Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-06-01
CHAPTER xI-continued.


Into the young mans darkening SEN
sibilitles, and the ghost Of a 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
1t and dream-dream of a deep-toned
voice telling her of love and a future,
dream Of Roberts arms about her and
her head pressed against him.
Up and down she went through the
Silent City, unable to smile, well nigh
unable to speak word of greeting to
those she met. So sympathetic were
her squatter friends that many fish
and pan of baked beans found thelI
way into the Hopkins hut.
Several times Pollyop 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
fed whispers went from mouth to
mouth in the settlement that he had
boosted how he was going to clear the
squatters 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-
peated assurance that 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 MacKenzie's fence.
There for a 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, cleaTeT
understanding took possession of her.
The same cruel force had attacked her
and the woman there. They were liv-
ing in warning world, trying by might
and main to cling to their own, Polly
op 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 a
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 a word of greeting from her
tongue, for Robert Percival was look
ing at her, his serious white face hold
fng no hint of smile or welcome. For
long minute they stared at each 9TH
er; then the young man swung about
swiftly and strobe away.
Crushed almost into insenslbility,
Pollyop sank lower and lower until
Jerry slid away from her shoulders to
the ground Her beloved had not
spoken, nor had the panied lines about
his mouth softened even a little bit
Afternoon shadows began to stretch
long over the lake and crowd down
upon the Silent City, and still the
: squatter girl kneIt and wept out her
/ sorrow and loneliness with no one
!, near but the large-eyed, sad little
child, leaning across the thin back Of
? Billy-goat Hopkins.
!, At length Pollyop arose, wiplng her
worn face on her sleeve. Then she
'holsted Jerry to her shoulders and
turned for a last look at the lofty
mother of the world.
y For a minute she gazed steadily.
!, And then, through the gathering
!, gloom, she thought she saw a smile
lowering about the beautiful mouth.
Pollyop went nearer by two steps. The
woman was smiling at her, and the
squatter girl, overwhelmed with Joy
that hurt keenly like a knife's blade,
'ssmiled back, the first smile since
\ Granny Hope had left her.
} Holding Jerry by one arm, she
thrust the other hand upward.
: biggest an beautifulest nanny In |
all the world" she faltered, ''bless me
an Jerry an'-an' Daddy Hopkins
7 away off up in Auburn prison"
Reverently she knelt with her cling
,ing burden. and then. swiftly rising,
went back to the shanty, her pale face |
radiant with a worldwide blessing.
\ CHAPTER XII
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