The Lamar register., 1918-12-11
POLLYS INTRUSION
BY ELIAS KlLLIAN.

Jolly was at The old home once more.
The little Polly who used to spring
across the barbed wire fence that d.
vided them and drop on the top step
Of the side porch, breathless; the little
audaclous Polly who plucked her short
skirt full of Ids violets without even
a "by your leave" and climbed his
cherry trees 10 toss his own cherries
down to him.
Polly had " inferred ut a fashionable
school in New York, had summered
abroad. and, crossing again, had made
her smiling ell trance into world that
seemed vastly interested in her.
A little vhite-clad figure came
through the odorous darkness and
leaned on the barbed wire. little
plaintiye voice called Hello" softly.
Pearson took refuge in silence.
with flasl and futter Of feminine
hounces she vas over.
"That's stin a barbed wire" Pearson
called.
"ohl" she clarionetted. "a barbed
wlre7" She SPED across the space that
intervened to drop on his top step
IN breathless scorn. "Was It thatf'
she demanded. "fve been home a
whole day."
NO." said Pearson calmly, II don't
mean TO come. You've SO many dane
ing about you that I'll never be missed.
And, anyway, Polly. / hear such out
rageous things about you. Is II habit
OF yours to whistle up your dog and
stalk from the room In the midst Of
all the propossIsf"
"Its because they make such a blum
der of It," said Polly. II know how
It should be done"
You're not 30 pretty" said Pear
son. disapprovlngly.
"NoT plnintively.
You're little and you're brown"
YES" more plaintiyely.
Then why-why-" irritably, docs
everything In mans shape 60 down
before your"
II don't know; but"-sorrowfully-
"they do. IL" she sighed heavily
"fell the bearded men at a breath. and
the youths that grow between. But
perhaps you aren't familiar with Long
fellowy- Polly was gone, and her low,
mocking laugh drifted back to Pear
son.
Pearson had closed the door to his
heart and rolled big stone against
II. telling himself he was done with
womandnd forever. rs far back as
Polly's pinafore days.
Polly came 10 the barbed wire some
times, but she made no attempt to leap
over II. Always she was very. very
gay, and after her going Pearson
counted up his birthdays. ran his I'm
gers through Ids hair turning gray on
his temples. and called himself an old,
old fool.
The twilight hour that Polly leaned
over the wire TO pin rose that had
burned in the coils of her golden hair
on Pearson's coat she Fang something
tender and foolish about the rose be-
ing her heart.
''Your heart" Pearson chided. 'It's
asleep. little child"
'Tts his heart that sleeps" said
Polly. THE little white guest cham
ber that is mine has its door ajar. but
he won't come In, ever"
Afterward lie crept up to his room
to drop his arm on his desk and his
head on his arms, and sat there. while
night gathered deeper and deeper into
the room.
Pearson stumbled down the stairs
that echoed to his footsteps, the empty,
lonely stairway over which no wom-
ans soft draperies ever trailed, and
out on the porch. there TO find Polly
on the top step.
He sank down beside her. what
becomes of men who hang around the
side entrance OF heaven, straining
their ears to catch the music, when
they know II Is never possible for them
TO slip In; what becomes Of middle
aged Peris, Pollyf"
II don't KNOW" said Polly. but
know what should become of them"
scornfully. "why doesn't your Peri
go around to the front? Perhaps she
hasn't any spirit. either. his heroine |;
perhaps she sits on the doorstep and
waits, perhaps"
'Pollyi"
"He's-he's a wooden Indian" said
Polly. "He lets the girl sit there on
his steps and pretend that she's look
ing at the stars. BE doesn't care. He
thinks she's doll-baby stuffed with
sawdust; that she cares for all the
empty. gay, frivolous things that she
hates; he thinks she likes to be for
avar hv lot of rfpb-