Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-07-06

wv aAA n l41-A[s 4AAEn IN GNlA
face Of Bennett wormed itself into her
mind. Her lids dropped. and she shud-
dened.
II couldn't do It. ma'am," she
walled. Il just couldn't do thatr"
Evelyn arose and stood wei her.
you must. Polly" she asserted
again. Good heavens. it's the chance
Of your lIfei OF course you'll do II,
Polly Hopkins. Take a little time to
think 1t wei. I'll bring Oscar to see
you some day when Mr.. Mackenzie
and my cousin Robert are away"
At the sound Of that beloved lame,
Poily's head fell forward.
"scoot now" she said. her curls hid
ing her face. "ril think about It."
After Evelyn had gone, Polly me
chemically resumed her sewing. II
seemed that her hearts joy had wholly
died within her. Patiently she tried
to turn her attention to the work in
her hands. but again and again she
caught herself sitting with idle fingers.
Finally. worried by the conflicting
emotions that were crowding in upon
her, Polly flung herself into the open
and ran swiftly along the ragged rocks
to q little glen where many a time she
had been before. Here she waded
through the brook and sank down be-
side it. Mind-picture after mind-pic-
ture passed before her. She saw
Daddy Hopkins happy with Jerry in
the shanty, no longer afraid to hsh
and hunt. Then she visioned the ST.
lent City, safe at last, and saved by
her. Her head sank into her hands;
and sobs racked her slender body.
But II was not long before she sat
up and tossed back her curls. 1t
seemed as II she had heard a voice.
She turned her head slowly; and 10,
Robert Percival was standing across
the creek. smiling at her.
II followed you, Polly Hopkins" he
called, and springing across the water,
he added: "You ran so fast / lost you
at the corner of the ragged rocks, and
It's taken me all this time to find you"
He sat down beside her and took her
hands; but Polly could not look up
at him. Embarrassed beyond utter
ance, she withdrew her fingers, letting
them fall l~istlessly. Robert laughed.
Her lovely face, first white then scar
let, only told him that she was glad
to see him, and spoke of girlish Inno-
cence, dear to all e
"You went away so suddenly the
other night" he ran on. II didn't have
a chance to say half / wanted to. 1
had something for You, too; but
couldn't get away until today to bring
II down."
BE pulled a little roll Of paper from
his pocket and handed 1t to her. Won
derlngly she opened 1t, and there was
an exact reproduction Of '"The Great
est Mother In the World
Polly was so overcome she contin-
ued silent.
Don't you like 1t. little Pollyop2"
queried Robert, putting his fingers un-
der her chin and raising her face to
his.
"Yep" she whispered. blushing.
Sure, sure / do. love it."
'Then why don,t3yeu smile?'s Die de-
manded; and as <sie shyly compiled
with his request, he ran on: "Tye
talked with Mackenzie. and he's so
SET Confound it'll He makes me so
hot I can scarcely listen to him. But,
Polly dear, I'll do everything !, can,
I've got money and friends, as well as
he has, and I'll s 'em too, win you
trust me, sweet?'
She bowed her head tn grateful AZ
sent. How she thrilled at the touch
Of the warm. white handl
Look at me, dearie," he begged,
and, when she did flash him a rosy
glance, he caught her to him. II love
you, little GIRL he whispered.
San loves the greatest thing In
Ithaca, amt it?" she murmhred In
trembling confusion.
"Yes, yes" he breathed. Little
girl-oh, my littlest dear"
His voice trailed away, and his pas
sionate kisses made Polly Hopkins for
get everything but him.. Primeval pas
sion rose within her. She had found
her man, and nothing should take him
from her.
Then while Robert was telling her
Of his hopes and plans. rehearsing his
love for her and his desire to help her
read and study. they walked slowly
back along the ragged rocks In the al.
rection of the shanty.
They were almost at Polly's home
before he left her. She watched him
stride up the hill, and, after ne had
disappeared, she threw herself flai
upon the earth ; and mingled with the
birds song in the willow trees. and the
ripping Of the W. upon the shore
came her cry:
"0h. God dear, 7 can't marry Oscar,
! can'tI Yon1l have TO help the squat,
tiers some other way. darlin...
The days that followed, bringing
with the spring flowers fiocks IL sum
mer birds, seemed an eterAity to Polly
Hopkins. She went about her duties
az n In a dream IN spite Of Rob.
ertss efforts. several Of the fishermen
had been sent to the Ithaca jail FOL
petty crimes. 4
Two men had been trapped In thu
Bad Mans ravine and taken OF to- the
lsjsn without 50 much as 4 farewell IL
fueir families. Pohy had groaned With
their women and wept over their b,
bies.. She was quite sure pefcikaI val
doing everything anshody could Do
brt sometimes the, thought Of Hvslyn'i
demand intruded III her rnind. and I'll