Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-04-14

Leaving the wall she came FORWARD
and hurried on: AN l meant it then
times, an much more after you rail
roaded my daddy and swiped Jerr,
away from me-"
Marcus placed his wife in the chal
and stood up. He started to speak Il
PolIyop; but Eyelyn's cry caused hin
TO turn swiftly. The drabness of hel
face startled him.
Marc! Robert :" she said. 81 cam
go back home until I've told you some
thing. No, Marc, don't stop me.
will talk. Now, listen! Oh, honeyY
This appeal was to her husband who
had laid his fingers on her shoulder
"Won't you hold my hand while 1 tel
it?"
Much moved, Marcus did as she re.
quested. His firm clasp seemed tC
encourage Evelyn, and she went on
Darling. I've always been-dread-
full TOTO Polly Hopkins, and-and
she's been an angel TO me"
She was going to tell it all, ragged
through Polly's mind. Was she going
to bring to light her relations with
the dead Oscar? Old Marc would
never forgive it! Thinking more now
of the baby coming next summer to
the almost incoherent woman than of
her W happiness, Pollyop made a
movement as If to contradict the state
ment; but Evelyn's impetuous rush of
words halted her.
mo, Polly, I'm going to put things
right now, even if Marc leaves me to-
night" she declared, clearing her
throat. Robert, dear boy, I lied to
you. l lied to Polly and to you, Mar
Gus. Oscar Bennett wasn't Polly's
sweetheart at all. He-he was my
husband"
Mackenzie Suffered, but did not
drop the cold fingers he held; and
Evelyn wept bitterly, unable to go on.
A horse whinnied outside; but in
the shanty no sound could be heard
save the hysterical sobbing of Evelyn.
1t seemed to Robert as if he must
shake from his cousin the rest of the
dark story, so impatient was he to
hear it.
'Then-then when you came, my
my beloved" Evelyn raised her tired
eyes to her husband, 81 tried to get
rid of him. 1 did my best to get Polly
Hopkins to promise she'd marry Oscar
after he had freed me. l wanted to
get him out of the country !"
Unwilling to spare herself the least
humiliation, she ended in piteous con
fusion: 81 was glad when l knew he
was dead"
"Then how did he die?" came swift
ly from Mackenzie.
"Oh, just as the doctor told you,
Marc, DEAR" replied Evelyn. HE was
struck by lightning and died from the
shock. I was free then, and-and !
made Polly swear over and over again
she'd never tell any one! And-and
1 gave her the silk dress she wore that
day in the Auburn car. I-I-Tied
qbout that, too. But, Marc, dear love,
knew you hated her and"
Robert bounded to his feet as the
girls words trailed away into silence.
Over MacKenzie's face were speeding
NO many different expressions that the
searching brown eyes Of Polly Hop
kins could not tell whether he in
tended to forgive his unhappy wife or
not.
But Percival did not wait to find
out. He sprang to the door, jerked it
open and closed it behind with a bang.
In fact, he did not even see Evelyn
slip quietly into a faint, or Marcus
snatch her into his arms as If he never
intended to let her go.
1t was only Polly who heard the
passionate love words that came from
lips that had so often flung oaths at
her and her people. She watched Mar
cus DULY, her heart aching and her
muscles rigid with pain. Robert had
not believed what Evelyn had said
He had gone away without a word to
her! OF course, then, he did not love
her any more!
Unnoticed by the MacKenzies, Polly
A1OphInS sat very qulel, WIlle Evelyn,
who had regained consciousness, was
clinging to her husbands neck and
listening to his assurances that she
was forgiven. Then suddenly, through
the low rumble Of Marcus voice and
the signs and sobs of Evelyn, Pollyop
heard a shrill %squatter call. She rose
slowly to her feet and stood rooted
to the spot. The voice that had
sounded was high, childish, like Wee
Jerry's.
With the superstition of her kind.
Polly was overcome by a great fear.
jerry was dying alone in a place of
strangers! His little spirit had called
to her in the grief of it's going! She
cast a glance at the man and the
woman. They were wholly enveloped
In themselves and paid no attention
to the plaintive wall that broke from
her lips. She struggled to the door
and opened 1t, and there-rjpht before