The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-16

vet the instincts ana sentiments OF nu-
mainly brought them together. They
would marry, as thousands of others
in their situation had done, and hope
that their future might work out
better.
Miss Polly said Eyes" to the pro-
posal of marriage, but the very next
day she admitted to her mother that
sometimes she loved Abe, and some
times she thought she didn't She had
never been ten miles away from home.
The only men she had ever come IN
contact with had been of her class. or
agents or peddlers. She knew there
was a big world outside of hers. but
she had never peeped at it. She had
a bit of romance about her, and some
times she longed to see the brave mon
and fair women that the books tod
her about.
acquire a farm of his own. There
fore, he whistled as he went about his
work.
He had heard that girl sometimes
went back on her pledge. but he was
as sure of Polly Andrews as he was
OF the sun.
One day the girl ran over to Farmer
Waldron's on an errand. She found
strange young man there, who was
introduced to her as Brian Montgom-
cry. Even II he, hadn't been good
looking and had taking ways with
him, his name would have won her
favor.
How did the name of Abe Wright
compare with that of Brian Mont
gOmery-
The one belonged to a drudger of
the soil-the other to a gentleman of
the world. who had gold filing in his
teeth-who wore creases in his trou-
sers-who disdained paper collars;
and socks at 10 cents a pair were not
fov- hi Nv R~so
from New York. Chicago and Boston,
as he announced, must surely be one
of those brave and gallant men she
had read and dreamed of.
- When Miss Polly had departed for
home. Mrs. WaIdron said to the
cousin:
Now, Brian, you must not set out
to turn that girls head. She is en-
Gagged to a steady young farmer, and
you mustn't be the cause of a quarrel
between them"
''Oh, it will be a mild very mild
Irritation he laughed in reply. How
can 1 put in a month here and not
hirt with the only girl for mile
And a day or two later the young
man came over to the house of
Farmer Andrews and introduced him
self and made himself very much at
home.
DO you like him, mother" some
what anxiously queried Polly, after
their caller had departed.
isn't he what they call fresh ?" was
asked in reply.
why. how can you say that? 1t is
simply that he has self-confidence."
3 "One would think that he had
known US for a year"
But he was trying to put us at our
ease"
We'll. I dunno how Abe will take
, But / don't see where he can find
any fault? He might talk with a dozen
girls and I shouldn't raise row with
him about it,
E Abe heard that there was a Young
man visiting the Waldrons, but he
hadn't seen him. Neither had he
learned that the said young man was
making himself very much at home
at the Andrews farmhouse The
mother had said to Polly:
don't believe that Abe knows that
Mr.. Montgomery is hanging around
here, ana you'd better mention it" :
why do you call it hanging
around p" was demanded
Because it looks like it to me. Mrs.
Waloron must have told him you were
engaged to Abe"
Mr.. Montgomery comes here to
help pass the time away. He is an
interesting talker, and has Travelled
all over the world, and 1 am glad to
listen TO him Yes. I suppose he
f SLOWS .nat l am engaged. and that
will prevent him from talking any
nonsense to me-"
But if you don't tell Abe he'll
think there is something wrong about
"1f I've got to be afraid of Abe
wright IN break the engagement"
Two days later Abe was working
in a field along the highway, when
p sewing machine agent that he had
SHOWN 4or year or two halted his
putft and came to the fence and said:
ABE, it's not my play to NEEDLE with
what does not concern me. but If you
would lake a hint from me and not
get mad 1 would give it to you"
"Oh, won't get mad was the
reply.
you know how news flies around
here in the country"
Gosh, yes!"
Z "Well, I've hard that you and Polly
Andrews were engaged
YES we are" n
"And I've heard that a young Teller
Ia cousin to waldron, is there a-visit-
ing
SIS he a-visiting the waIdrons or
the Andrews? 1t seems that he di-
v;des his time between theN two
houses. Better look out, Abe. The
Teller don't look good to me-" And
with that he drove on and Abe looked
after him in a daZed way and whis-
pered:
HE means that the Teller is trying
to win Polly away from me. thought
she had been acting rather queer o.
late I must look into this thing a
bit"
When re made his appearance that
evening. Polly had a feeling that he
had heard things and intended to
s1ay the law down to her" This feel
ing had quickly bred another-that