Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-04-07
Copyright by LiHIeIBroWn and Company

| II G0NH.
He pulled little roll of paper from
his pocket and handed 1t to her. Won
deringly she opened it, and there was
an exact reproduction of "The Great
est Mother in the World"
Polly was so overcome she contln-
ued silent. ,fa
'Don't you like it, little Pollyop"
queried Robert, putting his fingers un-
| der her chin and raising her face to
| his.
"Yepw she whispered, blushing.
"Sure, sure l do. love It,"
"Then why don't you smile?" he de-
manded; and rs she shyly complied
with his request, he ran on: Tive
talked with Mackenzie, and he's so
set Confound it! He makes me so
| hot l can scarcely listen to him. But,
Polly dear, I'll do everything can.
I've got money and friends, as well as
he has, and I'll use 'em too. Will you
trust me, sweet?"
She bowed her head in grateful as
sent. How she thrilled at the touch
of the warm, white hand!
Look at me, dearie." he begged,
and, when she did Hash him rosy
glance, he caught her to him. II love
you, little girl" he whispered.
"An' loves the greatest thing In
Ithaca, amt It." she murmured in
trembling confusion.
eyes, yes," he breathed. Little
girl-oh, my littlest dear"
His voice trailed away, and hisspas-
sionate kisses made Polly Hopkins for
get everything but him. Primeval pas
sion rose within her. She had found
her man, and nothing should take him
from her.
Then while Robert was telling her
Of his hopes and plans, rehearsing his
love for her and his desire to help her
read and study. they walked slowly
back along the ragged rocks in the di-
rection of the shanty.
They were almost at Polly's home
before he left her. She watched him
stride up the hill, and, after he had
disappeared. she threw herself flat
upon the earth; and mingled with the
birds song in the willow trees, and the
ripping of the waves upon the shore,
came her cry:
"Oh. God dear, can't marry Oscar,
| I can't! You'll have to help the squat
ters some other way, darlin'."
-
The days that followed, bringing
with the spring flowers fiocks of sum-
mer birds, seemed an eternity TO Polly
Hopkins. She went about her duties
as one in a dream. In spite Of Rob-
ert's efforts, several Of the Gshermen
had been sent to the Ithnca jail for
petty crimes. ....-...
Two men had been trapped In the
Bad Mans ravine and taken off 10 the
iail without so much as q farewell to
their families. Polly had S-oancd with
their women and wept over their ha-
bies. She was quite sure rcrciral was
doing everything anybody coIld do;
but sometimes the thought % Evelyrl's
demand intruded on her iniad, and she
wondered if she were do!ng light in
refusing it.
One morning Mt daybreab Polly saw
her father lift his gun from the wall
md ,it Town to clean 1t. Now. why
was he doing that, When he kneN very
well be could not use itf She Stond
looking down upeR him. her heart
beating rapidly.
you amt goin' to hunt yet, honey"
she protested, Squatting down beside
him.
yep" returned Hopkins glancing
up. There amt no one aStir so early,
an I'll bring back something, mebbe
woodchuck or skunk. We amt
had enough to keep mess Of flies
alive since Old Marc got back"
That was true! No one knew better
than Pollyop how they had missed the
little she had received from Bennett.
Sick at heart, she snatched 1T his
hand.
"We might best be without grub,
Daddy" she said passlonately. "Aw!
Don't start rubbin it up again! You'll
get pinched, if YOU hunt out of season,
no matter what you shoot. For less
than carryin' gun, Old Mares got
bunch of our men. You shan't do it,
Daddy. You shan't, l say"
If only she could persuade him not
to hunt until Robert had come to an
understanding with Mackenzie. If he
didn't succeed-then she knew another
way.
"Iebbe in a little while you can
hunt all you like, Daddy" she ven
tured softly.
"What do you mean by that, brat?"
asked jeremiah, centering his keen
eyes upon her.
She leaned forward and Slipped both
arms about his big waist.
81 don't want you to go today,
Daddy" she returned noncommittally.
"Why don't you just stay at home, an
-an'-"
"NOpc, I'm goin'." Interrupted Hop
kinS. AN Jerry's a-goin' with me.
III be back before any Of Old Mares
spies turn over FOR another nap"
Doll,. I-pn,,. bor Tatbpr Iypll pnOuOf