The Belding banner-news., 1922-03-08

thing. l should disOwn you, Evelyn"
she said Snality I'm her tones.
Evelyn rose YEARLY She could
imagine the heights OF her mothers
scorn II she discovered the actual, sit
uation. She felt that she would rather
tell Mackenzie than the unsympa-
thetic. frowning woman In the chair.
There's no use mother, in trying to
talk TO you," she muttered. "Tll man.
age some way. though only God knows
how"
Mrs. Robertson took up her book and
gazed sternly at her daughter over the
top of 1t.
every WELL Evelyn" she said un-
grnciously. You're of age. If that's
the way you feel about It, there's moth
ing more TO he said"
Whereupon the speaker began TO
read, and a very hopeless girl crept
out Of the room.
When Evelyn was repairing the raw
ages made by her emotions, Polly
Hopkins crept into the Robertson gar
den. Her fear of Mrs. Robertson was
mingled with thrilling happiness.
She had seen Granny Hope and Wee
Jerry eat the fresh eggs; Daddy's
promise would keep him out of trouble
with Old Mare and the beautiful
stranger would help them!
She gave a piercing little trill, the
signal she had always used 10 call
Evelyn from the house. Almost at once
a figure stepped from the door To the
porch directly in front of her, and ter
rified, she shrank back among the
vines and clung there.
Silhouetted against the bright light
twas Rober' "orcival. He stood gazing
straight ahead OF him at the dark
driveway, but turned when Evelyn ap-
peared beside him. Polly heard the
murmur Of their voices, that was all.
They then disappeared into the house.
Evelyn laughingly pushing the soldier
ahead Of her. Quickly she girl came
out again; and Polly could hear her
swift coming breaths as she ran softly
down the steps.
"Shush," hissed Polly Hopkins.
~ NAS SNNitu w hNoNh SVinN
xone'd catch me-"
"Pollyop," questioned Evelyn anxious
ly. "What'd he say? Was he angry"
Their heads were very close TO
gether, and Polly gave the message In
n low tone.
"He wants you TO come to Granny
Hopes hut at nine O'clock tonight, an
l guess you best do it, He's as mad as
ever a man can be-"
'T'm afraid" Evelyn walled. I'm
terribly afraid. Polly dear"
All the sympathy in Pollys heart
came 10 sudden life.
II reckon you be-" she returned.
''But you've got to get up your spunk
an go. Oscar'd just as soon come bust
In right in your house here i que s,
IL you don't. You come along, an at
nine o'clock I'll hike over an get
In the hut too. Say, why can't you
talk just little nicer 10 him? Granny
Hopes got Bible. an IL says when
feller hurts you, speak kind of soft
back, an he won't have nothin' more
to say. Hist What's that noise?
Seoot."
Before Evelyn could say another
word. the squatter girl slipped away
among the shadows. The other, al
though surrounded with every luxury,
went wretchedly up the steps and.
forcing a smile TO her lips, passed in
TO the music room.
Billy-goat Hopkins had blinked many
times before his little mistress came
home. Larry Bishop had gone to his
lonely hut, and Daddy Hopkins and
Granny Hope were DOING In front
Of the stove
In nervous tension Polly watched the
clock crawl along toward the hour Of
the meeting between Oscar and Evelyn.
About a quarter to nine, she stole out
Of doors.
BY familiar paths, slipping past
shanty here and there. Pollyop came
at length upon a lonely shack set
on point by Itself She went around
TO the back, opened the door. and once
within the room touched a match to
small candle which she had taken
from her pocket. and sat down quietly.
When Oscar Bennett stepped into the
hut, he uttered an oath. He was not
expecting TO see Polly Hopkins.
'My lady won't come, eh7" he de-
manded gruffly,
"Oh, she's comm all right" an
swered Polly, but she were afraid.
SO I came along to see she got home
SAFE"
A loud laugh fell from Benefits
lips.
YOU'RE a clever kid, Pollyop,". he
said, more affably. "Cunning as a
weasel, d-d II you ANTI Sit down.
won't bite you"
Polly squatted ON the floor by the
old table; and Oscar eased himself
gingerly down onto rickety bench.
"I bet she was scared pink at what
I told you to tell 'er," ne burst out af-
ter while. "She's about the most
,uv-livered woman I ever SOW"