Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-06-15
CHAPTER XIII
IL

1OLlphluo COUNTY IMAM olly AoPhlho'
Seemingly never-ending days dragged
by their minutes one by one. When
she woke up in the morning she wished
1t were night When she crawled into
bed she wished it were morning! And
every twenty-four hours brought re-
newed anguish to Jerry. Pollyop spent
most of her time trying to soothe him.
And thus the two little waits lived
until the news spread through the ST.
lent C.ty that Evelyn Robertson and
Marcus Mackenzie were going to be
married in a fashionable church in
Ithaca.
The wedding day dawned bright with
sunshine; and, together with Jerry,
Pollyop went into town, hid herself in
the thick shrubbery in Dewitt park
and watched with tormented soul the
gorgeous display Of riches.
She saw Evelyn in all her beauty
and the respondent Marcus; also the
naughty Mrs. Robertson, leaning on
the arm of Robert Percival. How pale
his face was Great tears blinded Pol
ly's eyes as she wondered vaguely and
bewilderedly If he ever thought of her.
1t was long, sad night which she
spent after that event, but still she
lived on and carried her heavy burden
in silence. Week by week she counted
on her slender fingers the months which
Nx,O1Yl1 hox m ha livn6 fhrOnUh hnfnTn
Daddy Hopkins could come home. Oh,
how she wanted to steal into his arms,
to lay her head against him and to be
sure he was in the Silent City for ever
and ever! Jerry must have him, too,
and many were the promises she made
to the child during the wild fall
weather of the Storm country that
perhaps tomorrow Daddy would come,
perhaps the next day, until the child's
face too gathered an expression as If
he were always listening for footsteps
outside the hut.
The autumn rains had no more than
set in before Marcus Mackenzie took
mp again his prosecutions of the squat
tiers. On his return from his wedding
trip he and Evelyn went to live with
Mrs. Robertson for the winter.
One day Percival approached Mac
Kenzie with another request that he
use his influence to liberate jeremiah
Hopkins.
Its wrong for his daughter to stay
In such a place alone with that frail
child, Marc" protested Robert earn
estly.
Evelyn looked up from her sewing
In her own happiness the thought that
her handsome cousin loved the squat
ter girl had lapsed in her memory
Her eyes went from his troubled face
to her husbands. Mares expression
was dark and forbidding, and his full
red lips dragged down at the corners
Her heart fiuttered at the thought oil
his rage if by chance he got an inklint
of her duplicity.
"The huzzy won't be there long, my
friend" returned Marcus, gritting hi
teeth. 1--WE a plan to put her out will
the rest. Why you stand by those PEG
pie has always puzzled me, Percival.'
They're a forlorn lot" replied Rob
ert, flushing. "Now, what about Hop
kinsp
A look Of contempt settled on Mac
Kenzie's face, and he flung out hi
hands as if throwing away something
he detested.
He'll serve his time" he. retorte'
abruptly, land when he does com
back, his brats won't be where he lef
them"
Keeping her eyes on her husband
Evelyn uttered an exclamation. How
somber and forceful he seemed wit
that network Of wrinkles across hi
broad brow. Anger distended his nos
trils, and the look he had fixed upOl
Robert was full of compelling strength
you're both sickening," she brok
out fretfully. Perfectly sickeningP
Now listen to me, Eve" CALCULATES
Robert, turning to her. "YOu know
very well that I'm interested in tn
Hopkins family"
She did not look at him until III
sentence was chopped OF In confusion
Then she threw him peculiar glance
"Oh, know that well enough" sh
rejoined, dropping her eyes, but wha
makes me so impatient is that the sec
ond you and Marc come within speak
ing distance, you begin an argumen
about them. Why can't you both max
: resolution not to talk about thos
peODlsf"
Her cousin walked to the window
ana atared out into the garden. 4
nervous cough came from Mackenzie
II won't do II, Eve" asserted Rob
ert presently, Staging arOund. Some
thIng's got to Be done for Polly bop
rins she's 20 young and unhappy J"
young and pretty, you mean, BObs'
,.uehed Marcus disagreeably. "Whl
Son't YOU marry the trollOp and pu
m end to your philanthropy Ben
1ett's dead; % be can't interfere Witl
you'll" ...s,.. :. es.,n,
$500 lan hiS face Wax-Wh'ie