The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-03-30

~ Mn kmDarrssseu beyond utter
snee. she withdrew her fingers. letting
them fall listlessly. Robert laughed
Her lovely face. nrst white then scar
let. only told him that she was glad
70 see him. and spoke Of giriish inno-
cence. dear 70 all men.
"You went away 80 suddenly the
other night" he ran on. II didn't have
a chance TO say half wanted to. I
had something for you. too. but
couldn't get away until today to bring
II down.
He pulled q little roll OF paper from
his pocket and handed II to her. Won.
deringiy she opened IL. and there was
an exact reproduction Of The Great
est Mother In the World"
Polly was 80 overcome she contln-
usd silent.
Don't yoa like II. little Pollyopf"
euerted Robert, putting his fingers un-
der her chin and raising her face TO
his.
yep" she whispered, bIushlng.
"sure. sure do love It."
Then why don't you smilef" he do
msnded: and as she shyiy complied
with his request. he ran on: "rve
talked with Mackenzie, and he's 30
set Confound i'll He makes me 50
hot can scarcely listen TO him. But,
Polly dear, I'll do everything / can.
I've got money and friends, as well as
he has. aud I'll use 'em too. VIII you
trust me. sweetf'
She bowed her head In grateful as
seat. How she thrilled at the touch
Of the warm. white handi
Look At me. desrie." he begEed,
and. when she did fash him 4 rosy
glance. he caught her to him. II love
you. little girl" he whispered.
"An' loves the greatest thing In
Ithaca. amt itr' she murmured In
trembling confusion.
"Yes. yes" he breathed. Little
giri-oh. my iittiest dear"
His voice trailed away. and his pas
sionate kisses made Polly Hopkins for
get everything but him. Primevai pas
sion rose within her. She had found
her man. and nothing should take him
from her.
Then while Robert was telling her
Of his hopes and plans. rehearsing his
love for her and his desire to help her
read and study. they walked slowly
back along the ragged rocks In the d.
rection Of the shanty.
They were almost at Polly's home
before he left her She watched him
stride up the hill. and, after he had
disappeared, she threw herself fat
upon the earth: and mingled with the |
birds song In the willow trees, and the |
rippling OF the waves upon the shore.
came her cry:
"Oh. God dear. I can't marry Oscar.
I can't You'll have to help the squat
tiers some other way. dsrlIn'."
The days that followed bringing
with the spring flowers nocks OF sum-
mer birds. seemed an eternity to Polly
Hopkins. She went about her duties
as one In a dream. In spite OF Rob-
ert's efforts. several OF the fishermen
had been sent to the Ithaca jail for
petty crimes.
Two men had been trapped In the
Bad Mans ravine and taken OF TO the
jail without so much as a farewell TO
their families Polly had groaned with
their women and wept over their ba-
bies. she was quite sure Percival was
doing everything anybody could do:
but sometimes the thought OF Evelyn's
demand intruded on her mind. and she
wondered II she were doing right in
n.
One morning at dsybreak Polly saw
her father lift his gun from the wall
Ind sit down TO clean II. Now. why
was he doing that. when he knew very
well he could not use IT. She stood
ooking down upsn him, her heart
'eating rapidly.
"You amt goin' to hunt yet. honey"
he protested. squatting down beside
I'm.
yep returned Hopkins glancing (
-. There amt no one astir so early, ;
n III bring back something. mebbe
woodchuck or q skunk. We ain't ,
ad enough TO keep a mess Of flies ,
live since Old Marc got back"
That was truei No one knew better
han Pollyop how they had missed the
tile she had received from Bennett.
ick at heart. she snatched at his !
and
I'VE might best be without grub. Z
daddy she said passlonately. "Aw I
'on't start rubbln' Il Up again You1l
e pinched II you hunt out OF season.
o matter what you shoot. For less
han earryin' : gun, old Mares got
unch - our men You shan't do q
'sddy You shan't. ! say r
n only she could persuade him not
) hunt until Robert had come 70 40 4 T
lslertandlne with Mackenzie n BE- s
.dut succeeI--fhen she knew another <
ay. M
-Mehbe IN little while you ran
unt au yon IKE Daddy. she ven !.