Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-07-19


"Itn be black Thanksgiving for Old
Marc, huh, Larry?-Fm goin' back
home now"
She turned to the door. but halted
with her hand on the latch.
You promised | could do 1t. Larry"
she reminded him. you'll tell Lye
Braeger that, too won't your"
Sinking Imply into his chair, Bishop
wiped his wet lips.
yep, lass" he assented with
groan. You can turn the trick; /
promise you that
If jeremiah Hopkins had seen. his
girl, his Polly of the Sun. when she
went home that night, he would not
have recognized her. Her face was
crafty. pitiless, and as white as the
snow under her feet.
Then she waited stoically day after
day, feeding the billy goat but absent
mindedly, asking no questions Of Larry
or Lye Braeger how soon her idea
could be carried out She believed
that they would ieave no stone un-
turned to ever up with Marcus Mac
Kenzie
Early one evening Larry Bishop
burst into the Hopkins hut without the
formality of knock. He looked years
older than he had but yesterday; and
Pollyup got up. locking and interlock-
ing her fingers.
"well?" she asked from between
chattering teeth.
Its done, by Godi' he Kissed, al
most strangling behind shaking hand.
1T were most awful, Polly. If I'd
stuck hog in the gizzard, the squeal-
in couldn't "a been worser."
The speakers tones, his half-bent tig-
ure, his shifty glances. brought a
grunt from the girl
An you're gettin' sorry by the min
ute. Larry Bishop, l can see that" she
returned. giving him a smart rap.
stand up, Larry man. Once"
sudden rush of emotion thrust into her
throat such an ache that for several
seconds she was unable to conclude.
"Once," she repeated. after clearing
away the huskiness with hacking
cough, Il thought love were the great
est thing in the world. But it amt.
Larry Bishop. 1t anti"
Bishop fidgeted with his cap. turning
it around and around by its brim.
When he looked up, the burning glow
had died from the depths Of his eyes.
Its a sickenin' thing to see wom-
an suffer that bad" he muttered. God,
brat Nope Don't say nothin' till /
tell you what me an Lye did !"
At the memory of It, the speaker
wiped drops of sweat from his face.
'She bellered about lovin' her ma
droned Bishop, San the way she hol-
Tered in my hut for her nan was some
thing scand'lous."
Like your Betty died a-howlin' for
you, l s'pose, Larry" came back the
girl promptly. "An' I been thinkin'
all day how Granny Hope tucked your
dead brat alongside his nanny In the
coffin Sonse awful thinkin', Larry
mani"
The squatter's sudden grayness and
swallowing hard as if something had
stuck In his windpIpe was the only evil
dence he gave that he had heard the
cruel words.
I'VE get 'er just after dark" he con-
tinued, woefully. She's been tied up
In my shack ever since"
Good 'nough for 'erl' gasped Polly,
tensely. rolling her hands In her apron.
"An' she yelled so hard you could've
heard her near to Ithaca. Poll" moaned
Larry. me an Lye gagged 'er."
holy smutl' fell from PollyoD, as
the picture his words had made burned
Itself across het mind.
Her mans been gone all day to
Cortland" continued the squatter In a
monotone. "Lye found out Old Miss
Robertson's been tryin' TO reach hobd
Of him."
Hope she don'tf' interjected Polly.
mot till we get done with his woman.
Are you goln' to tote her over herer
The man nodded.
Don't dare to till later. when the
squatters is in bed" he answered.
shaping On his cap. tiff you
change your mind, Poll. come along
over; an III cut 'er loose an let 'er
GO"
A harsh sound, something IKE 4
chuckle Of malicious satisfaction,