White County record., 1922-07-13

| man Il i've, though. LOrdy how I laughed when he busted into the shanty. And there was you right be- side me Huh? Wasn't it a good joke on Old Marc?"
 The speaker held Evelyn's stare, the chestnut eyes gittering as the ques- l ton was fairly spat out Il can't die, Pollyopw groaned Eve lyn, her head dropping against the cot. "Oh, Polly dear, listen-please-" Polly reached out for the ax.
 Don't you dare Polly dear me" she gritted convulsively, "or I'll hit you with this"
 God Jesus !" came from between Evelyn's chattering teeth. No, don't pick it up Don't Oh, want to tell you something, Polly Hopkins"
 "Then fire ahead" Polly grumbled ;, sullenly.
 She withdrew her fingers from the ax-handle and leaned her chin In the palm of her hand
 Evelyn strengthened up and bent | forward, her eyes swimming with | tears.
 Polly" she gasped, "Pollyop, in the summer Gods going to send me lit tie baby. Oh, Polly" The squatter girl scrambled up as the exultant fire in the brown eyes and the awful smile that crept across Pol | ly's face.
 "Glory be to God in the sky!' she cried Two of you belongin' to Old Mare goin' with one swipe of the ax."
 She wheeled around and paced the length of the shanty. Old Mares baby Old Mares woman! Both to gos out of his life foreverl And by her hands hers, Polly Hopkins hands!
 She lifted them up, those slender, brown fingers, and looked at them against the candlelight. But a few months ago they had been the most willing fingers in all the county! But tonight-Marc's baby ~Eyelyhs baby
 Like a hive of bees, the joy of dis sipating the home of Marcus Mac Kenzie buzzed through her brain. No sound came from the girl on the floor, for Evelyn Mackenzie had given up all hope. The squatter girl was crazy No human being could entertain such a ghastly purpose and be in his right mind
 Presently she called Polly's name faintly, and then again; because Polly gave her no heed, she cried louder:
 "Pollyop, my feet hurt so! I cant bear 1t p
 Polly paused, leaned against the wall and glared at her.
 "Tm glad they do that" she nut tered. You can't hurt anywhere too much to suit mel"
 Then something gave way behind her and wheeling around, she found herself staring into the face of "The l Greatest Mother in the World" Daddy's dust-covered coat which had hidden the picture all the past weeks lay at her feet.
 As she looked, the glare left Polly's 1 eyes The serious face that had once smiled at her, the smile that had been a benediction for herself and Daddy 1 Hopkins, was there no longer. Rather l was there an expression of sorrow. l Death rested in the nurses arms, but l from her whole reverent attitude the sense of protection swept out at Polly Hopkins.
 Then suddenly she heard a mans voice. It seemed to drift into the hut through every crevice and crack.
 And you're the Littlest Mother in the World" came plainly to her.
 Like one struck, she stood rooted to the spot. Evelyn Mackenzie over there against the bed faded from her mind. Old Mares imaged face went away as if it had never seered her vision. Over and over the delightful words Robert had spoken to her rushed into her ears and stamped themselves in golden fire on her mem- ory.
 q love you, Polly" touched her like a caress, and, "You're my little girl" fell upon her like the tender hand of Granny Hopes God.
 '"The Greatest Mother in the World, whispered Pollyop; and then some thing hard and hateful within her broke, and the flood-tides Of love came pouring h. AS when q dam Dursts' | the pent-up waters sweep away all the accumulated rubbish in the old, uh- used channels, so was the squatter | girls heart cleansed of every uhloVei4 emotion. To her uplifted vision "Ihe Greatest Mother in the World smiled again m benediction; and beyond her. dim in the background, appeared wrinkled. toothless smile. and PollY heard Granny Hopes wiIhered lips saying:
 s "Loye's the hull thing, brat. Just love. an love, an keep on loVln.
 Full of the tenderest coilPaSS'on polyop turned swiftly, aud al 'he