The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-07-06

| by the aid Of II, she COulu get glllnpses
OF her slim young figure and the grace
full sweep Of the skirt. Holding the |
glass higher up, she studied her sen-
der neck where the sun had tanned II.
But tan did not matter for Daddy
Hopkins loved her In spite Of 1t.
All at once she heard knock
against the side Of the hut. Hastily
slipping out OF the dress and folding
Il, she showed II under her pillow.
Then she put on her old dress and
opened the door.
Larry Bishop was there, extending
her a letter. Taking the note in
amazement, she smiled and thanked
him.
"Ain't you comm in, LarryT she
asked. "Klnda chilly tonight, huhT'
The squatter stepped inside, his cap
In his hand
"Yep, too cold for summer, Poll"
he returned. "Say, brat, how you
gettin' on? Got 'nough beans left for
whlleT
"Sure, more'n enough, Larry" she
replied. 81 writ Daddy In my letter
yesterday how blessed good you'd all
been to me. bet, when get face to
face with i'm, I'll tell things | can't
scribble. An now you go bringln' me
this"
SHE tapped the letter with her fin
gers as mysterious smile touched
her lips.
The man shook his head grlmly.
you won't be seein' your dad very
soon, Pollyop" he muttered, mot II
| guess right"
"Mebbe WILL" she told him, finger
ing the letter.
She liked Larry Bishop very much,
but she was eaten up with curiosity to
know the contents of the envelope in
her hand. Perhaps, oh, might 1t be-
"Where'd you get this, Larry7" she
asked, holding Ii up.
II was comm down the lane" ex-
planned Bishop, "an' a feller asked
me II | knOwed where the Hopkins
hut wGs. l says, Yep, I'm goin there
now He says, Take this letter to
the Hopkins GIRL an says, Yep an
an | brung IT,"
He paused, hoping she would open
II in his presence. Being persuaded
she did not intend to, he went out
His footsteps had no sooner died away
than Polly sprang to the door and
barred II. Then she turned the letter
over and over and looked at 1t. Her
name was on II; so II must be meant
for her to read. A thrill OF pleasure
ran over her. Perhaps Robert had
sent her word of forgiveness. He
might have written that some day he
would come again.
With sparkling anticipation she cut
open the envelope and by the light Of
the candle spelled out Its contents.
Dear Polly" she read. Il couldn't
manage that trip to Auburn. SO sorry.
"E."
Polly looked duly at the paper the
words running into black smudgy
lines. Then she could not go to Daddy
Hopkins after all; and Jerry might
die! Old Marc had once more laid his
powerful hand upon her. Overcome
with grief, she wept while. Then
she took the dress from under the
pillow, rolled II carefully In clean
cloth and put 1t away.
The shock of Evelyn's cold note
brought back the shadows to Pollyop's
brown eyes. As the days passed slow
ly by, and the rich girl did not come
TO the shack again, Polly lost all hope
OF seeing her father.
Her decision to go to Auburn In spite
of Old Marc followed letter that she
received from Daddy Hopkins. He
was very lonely, he said. He was
counting off each day as so many hours
nearer the time when he could see his
dear children. With the picture OF
Daddy's loneliness stamped In misery
on her mind came the thought that no
one had the right to keep Jerry from
his father.
From the time she conceived this
idea, II never left her thoughts. She
had often stolen rides on the Lehigh
Valley train from Ithaca to the silent
City and dropped Off where the engine
took switch while the Buffalo Spe-
cinl dashed by. Why could she not
, steal ride clear to Auburn
While the squatter girl was making
arrangements to carry out this
mighty plan, preparations for the
Northumberland wedding were
going rapidly forward. Evelyn, happy
In her new love, untroubled by SYM
pathy for the dead Oscar, passed the
days mostly AT dressmakers and In
the snops. Her contentment would
have been complete II her cousin Rob
ert had not looked 50 sad. or II she
could have rid herself of the sense OF
responsibility for his unhapplness.
But hoping In her flippant way that
all would come out well after she was
married, she gave little heed to him
and none at all to Polly Hopkins.
Early one morning Polly hoped
quickly out OF bed and after a break