Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-07-28

lover Of beauty, and If she had dis.
| appointed Dick, who was not beauty
worshiper, she must not fail to hold
Denis love forever.
A little terror took possession Of her
for the moment. but she shrugged i'm
patiently and turned away from the
glass.
Denis was to meet her ut the end of
| the road, and they were to go in his car
: to Boston. She had wanted this hour
to herself before she left Seaways for
ever.
Gently she closed the door and went
toward the stairs. Halfway down the
fight she stopped short
From somewhere in he house came
the smell Of burning wood-it was ce.
dar, perhaps driftwood-but, no; II
couldn't be that. She was quite alone
in the house.
1t was merely her fancy. Something
in the hour had brought back the past
too wildly. How many times she had
come down the stairs at twilight sens
ing that same pungent odor from the
hearth fire in the library!
She must visit the library too. She
wanted that dear picture Of Polly from
Dicks desk. He could have as many
more taken as he chose, she thought
bitterly, and he would have Polly too.
OF course the Featherstons would
teach Polly to despise her mother. But
she must hasten: Denis would be wait
ing.
She turned the knob Of the library
door and entered.
Before the warm coziness Of the
room she stood in dazed wonderment
There was great, roaring fire Of drift
wood on the hearth, and somewhere q
gnarled bit Of cedar was sending out
fragrant blue smoke.
A red shaded lamp illuminated the
room softly.
Dick was writing at his desk, some
thing big and splashing. in his dashing
way.
Curled among the cushions on the
settee was Polly, fast asleep.
A low table was drawn close to the
fire, and on 1t were singing kettle and
some clumsily arranged tiny cups and
saucers. Paula recognized them as
Polly's cherished toys. There were
other things-a pot Of jam and some
stale looking sweet biscuits. They
might have been hurriedly rummaged
from the chimney cupboard.
Paula saw these things in one swift
glance. She also saw Dicks broad back
as he bent over the desk. He did not
turn his head at her entrance.
II must go!' she told herself In wild
alarm, but still she stood there, afraid
to move.
Dick did not turn his head, but pres.
emily he spoke, carelessly:
"We've been waiting ages for you,
dear. The kettles boiling over. I've
promised Polly that she shall pour the
tea"
Paula leaned against the door and
closed her eyes.
Coming, Paula" asked Dick after
awhile.
She came forward and, resting her
hands for support on the desk, leaned
toward him.
T-came here tonight-to-to-run
away with Denis Brown!" she said.
"Yesw
"Well. you cannot want me to pour
tea for you now" she laughed Bit
terly.
"Polly is to pour tea" he reminded
her gently. Besides. you will want
to say goodby to her."
"Ah! she cried sharply. "You are
cruel"
He was silent. His pen ceased to
write, and she knew that he was star
ing into the fire.
He must have suffered. His dark
hair was almost white.
Polly stirred, opened her eyes, yawn.
ed like white kitten and stared at her
mother with unbelieving Joy.
"Oh, muvyer, muvver!" she shrieked
at last, and, tumbling of the settee,
she came to Paula's outstretched arms.
For q long time Paula held her there,
feeling her numbed heart slowly melt
ing under the touch Of the warm little
body. Baby kisses smothered her face
and throat, and little baby chuckles Of
| endearment fell on her hungry ears.
At last Paula lifted wet eyes and
looked straight at her husband. II
came after some letters Of mine," she
said honestly. II must 60 now. This
Is the end"
Dick arose and went to the hearth
fire. He stood there with an arm on
the mantelpiece. his grave eyes search
ing her face.
"I'm sorry to spoil your plans, Paula"
he said slowly, "but I can't allow any
man to run away with my wife. you
know. You've had year or two Of
freedom, and when heard-oh, well,
he talked little at the club about
this, Polly, and came down to stop
it. met Denis at the end Of the road
came around the other way by motor.
and l thrashed him and sent him
home"
| A glad look came into Paula's face.
"Dick! she said softly, and she knew
then that the hearth fire had never
been dead. Something had blown the
embers into the warm fame Of love
again.
"Come and make the tea, muvver.r
pleaded Polly.
When TO Cut Glover.
| &C. 10 x>1k ala o.