Middletown transcript., 1922-05-13
CHAPTER XIII

TOmpk1nS county than Polly Hopkins.
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 1t 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 City that Evelyn Robertson and
Marcus Mackenzie were going to be
married in 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 resplendent Marcus; also the
naughty Mrs. Robertson, leaning on
the arm Of Robert Percival. How pale
his face was! Great tears blinded Pol
iy'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
would have to be lived through before
Daddy Hopkins could come home. Oh,
how Sha IantaI fn t,fo u ie a
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
up 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. Mare" 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 ut the corners !
Her heart fluttered at the thought OF
his rage If by chance he got an inkling
Of her duplicity.
'The huzzy won't be there long, my
| friend" returned Marcus, gritting his
teeth. 1--WE plan to put her out with
the rest. Why you stand by those peo-
pie has always puzzled me, Percival."
They're forlorn lot" replied Rob-
ert, flushing. "Now, what about Hop
kins?"
A look Of contempt settled on Mac
Kenzie's face, and he flung out his
hands as if throwing away something
he detested.
He'll serve his time," he retorted
abruptly, land when he does come
back, his brats won't be where he left
them"
Keeping her eyes on her husband,
Evelyn uttered an exclamation. How
somber and forceful he seemed with
that network of wrinkles across his
broad brow. Anger distended his nos
trils, and the look he had fixed upon
Robert was full Of compelling strength.
you're both sickening," she broke
out fretfully. perfectly sickenlng!'
"Now listen to me, Eve" calculated
Robert, turning to her. you know
very well that I'm interested In the
Hopkins family"
She did not look ut him until his
sentence was chopped Off in confusion
Then she threw him u peculiar glance
"Oh, know that well enough /" she
rejoined, dropping her eyes, but what
makes me SO impatient Is that the Sec
ond you and Marc come within speak
ing distance, you begin an argument
shout them. Why can't you both make
resolution not to talk about those
people?"
| Her cousin walked to the window
and stared out into the garden. A
nervous cough came from Mackenzie
II won't do it, Eve" asserted Rob.
ert presently, flinging around. "Some
things got to be done for Polly Hop
kiHs. She's so young and unhappy"
young and pretty, you mean, BObs,
laughed Marcus disagreeably. "Why
don't you marry the trollop and pu,
an end to your philanthropy? Ben.
nett's dead; so he can't interfere with
you"
Perclval's fists doubled as fleeing
blood left his face wax-white.
Throwing her work into basket al
her side. Mrs. Mackenzie arose.
Marcus" she snapped, you're per
fectly disgusting! Now here / speak
my mind! l don't ever intend to sit
in the same room with you two unless
you keep your conversation off the
squatters."
She marched to the door, her lovely
head held high; and Marcus strobe
after her.
"Come back here, Evelyn" he or
dered. "Fnw dare you talk like that
to me?"
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