The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1920-04-16
A VISITOR
BY BARBARA WOOD.

! heart beat like little "TRIP hammer.
"Who's thcre?" she called again !;
! this time her voice was stcadicr, But
there was no answer. Slowly, oh, so
slowly, Polly slipped two pink little
! feet out from under the covers, and
without taking her eyes from the door
she felt around on the floor for her
slippers. After moment or two of
vain searching she dropped her eyes
to look for them.
AS she looked away the door opened
swiftly and noseless' and someone.
or something. was in the room. But
Polly was intent upon finding the slip
pers which had so mysteriously disap-
pcared. Her curly head and bare,
round arms were half way under the
bed and she was saying to herself:
"Why didn't | snap on that light?"
Now Miss Polly Bcckwith Anderson
vas not in the least n nervous or timid
young lady. She was what her gentle
men acquaintanceS called "a sport
through and through" and She could
recall many delightful day spent
"breakng" one of her fathers colts
or at target practice with her two
brothers. But when she heard her
name spoken in a hoarse whisper by
man in her own room ut two o'clock
in the morning her heart stood still for
the space of quickly drawn breath
First. two shoulders clad in pink silk,
then two arms. soft and white, and
last a head and face hidden from view
NY dark mass of curls made their
way slowly and fcarfully out from
their recent hiding place.
With toss of her head she threw
her .air over her shoulders and lifted
wide. frightened eyes to look into the
face above her. In an instant she waG
on her feet. and her eyes, even In tie
dark, cleaned with anger.
"Robert Anderson, what do yo,
mean by frightening me like this? An
swer me"
Roh shook with suppressed laughter
aS he put his finger to his lips.
But where have YOU been. and why
did you come in here and scare me
half Ia pieces?' Polly asked. noticing
that he was still wearing his daytime
attire.
Listen here, Polly-o, her brother
WAS serious now and was fliinbling in
his inside coat pocket saw Dave
tonight and he asked me TO give You
this" With that he handed her note
addressed To "P. Il. A.
But Polly did not take It. She was
staring at him with a great light in
her eyes. Finally she whispered:
"You SAW David-my bavidt"
yes little sister and he's pretty
lonesome for You. too, guess. He took
mo out ia the little new cottage he has
built and furnished for you and, Polly,
It's beauty. There's nothing he's
forgotten. He asked my advice about
q few things for your own SllnShiny
houdoir because, as he expressed it, !
was more acquainted with girls
things Dave may make money on
the quality and excellence of his por
traits. hut no portrait lie ever painted
will be equal to the one YOU will make
with the home he has made you FOR n
setting. Why, girl. he pictured you in
every nook and corner the place
couldn't belong to another person in
the world. Hui here's your note; it's
time for mo 10 retire
Polly took the note and reached up
TO kiss her biz brother good night
oh Robby. Bobby" she whispered.
81 love him so much. and you under
stand so we'll, II only father We're n
little more like you.'
Bob Stroked her hair.
Never mind, PolIy-o," he said gen
It's just that he hates to lose his only
daughter"
When Bob was gone Polly opened I
the note and her fingers were trcm- I
bling n little as she read it. She had .
not snapped on the light until Bob left. 3
and when she did it showed dark, tired /
rings under her beautiful heavily =
fringrd eyes. There was sad little ,
droop to her sweet lips. And yet She ,
was happier than she had ever been, I
for she was going To David. Three I
long years they had waited for her /
father To give his permission to their .
marriage. and at last Polly had told .
David that It would he wrong to wait .
any longer.
And now she held pavidS answer in 4
her hand Through her tears she read:
"COnf. dear heart. am waiting. and .
everything is ready for the mistress Of
our home" There was moro, but the |
word come was all that really mat
tered.
Yes, David. | am coming" she Wits
prred and with little sob She threw 4
hcr head down on her arms and cried, II
"paddy. daddy. ! must"
For three days Bert Anderson fused II
and fumcd because hi< daughter was
not there Ia wait on him; he always
did when she Went away 70 visit.
At last there came day WHOM Mr..
Anderson received letter written in
Folly's own hand. When he finished
reading his face flushed with anger.
"Thundoration " he buried ont.
Then very slowly hr began Ia review
tho years since rolly'S mother had
died. Always it was Folly who com
forted him; Polly who made him
laugh; Polly whose ErliSh loyclincS>
had made him :" proud. Whom AT last
he remembered how PoIly'S face had