Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-12
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Polly Pavne's Pretending
H. CLARA l. BELL

Miss Polly Payne, aeeu torty
young, sat In her ISins Iv'" rr.n,o 90
Tootse. the cat, was ensconced on tne
couch Tootsie was all the company MISE
Polly had, and she was lonesone' I,o"
her window she could see cniIuens hsr
meadow. she could hear their merry
voices as she opened the winao" 70
throw out crumbs to a ropin. VINO nau ,1su
evidently made up his mino no. 70 ~" ~
Change n certainty for an uncertainty:
and he was sure to get crumbs eVely
day from this source. MISS roy ,n.
sumed her seat. and soi,ioaSise,o' niS. 20 ser see
mind memories of the past when sne
had taught school. and had many lutte
ones under her care and supervision,
and they all had loved her.
Was she through with love? Oh. yes
When she sent In her resignation to
the school committee It was because. III
reply to Richard Peirce's letter conta,nI cI
ing a proposal of marriage, she had
sent BY her chum, Lucy Lee. note Oh
acceptance Richard was called away
out West on business so shc hearol;
Polly. not hearing directly, waneu mn .,
waited in anxious anticipation for his
return. Finally II was her surprise and
dismay TO receive n western paper with
a marked marriage notice - Richaru
Peirce and Lucy Lee; Lee; ro,,v when the
question was put to her. Aren't you
ever going to marry
confirmed old maid' ,,
She was unusually lonely today. All
alone 90 was her mental comment.
II will pretend I will be happy. Will
try to believe that my dear ones are
here with me-"
Thus deciding. she proeseedea sas az 20 n,aEe IaEe
them on the buffet, and then went 10
the pantry and prepared to cook up
for her pretended company.
II shall have to resort to store mince-
meat for my mince pies. for ] cannot
procure sugar for love or money. For
tunately the cranberries I put up three
years ago contain sugar ana are as
good as ut first; pumpkin does not
the ssveetening this time. and will
make n dark fruit cake such as Rich
ard used to like. and here again store
mincemeat will come into use and will
company will not notice the omission.
and / must have a chicken to roast
sure, for will want to wish on the
lucky bone"
the tree beside the kitchen window. =
stray branch of chrysanthemums blos-
somed on the south side of the house.
This Polly gathered, put into a vase
anu WIN tne "OIuS VIII lOTklNc, tnch
forget" placed the vase beside the pic-
ture OF Richard Peirce. then she set the
table, putting on plates, etc. for father.
mother. brother, sister-all Of whom had
crossed the dark river--on each plate
she put a photograph.
The viands ready. the table set she
seats heEself at the table and asks q
blessing. when honk honk a big limou-
feur alights and rings the doorbell. AS
Polly opens the door a voice says. Does
Polly Payne live here?"
Miss Polly's heart thumps and for an
speech as she recognizes Richard Peirce.
Although the intervening years have
somewhat changed his appearance, the
voice is the same.
Richard Peirce y
Yes Richard Peirce; may come
.'Yes, yes" she stammers. As the man
enters and notices the table bountifully
laden. he remarks: II fear I am intrud-
ing: you evidently have company"
and % only e Pretending % Then oveTtaMee ISes1@e
nature gives way and poor Miss Polly
resorts to womanly .weakness-tears.
In an instant Richard is by her side,
Dear GIRL" he says. why be lonesome ?
Let me comfort you. but first hear my
| explanation of years of silence regard
Ing, the past; Lucy In her last illness
did not guess It's Importance and gave
| It TO one OF your pupils to give to me,
| Later she learned he had failed to de.
| liver It. OF course when did not hear
from you I concluded that your silence
meant not consent, but refusal. mar,
ried Lucy.
Our little daughter Allegra Is all that
| is left me. have only now heard about
YOU and your loneliness. as you see
| instantly sought you and now. Polly, I
| ask will you marry me?"
"Oh. Richard, It Is too late. Why. I
am no longer the. girl whom you loved
| long ago. I am forty years old :"
well. I am nifty and consider myself
In the prime OF life. There may be a
few years of happiness for us Yet II
is never too late to be happy and I am
sure Aliegra will love your cooking and
by the way. your dinner Is getting cold >
His joking and mentioning Of hi,
daughter appeals TO Polly. She said
But oh. Richard as they say in novels
Sudden after all these years. Forrs
IT, am waiting for your Yes Won
you say it?'
So Miss Polly says Yes"
Next complete novelette-"The Third
Princess"