Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-04-28

| Polly was happier. she coulu NOT hhNe
explained, IL she had been asked, why
the agony of doubt had given place TO
a warmer glow about her heart when
she thought of Daddy Hopkins. Away
off up there in the gloom of the prison,
he had received a mothers benedic-
ton: Polly believed this with all her
soul. Jerry and she too had come In
for their share; and this new conf
dence lifted the shadow from her eyes
a little and lessened the stabbing hurt
in her side.
The thing that tormented her most
was Jerry's constant mourning for his
father. Day by day she had racked
her brains for ways to amuse him, but
as soon as the novelty Of the play had
worn off, the old-time cry would be-
gin:
"Want to play horse wifi my Daddy
Hopkins! Wee Jerry wants Daddy
Hopkins!"
, She was looking at him one morn
ing after one of his spells of weeping,
and wistfully considering If there
might be a way to hurry him Off to
Auburn for a day, when Evelyn Rob-
ertson suddenly appeared in the
shanty door.
For a long time Evelyn's conscience
1 had made her uncomfortable. Even
| though her days were exceedingly
e busy, the remembrance Of the squatter
girls pale, pleading face tormented
n her. and she was fearful Pollyop
might not keep the promise she had
e made, and Marcus Mackenzie would
l. be lost forever.
o So astounded was Polly Hopkins to
d see the girl that she neglected to ask
e her in. Overlooking this, Miss Rob
ertson stepped into the room in EN-
barrassment.
"Pollyop," she began, catching her
o breath, II just had to speak to you
a I'm going to be married to Mr.. Mcken'
e zie, and l came to talk to you about II
re and-and to bring the baby som
e candy"
le Her expression grave with surprise
Polly scrutinized her coldly.
"Jerry'd rather have his Dadd!
III Hopkins than candy" she retorted
lie frowning.
I'd Miss Robertson drew back a little
Al shaking her head.
ns 81 couldn't manage that, I'm afraid
II she said soberly, "but-"
Pollyop shifted u1easily.
"Mebbe you could get Old Marc t
u say l could take Jerry to Auburn
", them" she ventured. "Jerry'll die
OF he don't see his daddy. He's gettir
er- thinner an thinner every day. He
er' been yelling like mad oil mornin'."
w. Evelyn pondered on this an instan'
=" Eyes, l could do that, I'm sure sh
answered, smiling broadly. I'D Low
ia to do it, too"
w. The forlorn drOOp at the corner
'ht of Polly's mouth disappeared.
~ "Mebbe, IL I could get something t
al wear" she hesitated.
OK It had never occurred to Miss Rol
by ertson how Pollyop managed for clotl
d ing. She had so much herself she We
blind to another's need; but, as 81
ps' had come to demand a favor, then pc
al haps she had better offer as much &
sui she could.
OF "Polly," she calculated, you've bee
awfully good to me, and you can hay
OK any one of my dresses you want, an
'iu- keep it too. And I'll persuade NJ
0 Mackenzie to get you a permit to {
to Auburn"
CUT Polly felt her heart grow big. The
after all, she could take Wee Jerry
l.S, his daddy.
81 s'spose-I s'spose," she hesitate
70 trembling, you couldn't tell your cou
in" Her throat caught In a sob b
she cleared 1t, and went on, "just tt
i'm Oscar wasn't my man?'
Evelyn Robertson had often liv'
over the horror Of the minutes VIII
~, the shameful secret Of her maria
to Oscar Bennett was so nearly d
closed to Robert Percival. More TIL
once had she congratulated herst
upon the cleverness with which S
-. had avoided that danger. To be su
asa her escape had been at the expen
of Polly's reputation. She regrett
81" the necessity but reasoned that a go
name could not be much Of a loss
a squatter.
49, "Of course l couldn't do that" S
liz returned sharply. "Why-why shot
nth you want"
The The squatter girls gaze lifted
the the speakers face, and tears well
low over the fringed lids. Then Evel
read the truth; and her eyes CLINT
ince and narrowed.
"Merciful Heavens, you're In lc
she with my cousin?" she exclaimed.
that what you meanf"
v in The brown head fell forward, q
me a Aame-hot face was hidden In
kins chestnut curls.
"And he loves you, too" cried
ling elyn. in disdain. "What a fool v
sing. not to discover that before How p
face fectly awful! That's what has b.
- the matter with him for months"
She snatched Pollyop's arm 6
shook her.
.I4,s abeolutalv mad of Won to tn