Middletown transcript., 1922-04-22
Storm Country Polly
by Grace Miller White
Browns
Copyright by Little, Brown & Co.

Roberts fierce anger. Her little world
was tumbling to pieces around her. No
longer could she think of him as her
own, though but few short minutes
before he had comforted her with
kisses and promises. He had demand
ed that she should trust him, yet at
the very first trial of his faith, he had
flung away and left her alone.
Blinded by tears, she felt her way
to the cot. Bennett lay in the same
position, his wide-open eyes holding
an expression of horror.
shes got lily liver all right, Os-
car" Polly hissed through her teeth.
Did you hear all what she said?"
Such is the power of habit over II
nature like the squatter girls that
Robert faded from her mind and Os-
car Bennett, suffering and dying, alb
sorbed her whole attention.
Cant you hear anything. Oscar?"
she questioned. "Listen, mebbe you'll
get well. If you do, take your old
nanny an get out quick. Eve amt
worth one of your toe nails You've
been a mean duffer Oscar, tut you're
too d-n good for her. God, but she
were q wicked woman, wasn't she,
huh?"
Not Il move OF the heavy head on
the pillow gave evidence that she had
been heard.
She was still standing by Benefits
side when, without knocking, Robert
opened the door and came in. followed
by the doctor. Polly recognized the
stranger instantly as the medical man
who lived short distance down the
boulevard. In anxious inquiry she
glanced at Percival.
Observing that she had been weep
ing, his anger tlared again. 1t never
occurred to him that his own cruelty
had drawn the tears from her eyes.
There was the huge farmer stretched
out on the bed; and the squatter girl
crying beside him! She was mourning
over the stricken man. Robert
frowned; and hopelessly, in silence
Polly moved aside to give the doctor
the space she had occupied.
After ashasty examination of the pa
tient, Doctor Bacon turned to Polly
Hopkins.
Something struck him." he said
shortly. you've been quarreling with
him, eh, girl? What did you hit him
with?"
Accusation rang against her not
only in the speakers tones but in Rob
ertS inarticulute cry
"Why did you strike him, Polly Hop
kins?" he demanded hoarsely. did
you? Speak. Did you?"
That he should believe such things
Of her crushed her completely. Her
head fell forward, but not until Rob-
ert spoke again harshly did she an
swer.
Nope" she breathed. Her tongue
felt as IL 1t were covered with ashes.
"Nope, l didn't hit him!"
That was all she said. She looked
up at him pleadingly through her thick
lashes. Perhaps he did not really be-
lieve her guilty. Yes. he did! He was
still fixing upon her that accusatory
gaze.
IIC VI DttltE DC llONtu Out Vi tilS
hole" observed the doctor, looking
around, but it's an awful night" He
considered moment and then added !:
"l'll telephone to Ithaca for an ambu-
lance"
Sternly he directed look of disgust
at Polly. He hated attending the
squatters anyway, and never would
have consented to enter the Silent City
IL Robert Percival had not come for
him.
Aghast at the horror Of the emer-
gency. Pollyop seemed not to notice
the physicians contempt.
"Is he goin' to die. mister" she
queried plaintively.
81 don't know" he replied in gruff
indecision, as he prepared draught.
When everything within human
power had been done for Oscar Ben
nett, Robert allowed the doctor to pass
out of the hut before him. Then, like
shot, he turned back to Polly's side
His eyes blazed with jealousy; and
quickly 1t crossed her mind that he
was going to strike her. Oh! How she
wished he would and then take back
all the cruel words he had hurled at
her!
"When you said you loved me, you
lied," he gritted savagely. "You knew
all the time you had him. You let me
kiss you! You said love was the
greatest thing In the world oh, God |!
How I wish I could hate youl"
Polly could not speak, neither could
she move. Imprisoned tragedy lay in
the depths of her eyes. If he had been
less violent, she would have implored
| him to trust her.