The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-06-23

zie. moved almost beyond speech
"won't pass outside the few who know
IL. And Polly--look up. child. / want
to tell you something"
In siIence she dared timid glance
at him.
sWhile you--you were-asleep.-Ynsa
now, Mr.. PercivaI and made arrange.
ments with your father to give him
work." Mackenzie told her. "Doeg
that please your"
awful much, z she sighed; then she
turned and looked at Bishop, standing
against the wall.
"What about Larryf" she murmured
softly. "Poor, poor Larry"
"Pll help him, too" Marcus agreed
eagerly.
Polly cogitated one small moment
There's Lye Braeger," she sighed
again. HE amt got many friends
Lye ANTI"
MacKenzie's laugh sent a sense of
relief over the gloomy group.
"Then Lye Braeger. too" he ex.
claimed, sand any OTTER squatter who
wants to work"
Pollyop. overwhelmed with this gen.
crosby. stood up before him, curls
showerlng each shoulder and framing
her lovely, eager face.
II guess mebbe you were an angel
all the time. like Granny Hope said
once" she said shyly. "Pm thankln'
you, sir, an I--Pm hopin' the little
one Gods sendin' in the summer'll look
just ke-like"--a smile touched her
lips-'just like Jerry" she ended.
Because she was so simply natural,
Mackenzie replied solemnly:
IF my child looks as much like me
as Jerry looks like his father, I'll be
satisfied"
Then he hurried his wife away, Of
fering to carry Robert home with
them.
"No, sir" said that young man
stoutIy. 1--we got to talk to Polly Hop
kins."
"Tm goin' now, too" grunted Larry
Bishop. SCOT to go an see Lye Brae-
ger. He's sick in bed with STUN
mick ache. Good night, Poll! See
you tomorrow, Jerry Hopkins"
He made gesture Of farewell to
Robert; and Pollyop went to the door
with him. There she brought wry,
twitching smile to his lips by throw.
ing her arms about his neck and kiss
ing him.
Its all right now, Larry, dearI"
she whispered. "Good-by."
When she turned slowly to Robert,
her face was suffused with crimson
blood.
"Ain't your horses gettin' cold, sirr'
she queried. "It's worse outside than
when you Gamer
Jeremiah blinked at them, went to
the cot and picked up the drowsy
| baby. To hide his embarrassment, he
seated himself and rocked the child
back and forth. He was almost afraid
of his beautiful daughter, dressed so
unlike herself, her hair hanging in
glistening curls over Evelyn Robert.
sons exquisite clothes.
"The horses are we'll covered, Polly"
answered Robert. 'T'll make 1t worth
the drivers while to wait bit"
Then unable to bear the strain any
longer, he burst out:
Darling, can you ever forgive meT
She gave him one melting glance
and like fiuttering bird sped into his
arms and stayed there. And thus the
two young things, with nothing be-
tween them and long stretches of hap
piness, chung to each other until the
tinkle-tinkle Of the Mackenzie sleigh
bells was lost In the night.
Then the squatter girl, disengaging
herself from her sweetheart's arms,
went to her father.
Daddy" she breathed, bending
over him, sever since / mended the
roof that day-the same day Old Marc
came home, I've been loyin' she
reached back her hand, and Robert
ciasped 1t, I've been loyin'-" Chok-
ing, she could get no farther in that
important explanation.
Robert stepped beside her, and rest
ed his hand on the down-bent head.
He knew now that though she was a
squatter, one of the despised of the
earth, he loved her better than the
whole world.
Its just like Granny Hope said,
Daddy" Pollyop went on, the velvety
brown softenfng the misty eyes. "She
said, Granny Hope did, that loves big
ger an better'n hate any day. An it's
true, amt it,"
Yep" nodded Hopkins, smoothing
her face with one great hand. 81 guess
so, bratl" -
lit sure Is" added Robert in her
ear.
Ihen he looked at Jeremiah.
May l have her some day, sir7" he
asked in reverent tones. SRI make
her SO happy you won't regret It."
Jeremiah's big frame shook. and
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