American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-04-28

and" IN
An Oscar'i be goin' away some.
where's else?" put In Polly. sIs thst
IL! He'd take me away from Daddy
Hopkins an from"
She caught herself Just In time. Sha
mad 1t on the tip Of her tongue to ada
the name of Robert P~ercival, bur az
course she did not.
i couldn't ever do that" she ended.
Never, never!"
The blue eyes looked into the brown
eyes seriously.
oh, yes, o can" Insisted Miss
Robertson. Oscars not the worst I'm
the world. and he'll have a lot Of
money when he leaves Ithaca. He
loves you, Pollyop, and he'd make life
easy and pleasant for you"
A thoughtful moment or two passed.
while Polly Hopkins gaxed at her
hands locked together in her Ian.
You can't tell me nothin' about Oa-
car" she remarked at length. "T know
the dirty duffer. al I don't know
nothin' good about him, you car bet
your boots on that" She paused while
through the open doorway her eyes
were fixed upon a fleecy cloud, high
up in the deep blue sky. "But that
dent make no difference" she contin-
ued. If / linked up with Oscar, would
that pup. Old Marc, let the suuatters
stay in the Silent Cityr'
FVUAu DnI4x, Nnm~ 49,
/ talked with Oscar last night, and ri
speak to MI. MaeKenmae just as soon
as You promise to do what Oscar
wants."
Again the smiling face OF Robert
rercival cut across Polly Hopkins
mental vision, and through the silence
on the shanty she head his voice-deep.
lew and like music. Then the evil
race Of Bennett wormed itself into her
mind. Her lids dropped, and she shud-
dered.
couldn't do it, ma'am," she
vailed. II just couldn't do that ~
Evelyn o and stood over her.
you must, Polly" she asserted
again. Good heavens, it's the chance
OF your life! OF course you'll do It.
Polly Hopkins. Take a little time to
think 1t over. I'll bring Oscar to see
0 some day when Mr.. Mackenzie
and my cousin Robert are away"
AT the sound of that beloved name.
Polly's head fell forward.
"Scoot now" she said, her curls hid
ing her face. "Ill think about It,"
After Evelyn had gone, Polly me
chanically resumed her sewing. Il
seemed that her hearts Joy had wholly
died within her. Patiently she tried
to turn her attention to the work in
her hands, but again and again she
caught herself sitting with idle fingers.
Finally, worried by the conflicting
emotions that were crowding in upon
her, Polly flung herself into the open
and ran swiftly along the ragged rocks
to a little glen where many a time she
had been before. Here she waded
through the brook and sank down be-
side 1t. Mind-picture after mind-pic-
ture passed before her. She saw
Daddy Hopkins happy with Jerry in
the shanty, no longer afraid to fish
unu NUM-. Then she visioned the 81
lent City, safe at last, and saved by
her. Her head sank into her hands;
and sobs racked her slender body.
But 1t was not long before she sat
up and tossed back her curls. 1t
seemed as If she had heard a voice.
She turned her head slowly; and 10,
Robert Percival was standing across
the creek. smiling at her.
II followed you, Polly Hopkins" he
called, and s%pringing across the water,
he added: "You ran so fast l lost you
at the corner of the ragged rocks, and
It's taken me all this time to find you"
He sat down beside her and took her
but Polly could not look up
at him. Embarrassed beyond utter
ance, she withdrew her fingers, letting
fall listlessly. Robert laughed. |
Her lovely face. first white then scar
only told him that she was glad
to see him, and spoke of girlish inno-
cence, dear to all men.
"You went away so suddenly the
other night" he ran On. 81 didn't have
chance to say half / wanted to. l
had something for you, too, but
couldn't get away until today to bring
It down."
He pulled a little roll of paper from
ais pocket and handed 1t to her. Won
ieringly she opened 1t, and there was
IN exact reproduction of 1.-THE Great
EST Mother In the World"
Polly was so overcome she contin-
led silent.
FONT you like 1t, little POllyop?"
robert, putting his fingers UNI
her chin and raising her face to
lis.
"Yepl" she whispered, blushing.
Sure, sur I do. / love it."
Then why don't you smlle?" he de- !.
nandedi and as she shyly complied
With his request. he ran on 1--WE
alked with Mackenzie, and he's SO
Confound It'll He makes me so
ut 4 asu 500 raaIv lfofon 70 hfno u,.A H.