The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-04-27
CHAPTER xI-contInued.

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Poliyop's s0bblng voice penetrated
Into the young mans darkenlng SEN
hbillties. and the ghost OF smile
crept to his lips. Then slowly his eyes
closed. The strained muscles relaxed
from about his mouth. leaving Il more
boyish; and thus did the Storm coHn.
try give back TO Evelyn Robertson her
freedom.
After that came dark days for Polly.
%. Even the reproduction OF The
Greatest Mother In the World. which
hung In It's accustomed place ON the
shanty wall. fhiIed to llft the heavy
load that rested like stone In her
bosom. No more did she stand before
II and dream--dream Of a deep-toned
voice telling her OF love and future,
dream OF Roberts arms about her and
her head pressed against him.
Up and down she went through the
Silent City. unable To smile, well nigh
unnble 10 speak word Of greeting TO
those she met. SO sympathetic were
her squatter friends that many a Ash
and pan OF baked beans found thel,
wny into the Hopkins hut.
Several times PollyOp had made an
effort 70 see Evelyn. but the rich girl
never appeared as the little trilI
sounded just after nlghtfall In the
Robertson garden.
In July came rumors that Evelyn
Robertson was 10 marry Marcus Mac
kenzle; and that he had bought the
Bennett farm OF Oscars heirs. Terri
fled whispers went from mouth to
mouth IN the settlement that he had
hoasted how he was going to clear the
squatters from the Silent City before
the coming OF Christmas.
one night the dark messenger to
whom no home II closed slipped into
the Hopkins shanty and summoned
Granny Hope. Although the absence
Of the old withered mouth made one
less to feed. Pollypp missed the Oft re-
neated assurance that somehow. some
time. love would make crooked things
straight.
Late one day, she took Jerry and
The billy goat and walked through the
Slient City and ON toward the Bad
Mans Ravine. The picture she had
grown 10 love In those Iong-ago spring
days stih gazed out at her from Mar
Gus Maci<enzie's fence.
There for moment Polly halted
and solemnly contemplated the beauti-
fuI face. When she had been happy,
md that was ages past, she had not
realized what the cnll In the mother.
plea meant But as one after another.
her loved ones had dwIndled away,
aud none but Jerry was left. clearer
understanding took possession OF her.
The same cruel force had attacked her
md the woman there. They were liv-
ing In warning world. trying by might
and main 10 cling to their own, Polly
on and this giant mother. The woman
asked aid for her vast army OF sick
sons: and P0lly's sorrow. touched by
her broad compassion. iIghtened
little.
Behind her she heard footsteps.
Slowly she turned her head: and al
most at the same instant the person
stopped. Pollyop could not move or
force word OF greeting from her
tongue. for Robert Percival was look
Ing at her, his serious white face hold
Ing no hint OF smile or welcome. For
long minute they stared az each 9TH
err; then the young man swung about
swiftly and strobe away.
Crushed almost Into insenslbillty,
Pollyop sank lower and lower until
Jerry slid away from her shoulders to
the ground. Her beloved had not
spoken, nor had the palied lines about
his mouth softened even little bit
Afternoon shadows began to stretch
long over the lake and crowd down
upon the Silent City, and still the
squatter girl knelt and wept out her
sorrow and loneliness with no one
near but the large-eyed. sad little
child. ieanlng across the thin back OF
Billy-goat Hopkins
Al length PolIyop arose. wlplng her
worn face On her sleeve Then she
hoisted Jerry 10 per shoulders and
turned for last lock at the lofty
mother OF the world.
For minute she gazed steadily.
And then. through the gathering
gloom. she thought she saw a smile
towering about the beautiful mouth.
Pollyop went nearer by two steps. The
woman was smiling az her. and the
squatter girl. overwhelmed with Joy
jhss hurt keenly like knlfe's bIsda.
s.aised back. the first smile since
Grumpy Hope had left her.
Holding Jerry By one arm. she
thrust the other hand upward.
biggest an beaugifulest NANNY In
all the verdi" she faltered. "bless me
on Jerry an'--an' Daddy Hopkins
away on up Ia Auburn prison"
Reverently she knelt with her cling
Ing burden, and then. swiftly rising.
went back TO the shanty. her pale face
radlaHt with a worldwide blessing.