That fence is coming down.
Mrs Porter rose We'll, l must go
back and wash my dishes before the
water cools" she said evasively.
Polly gazed meditatively after her as
she moved away.
She's three times as big as l am, yet
she wouldn't dare TO take down a fence
if it was against her husbands wishes,
she thought with scorn.
Sprnging up, she ran into the house.
The dinner table stood just as she and
Mac had arisen from it. Polly thrust
the cat out of doors. together with
smart cuff and a handful of meat 1t
was characteristic of Polly that she adj
ministered a blessing and curse with
the same hand. She then hunted up a
hammer and Ratchet and went back to
the fence.
AS she struck the first blow the thought
occurred to her. 1.-The neighbors will all
be watching But l don't care. It's
coming down.
But to pull down picket fence as firm
ly rooted as that one was proved to be a
more difficult task than she had expect
ed Even after she had worked herself
into a flushed moist. GREATNESS state or
fatigue, had run several Splnters into her
with the Ratchet, she found she mad
made little Roadway. The sight OF the
fence stretching around three sides OF
the yard fairly appalled, her.
IF only i naO some one W Hcip hit.
she sighed.
At that moment she heard peculiarly
inspiring whistle coming from the lips
of stout. midde-aged man, who was
Just turning the corner He carried
crowibar and hammer twice the size OF
Polly's Polly ran toward him.
wait" she cried. II want you. Please
help me take down this fence. I've got
to get it out of the way before O'Clock
and 1 can't do it alone. I'll pay you any
The man looked at her with his small,
twinkling eyes. She was so pretty, so
appealing. "Sure, I'll help you" he said.
genially. I'm fact. I'll do it all by my
set on the steps yonder and boss the job"
..Oh thank you," / only breathed, CRATE
fully.
set to work. At the first blow from the
hammer the whole structure trembled
The old fence had at last found some one
whom it could not withstand. The man
worked quickly and thoroughly. 1t was
a pleasure to watch him. Indeed. it was
midafternoon before Polly could with
draw long enough from the fascinating
spectacle to set her house to rights.
BY ) o'clock it was done and in neat
piles. .'I'll bring me cart and take it
hum for firewood II we've no objec-
tions." said the man, pleasantly.
scrap of it again. urged Polly And
now how much do 1 owe you?
The mans eyes twinkled more than
ever. IF it's with a dollar to YOU I'll
be much obliged he said. humbly.
Polly gave him the dollar While she
got supper he came with his cart and
took the debris away. She clapped her
hands as she caught her last glimpse of
the posts and rails and pickets vanishing
around the corner. Then suddenly her
mood changed. What will Mac say?'
she wondered.
For the first time in her life she dread
ed Macs homecoming. If he should be
angry. The. excitement of achievement
had worn off and for a few uneasy mo-
ments Polly wished that the fence was
back in place. Since that could not be.
she cried. But she was not crying when
Mac came in. Her cheeks were very pink.
her eyes very bright, and she was set
ting the taole with minute attention to
all details.
Hello, Polly!" cried Mac.
Her eyes met his in startled, uncom-