Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-04-21

"Gep" The atnrmatlEe was Dul
breath.
"Goin' to dlc' huh'" whispered d the
other
A deep sob rose to the girls lips'
brought almost to utterance by her IN
tense suffering.
"Mebbe! !" was all she could say.
"Poor man." the woman muttered,
wrinkling up her face. "Dyin's awful
hard thing for some folks"
A startled expression, smoothing
away some Of the hard lines, spread
over Oscars face. In the presence
of death, which every squatter held
in superstitiOus awe, Polly dropped
down upon her knees beside the bed.
Her own hurt had been overcome by
the desire to help him If she could
And there, while the rain dashed its
fury into the lake, and the wind shook
the shanty, the three kept quiet vigil.
Large drops appeared on Bennett's
brow; and Granny Hope lifted one
withered hand and brushed them away
Lowell carry you over weary places,
big dear" she wheezed. "It's all pow
erful, love is, sir"
Oscars staring eyes lost something
of the abject fear they had shown,
as if he had heard and was cOmforted.
Then over his face swept that look
that comes but once to any man.
"Aw the ChriStll help you, too
honey" Granny Hope went on again
smiling.
Polly, weeping silently, bent for.
ward and gazed hard at the dying
farmer. Oscar wanted to stay little
longer. He was trying to speak; but
she knew he could. not. TO help him
through the valley of shadows and up
ward into eternal light, she thrust her
head close to his. .
Jesus is givin' you rest, Oscar
mani" she whispered.
Pollyops sobbing voice penetrated
into the young mans darkening SEN
sibilities, and the ghost of smile
crept to his lips. Then slowly his eyes
closed. The strained muscles relaxed
from about his mouth, leaving 1t more
boyish; and thus did the Storm coun'
try give back to Evelyn Robertson her
freedom.
After that came dark days for Polly
op. Even the reproduction of The
Greatest Mother in the World, which
hung in it's accustomed place on the
shanty wall, failed to lift the heavy
load that rested like a stone in her
bosom. No more did she stand before
it and dream-dream Of deep-toned
voice telling her Of love and a future
dream of Roberts arms about her and
her kesd pressed against him.
Up and down she went through the
Silent City, unable to smile, we'll nigh
unable to speak word Of greeting to
those she met. So sympathetic were
her squatter frienis that many fish
and pan of baked beans found theit
way irto the Hopkins hut. .
Sever times PpllyOp had made an
effort to see Evelyn, but the rich girl
never appeared as the little trill
sounded just after nightfall in the
Robertson garden. .
In July came rumors that Evelyn
Robertson was to marry Marcus Mac
Kenzie; and that he had bought the
Bennett farm of Oscars heirs. Terri
fled whispers went from mouth to
mouth In the settlement that he had
bOaStcd how he was going to clear the
squattcrs from the Silent City before
the coming of Christmas.
One night the dark messenger to
whom no home is closed slipped into
the Hopkins shanty and summoned
Granny Hope. Although the absence
of the Old withered mouth made one
less to feed, pollyop missed the oft re-
Heatcd assurance thut somehow, some
time, love would make crooked things
straight.
Late one day. she took Jerry and
the billy goat and walked through the
Silent City and on toward the Bad
Mans Ravine. The picture she had
grown TO love in those long-ago spring
days still gazed out at her from Mar
Gus MacINenZieS fence.
There for q moment Polly halted
and SOlemnly contemplated the beauti-
full face. When she had been happy,
and that was ages past, she had not
realized what the call in the mother.
plea meant. But as one after another,
her loved ones had dwindled away,
and none but Jerry was left, Il clearer
understanding took possession OF her.
The same cruel force had attacked her
and the woman there. They were llv-
ing in Il warning world, tryingby might
and main to cling to their own, Polly
on and this giant mother. The woman
asked aid for her vast army of sick
sons; and Polly'S sorrow. touched by
her broad compassion, lightened
little
Behind her she heard footsteps.
Slowly she turned her head; and al
most at the same instant the person
stopped. pOllyop could not move or
force Il word of greeting from her
tongue, for Robert Percival was look
ing at her, his serious white face hold