Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-19

| Every day about i;3O a person OH horse
back would ride slowly through Robins
lane and seemed to glance at her. TIL,
picture was hidden from the curiously in
| clincd but Polly was fully revealed in {
large dark brown apron over pink MILDLY
! blouse.
one day when Tony brought her ur
some Things from the village she asked
who the stranger was.
That's Mr.. harrington said Tony, de-
llShtedy.
Polly frowned. It was not meet that
she should rent Mr.. FarrlnEtons whole
place and crowd him out to board. She
had gathered from Dan that he was a
young person of private income who wan
.derLd where he pleased. Why did he roam
through Robins lane and gaze at her IN
silence instead of coming forward as a
landlord should and getting acquainted?
I Tell him" said Polly, delicately deep
cring the tint on Mrs. Batterson's car
lobe, tell him that the roof leaks in the
kitchen, and | wish he'd come and see Ia
II at once"
The following morning early Mr.. Far
rinSton called.
''fIe seems nice sort of fellow" ban
had written to her. Polly indorsed the
opinion. AS she expressed it later in a
letter back to Dan, "It did seem good tn
have somebody who could talk abo n
something besides babies and the run of
COD, and how much Sy Bassett had paid
for his catboat.
Every day at Mr.. Harrington called
to set how his tenant was progressing.
She never permitted him to look at the
picture on the easel.
And after the fourth week Polly had
somehow fallen into the habit of walking
down to the end of Robins lane with him.
II wish you lived here all the time" he
said one sunset hour. IT'S dear old
place. | shall hate to lose it,"
Lose it?' she echoed. "Why?"
Fortunes of war, | guess, Nv aunt
always intended it for me because she
knew ! liked II. | used to live here
when was little chap, you know, Miss
Carew. She was awfully queer. She left
her money scattered all around TO differ
ent places. homes for INDECENT old fe-
males and cats and canares and medals
Tor horse doctors, and | don't know what.
why, she even left $1,000 for an oil paInt-
ing OF herself to hang in the new public
library, but | guess I'll get that all right.
If | break the win"
Polly stood STILL the little lace scarf
falling back from her face For a mo
ment she felt too horrifed to speak. Why
hhdht Dan told her that Walt Earring
ton was Mrs Batterson's nephew?
She felt sudden rising of rebellion In
her heart Here was the only man she
had ever taken the least interest in, and
she knew he liked her-as yet she had
not even dared express II stronger than
that even to herself-but she knew-aDd
ne was trying to break Mrs Batterson's
VIII trying to do her out of that prize
that was to give her year in Italy
Mr' harrington, I'm so sorry. I am
painting that - Of
the library, and OF course-of course, we
can't be friends"
lie wheeled about. and took her hands
i'm his
Why not? / didn't know what Won
were painting, and / don't care. I'm glad
II you can get the old Iady's picture
right"
But II you want 10 break the will
III omit that clause about the oil paint
ing She felt sure he was laughing az
her, Now listen, dear Don't 20 away.
! may call you dear II l like, II you saw
$4,000 getting away to homes for dogs.
cats and indignant females"
lndisent'" corrected Polly, in a stihed
Wouldn't you put up a fight. too?
When you Knew the old lady meant YOU
to have 1t all, only she got huny. OF
course you would. Now, you go ahead
and nnish the painting, and after we're
married ana have had a good year In
Europe you're going TO paint another one
to hang In the library"
Walt Farrington!"
Well, deaF?''
You take everything for granted |
haven't said I would marry you"
She pushed him away. but Robins lane
held its own spell Of romance.
eoPxsFlshs. 1915.