The Washington herald., 1914-12-01

turn around the fence brought him into
the awkward position Of having tripped
! over a pink-clad figure. She was lying fiat
on her back among the tall grasses, and
Hawthorne swore softly unler his breath.
| The chicken flew mRdly out of his slack
ened clutch and the pink-clad one
| opened startled eyes that were shining
| with recent dreams.
Hawthorne's conversational ability
was lost somewhere in the blue depths
Of her eyes. He only stood and stared
down at her. If all mentally unbal-
anced people were so lovely to look
upon as Polly Perkins, Hawthorne
hoped he would meet many of that
variety on his lifes path.
You've no right to be snoring in
that wet grass" he said-that happen
ing TO be the only thought he seemed
able to give voice to.
was not snoring. and the grass
Is as dry as bone" the girl said with
asperity. She had arisen to a sitting
posture and was endeavoring to coax
oack the frightened chicken. 81 don't
know why-all men think every bIada
OF grass in the uni yerse is continually
wet anyway. Men creatures Invariably
think OF sneeZing and rheumatism in
stead Of electricity and Isnewed life
coming out of the grass"
SHe hsd get the chicken back by
continued coax!ng the while she was
addressing her remarks to Hawthorne
and was petting II with two charming
ly white hands. Hawthorne found
himself wishing himself :he ret chicken
of an eccentric writer person whose
mania was an overfondHess for pink.
Are you Miss Polly Terkins?" he
asked. when her wide open eyes again
roamed toward hls face. he wanted
to make sure OF her identity.
Yes, am" she said. rs there any,
thing else you would Ike TO know.
Rude Terson?" she inquired with a
peculiarly Gisconcerting frankness
Hawthorne stiffcned perceptibly:
then. remembering Miss Perkins men
tai condition. smiled in what he sup
OO5ed TO be most compassionate man
her.
To Polly Perkins the smile was an
odd mixture of damaged pride and 4
desire to ride the sa.Le by forced
amusement. She in turn cast a quiz
zical look into TIawthoi res glowering
eyes and burst into a zeal of laughter
You know" she informed him. Il
am not the Miss Polly Perkins you think
l am. I am her niece" With that she
turned swiftly on her heels and left Bob
Hawthorne standing beside the pink
chicken coop. He smiled as he went back
toward Jimmy Rogers garden and
realized that his holidays were going to
be more interesting than he had expect |
ed.
You know" she confided to him two !
nights later when they left the club
house after a most delightful tango even |
ing, "I have a dreadful confession to
make" Since Bob's eyes were anything
but fear inspiring, Polly continued: 'I
saw you that day in Mr.. Rogers garden |
and sneaked down to Aunt Polly's chick |
en- coop and deliberately put that bird !
over the fence so that you might see |
it."
"And?" questioned Hawthorne. begin !
ming to see things as they really were !
and always would be where Polly was |
concerned.
''WeIl-I felt that you were a trife |
bored lying in that hammock, and that |
anything in the way OF diversion would !
appeal to you"
But what about yourself?' questioned |
Hawthorne eagerly.
II had seen you through my opera |
glasses from Aunt Polly'S attic window"
confessed Polly unblushingly. 'and I |
rather liked the form of diversion from |
my own ennui''
Are you engaged?" asked Bob, bluntly. |
"No-Rude Person." laughed Polly.
Then prepare for the worst soon"
said Bob possessing himself of the slim
fingers that he had watched jealousy
caressing the pink bowed chicken
For the best" contradicted Polly
softly.