Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-02-28

shoulders upon which to beat his way
through an unfriendly and often hun
cry world. But this same world which
had wizened Jerry had given to Polly
a wild beauty, body strong and as
plant as a marsh reed. o.
with a sigh ,PoliYop turned to the
house. The door was shut against the
storm, and a thin curl of smoke
twisted upward from the toppllng
chimney, losing itself in the baby
leaves Of the willows. The little lines
that had traced the troubled brow
vanished at the sight ofsa slab Of
wood over the door, On II was paint
ed in crude letters: eff your heart Is
loving and kind come right in. If it
amt, scoot off," Pollyop and Granny
Hope had worked long time to make
this sign, and even longer to nail 1t
up.
"Itll help the Silent City folks
Granny" she had said. Especially,
If I smile lot at EN-"
She flung open the door and went
In. closing it behind her. In fone cor
ner CT the kitchen, an old woman. so
old that no squatter could remember
her other than aged, sat near the
stove. About her. shoulders was a
shawl, and It's edges were held to-
gethsr with clawlike fingers.
Munching on a bit OF hay at the
wood-box was lean goat, an old
friend of Polly Hopkins. ;, Long ago
she had found him, lost In the wilder
ness Of the Storm country, c.ld had
brought him to the Silent City.
The shanty consisted OF three rooms.
Back of the kitchen Daddy hopkins
slept, and in the miserable cOop-hole
where Polly had once stored rubbish
Granny Hope stretched out her weary
bones at night. Polly's bed ranged
the kitchen wall, and the room had
but bench, two old chairs and o
three,legged table to offer in rude hos
pitality. f.d -r"5 ono@
az wheedied.a little milk from os-
car, Granny" said the girl. "Goddy,
but he's gettin' stingy"
She put down the pail, went to the
stove and thrust piece of wood into
II.
"Wood's as wet as hell," she COM
planned, almost as If she had spoken
to herself.
The old woman stirred and lifted
her withered lids.
Hell amt wet" she-muttered. "It's
dry an warm-hot,, inean," and she
shivered. drawing nearer the fire.
"'Tain't like this lakeside"
Granny Hope ,hau been, in the Hop
klns' shack since the first winter snow.
Her own hut stood on a little point
about a quarter of mile away. In 1t
she had lived alone ever since her huS-
band had gone down in the Big Blow,
a storm that was tradition in the
settlement, and which only the oldest
inhabitants of the Silent City could
remember. .
One day Polly had found her sick in
bed, and, as she had led the forlorn
billy goat home, so did she bring
Granny Hope, never realizing that in
the tottering old figure she was en-
tertaining an angel unawares. All she
knew was that Granny's toothless
smile, her cheerful words. Of love and
kindliness, made the sun shine bright
er and the meager food more filling.
During the winter, Mrs. Hope had
encouraged the girl to read. At first
that had been difficult, for the shanty
contained nothing but the tattered
Bible the old woman had brought wit |
her. Over and over Polly had re Il
the miSeries of Job the patient. ne
long lamentations Of Jeremiah, WI al
ways put her in mind of Daddy Hop
kins; and she also knew by heart the
story Of the crucifXiOn of Jesus, who
80 the Bible said, was the best man
that had ever walked the globe.
SO had those winter days Of close
companionship with the woman who
had lived long and suffered much, and
who now was almost ready to on to
larger experiences, brought out in
Polly Hopkins greater capacity for
loving. The Squatters called hel
"POllyop, the lOve-lass," and some
times, Polly of the sun" Granny
Hope explained this by saying: "They
all love you, Poll, an it's out of youl
own heart they get the feelin' of Joy
when they see ye."
From behind the wood-box neal
WI ere the goat stood, Pollyop took uI
an ak. Tenderly she bent and placed
kiss upon the goats horny head
Then she touched Granny Hope.
The woman lifted her lids and
smiled at the girl.
whats the matter, love-lass?" she
murmured.
"rm goin' out, Granny" replied
Polly. "If Daddy comes, tell i'm II
be back in a while" 6
Into the rain she went, her bare foe
carrying her swiftly over the ragged
rocks, her curls gathered under hel
chin like warm glstening hood
When later she appeared in front Of
+ha ShoDtv her rinpbam skirt wa!