The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-06-28
DECISION OF The | INNS
BY lola FORESTER.

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"Poll-ee!"
No answer. Don looked cautiously
through the bannister rails. Some
times 1t is very handy to be only three
and half-feet high. Below, in the
long center hall, everything was quiet.
The twins loved the hall when the
noon sunlight streamed in through the
big stained-glass window at the bend
OF the staircase.
1t was the luncheon hour. Don
knew that the grown-ups were safe in
the dining room, but he did think that
Polly might have stayed within hear
ing distance.
ooh, Police! Betty's eating the gold
fish," The little door under the stairs
opened cautiously and Polly looked
out, shaking her finger in warning.
"You Donnikin!" she exclaimed in a
whisper. "Don't you dare call my
name. I don't want anyone to know
where am. What have you been do
ing now?"
""Tisn't me, Polly" Don protested.
"lt's Betty. She got on a chair and
picked them out, and said she was go
ing to eat Them"
From the top Of the stairs came a
shrill, indignant protest.
II didn't eat 'em. I played they
were all whales and put them in the
bathtub."
Polly took one look in the direction
OF the closed dining room door, gath
cred her skirts about her and fled up
the stairs. Don watched her disap-
pear, Betty clasped in her arms. The
ways of sisters were beyond his ken.
He began to pine for the companion
ship of his own sex. Just then the din.
ing room door opened and Uncle Hal
came out, followed by the doctor. Don
approved Of the doctor first because
he was not a doctor Of pills and bitter
medicines. He was the new rector
over ut the little stone church where
the twins went to Sunday school.
Don understood that he had been a
college mate Of Uncle Hal, and there
fore was an all-round good fellow. AS
they sat out on the veranda now, in
the deep willow chairs, smoking, Don
sorted marbles on the top step and
eyed the doctor thoughtfully.
Noticing that Uncle Hal was doing
most of the talking, and that. the doc
tor was rather absorbed, he began to
connect him with Polly's attitude to-
ward life, and to regard him suspi-
ciously. When Uncle Hal went down
to the garage Don ventured to take
his place beside the doctor, and talk
to him as man to man.
"You know" he said, "Betty and
I've decided you ought to marry
Polly"
"Oh, you have, have your" The doc
tor smiled down at the little six-year-
old figure in tan linen beside him.
"But has Polly declded7 Have you
asked herr"
eve did," said Don cheerfully, ''but
she told US she didn't have any opin-
ion Of any man who wasn't brave
enough to do his own counting. What's
counting? Has 1t anything to do with
kings and queens? Or is it about the
pOlice?'
"Courting," repeated the doctor,
gently, us what people call wooing,
Don, and wooing is er-er-"
"Just hanging around a girl that
Won lilSe2" innOcont1v
The doctors face took on a deeper
tint. He smoked in silence.
"Don!" Poliy's voice was fearfully
digniticd as she stepped from the door
way. II think you had better go down
and play on the beach with Betty. The
doctor is leaving very soon."
Il didn't tell him what you said, Pol
ly," said Don reproachfully. II only
told him that Betty and had decided.
l didn't say you had decided, at ALL"
Polly's face was as pink as q rose
as he scampered down the path to Join
his twin.
The doctor dropped his cigarette
stub over the veranda rail.
us there any special reason" he
said. "why you should treat me in this
way?"
Polly turned on him hotly.
Because you've chosen to stay in
this little summer resort, simply fag-
ging for the angels, and marking time,
when you ought to be right in the thick
Of it. You know that Halls going. I'd
go in minute, If were man. AS
it is, I'm Joining the Red Cross and
forming unit here among the girls
Of the summer colony. Why on earth
don't you do something? Anything!
II you're not good for anything else,
run an ambulance on the front. Do
anything but manage lawn socials and
strawberry festivals for the benefit Of
All Souls"
The doctor stood up quickly, look
ing down at her with a new expression
in his eyes. It was new Polly who
faced him belligerently. He had al
ways thought her the usual type of
girl in the summer colony, and while
he had frankly fallen in love with her
from the first, he had not been keen
All u