Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-11-18

low sittin' over there on the window;
the one with the pink shirt
Shelby was upon his feet instantly,
so thoroughly startled by this sudden
denouement as to scarcely find words.
"But say, hold on" he exclaimed
excitedly 81 don't belong to this
bunch; l don't even live in Ponca.
Just came along to help out
The girl looked from face to face
in bewilderment, which, judging from
the expression of her eyes, was al
ready verging on anger.
"What does the man mean" she
asked hurriedly of the preacher, who
stood nearest. you said l was to
choose and now he refuses. Did this
one not come pledged?'
81 am afraid not my dear. l did
not know, but he claims otherwise,
He is not a POnca man."
She fronted Shelby, standing
straight, indignant, her eyes flashing
coldly.
"And you won't marry me?"
CT can't-thats ALL" he stam-
mered. ooh, HI What did you want
to pick me out for?"
The girls eyes rested hard on mis-
face. then wandered slowly down the
line of the others and her lips set
firmly.
"Well, then, this play has gone far
enough" she said shortly. 1--WE been
square with you all, but l amt going
to be made a fool of no longer. Now it
is time for you gents to get out O here
l pointed out the fellow I'd take an
there amt another one O the bunch
I'll even look at. l amt so crazy
bout gettin' married; it's only because
he said it was the will O. God that
l have. Now I'm done. l picked my
man an there amt nuthin' else here
I'd touch with pair of tongs, so you
might as we'll save your breath and
get out. I don't want to talk any more
to any of YOU"
"But, my dear child"
"Stop that! I'm no dear child; I'm
a woman; an this place is mine, even
il it is a shack You get right out
O. here, the whole kit an caboOdle Of
you"
Shelby was the first to slide forth
through the half-open door, glad
enough to escape into the cool night
air, his face burning as though on fire,
his mind in a tumult of emotion. he
had no sense of humOr left, just an
ill-defned feeling of modification and
regret. She had been justly indig-
nant and he felt profoundly sorry for
the part he had played. BY heavens
She was some girl; no mere wishy-
washy creature to be laughed at and
ignored. He'd like to tell her so. Per
haps he would there would be reac-
ton after awhile, when those fellows
were all gone. Her burst of anger
would die away and she would shed
tears of modification. 1t would be
n nice thing then if he could go back
there all alone and comfort her; ex-
plain how it happened and show her
how impossible it was for him to
marry.
He could see the men plainly
enough, outlined in the light, as they
descended the steps one by one and
then faded away in the darkness.
They were a disconsolate, discounted
bunch, with downcast faces and silent
lips. The preacher and Mccarthy came
last, the former still talking, his voice
implorng, but evidently to no purpose,
for something behind kept impelling
him forward and even while he chung
to the step for one final effort the door
slammed In his face and Shelby heard
the sharp snap of lock.
swell, I'll be ID" calculated
Mac, his temper utterly giving way.
"If she amt wildcat Lord, but I'd
sure pity the Teller who did marry
her. Come on, old buck, there is no
use stayln' here. ! wonder where
Shelby went?"
Al