The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-06-15

hA meant " taNAh bAlf NVNt M
throw 'er In the lake. Just TO get even
with you. sir"
Then why didn't you do itT de-
manded Marcus
Pollyop threw short glance at the
other man, standing white and silent.
She cleared her throat. and leaned
only the harder against the wall.
aOn q sudden" she continued, as II
eager to finish her tale, Il somehow
remembered everything Granny Hope
learned me when she was In the shack
here. She always said, mister. when
you was deyilish enough 10 snake n
squatter from the Silent City"-Polly
paused and coughed, then proceeded
Ia the dead silence: Granny said
you was the image and likeness Of the
good God up In the sky an brother
10 Jesus, the same as US squatters.
But | said | didn't ever want to fly
away TO God If He looked like youl"
Leaving the wall she came forward
aud hurried on: "An' | meant II them
times, an much more after you rail-
roaded my daddy and swiped Jerry
away from me-"
Marcus placed his wife In the chair
and stood up. He started to speak to
Pollyop; but Evelyn's cry caused him
10 turn swiftly. The drabness of her
face startled him.
Marc Robert !" she said II can't
go back home until I've told you some
thing No, Marc, don't stop me.
will talk. Now. listenl Oh, honey !"
This appeal was to her husband who
had laid his fingers on her shoulder.
"wont you hold my hand while tell
it?"
Much moved, Marcus did as she re-
quested His firm clasp seemed to
encourage Evelyn, and she went on:
Darling, I've always been--dread-
full toto Polly Hopkins, and-and
she's been an angel to me"
She was going to tell II all. ragged
through Polly's mind. Was she going
to bring to light ner relations with
the dead 0scsrl Old Mare would
never forgive IT. Thinking more now
of the baby coming next summer to
the almost incoherent woman than of
her own happiness, Pollyop made
movement as II to contradict the state
ment; but Eyelyn's impetuous rush of
words halted her.
mo, Polly, I'm going to put things
right now, even IL Marc leaves me to-
night" she declared. clearing her
throat. Robert, dear boy. | lied to
you. | lied to Polly and TO you. Mar
Gus. Oscar Bennett wasn't Polly's
sweetheart at all. He-he was my
husbandP
Mackenzie Suffered, but did not
drop the cold fingers he held; and
Evelyn wept bitterly. unable to go on.
A horse whinnied outside, but in
the shanty no sound could be heard
save the hysterical sobbing of Evelyn.
Ii seemed to Robert as II he must
shake from his cousin the rest Of the
dark story, SO impatient was he to-
hear IT,
"Then-then when you came, my
my beloved" Evelyn raised her tired
eyes to her husband. IL tried to get
rid of him. | did my best TO get Polly
Hopkins to promise she'd marry Oscar
after he lad freed me. ! wanted to-
get him out Of the country"
Unwilling TO spare herself the least
humiliation, she ended In piteous con
fusion: Il was glad when knew he
was dead"
Then how did he die?" came swift.
ly from Mackenzie.
"Oh. Just as the doctor told you,
Marc, dear" replied Evelyn. "He was
struck by lightning and died from the
shock. was free then. and-and
made Polly swear over and over again
she'd never tell any one And~-andl
I gave her the silk dress she wore that
day in the Auburn car. I-I-lied
about that too But. Marc, dear love
knew you hated her and"
Robert bounded To his feet as the
girls words trailed away into silence.
over MacKenzie's face were speeding
so many different expressions that the
searching brown eyes Of Polly Hop
kins could not tell whether he In
tended to forgive his unhappy wife or
not
But Perciyal did not wait to find
out. He spraBg TO the door. jerked il /
open and closed IL behind with bang. /
In fact. he did not even see Evelyn /
slip quietly into a faint or Marcus
snstch her into his arms as II he never
intended 10 let her 20.
II was only Polly who heard the
passionate love words that came from 4
lips that had So often flung 0aths Al
her and her people. She watched Mar
Gus duly, her heart aching and her
muscles rigid with pain. Robert had 4
not believed what Evelyn had said /
he had gone away without q word @
hert Of course. then. be- did not ioFe .
her ang more!
Unnolicel by the Mackenzie. Polly .
Hopkins sat very quiet, while Evelyn
Who had re-ained censci0usuess. was f
cllnging o. her husbands neck and
rHas-~.Ha--- A. r-aaes-aa......