Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-03-01

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Mems kisses are what you'll get,
my pretty lass" he predicted grimly,
"and II l was finished with Eve. by
God, I'd set about getting my share.
| won't always be married TO my lady
Robertson. mind you, Pollyop."
The blood had left his face. He
was quite white and stern, and by this
time Polly was on the porch.
""fain't so easy TO get unmarried
as It's to get married." she told him.
"An' me- I'm just Daddy Hopkins
brat, an | don't want any kisses but
his'n. I'd let Jerry's tongue 20 twist
for milk before I'd pay for it with
with"
Oscar sprang at her. She was so
tantaiizingly beautiful, so alluring even
/ In her grotesque attire that for the
moment he forgot he had reason to
fear her.
"rn kiss you, anyway" he snarled,
but Polly, fieet-footed and afraid. shot
from the porch and reached the lane.
the milk dashing against the cover Of
the pail.
The man halted. looking after her.
With a shrug OF his shoulders he
, turned back into the house. For the
moment he paused In the Kitchen; he
could hear his old mother potterlng
about overhead In his bedroom. She
was doing the work his wife ought to
do What a fool he had been to marry
Evelyn Robertson Instead of the
fortune he had expected, he was tied
hand and foot without money or wom-
an. He thought of the radiant squat
ter girl who had Just left him. Two
years ago womanhood had not dawned
upon Polly Hopkins. but today He
undertoned an oath and went out to
the barn.
Polly Hopkins ran down the lane as
fast as her legs could carry her. The
milk was safe In the bucket. and she
had scarcely reached the railroad
tracks before she had decided not to
mention Oscars vicious demand upon
her II she told Daddy Hopkins. he
would do some harm to Bennett, and
there would he no more eggs and milk
for Granny and Jerry. II she spoke
OF II to Evelyn, there was no telling
what the girl would do.
The tnngle-haired squatter girl was
the daughter of Jeremiah Hopkins, the
mayor of the Silent City. the leader Of
all those who lived in the rows of huts
that ran along the Iehigh Valley
tracks and on down the lakeside.
Uncouth and ignorant were Jere-
mIah and his kind, and visitors who
came to the little city Of Ithaca agreed
with the towns inhabitants that II
was shame the law allowed such a
blot as the Silent City upon the nat.
ural beauty Of Cayuga and rs males.
tic surroundings
Pollyop stood shlverlng her troubled
gaze searching the lake for boat
Daddy Hopkins had gone away early
with Wee Jerry. and she always wor
ried little when they we're out. Yet
she knew that the only way to get
the bread. beans and bacon for tn,
family was for Daddy Hopkins IA
defy the law and drag his nets when
ever the game wardens were moi
about. without the lake and its hid
den food, II would he desolate world
indeed
Wee Jerry was Polly's five-yenr.olt
brother. aud long before he could
walk. he had chosen his fathers hig
shoulders upon which 10 beat his way
through an unfriendly and often hun
CRY world hut this same world which
had wizened Jerry had given 20 Poll,
wild beauty. a body strong and n,
plant as a marsh reed.
with a sigh P0lyop turned 10 RI,
house The door was shut against III,
twisted upward from the topplIns
chimney losing itself Ia fhe hnb,
leaves Of the willows The little Hne,
that had traced the troubled hrGw
vanished at the sight Of slah II
wood over the door On II was paint
ed In crude letters IF your heart 4,
loving and kind come right in. II II
amt. Scoof Off" Pollyop and Gram,
Hope had worked long time 10 make
this sign. and even longer 10 nall II
up
mn help he Silent city elts
Granny" she had said Speclaliy
# smile lot VI EN-
She flung open the door and went
in closing Il behind her. In one cor.
ner Il the kitchen nm old woman "a
odd that no sqnatter could remember
her other than aged. sat near the
stove Abont her shoulders was =
shawl. and IFS edges were held 10.
gether with elawlike fingers
Mnnching on hit Of hay nj thr
wood-box was lean goat an old
friend Of Polly Hopkins. Long ago
she had found him, IosG IN tie wilder
ness Of the Storm country. and bad
brought him 10 the Silent City.
The shanty consisted Of three rooms.
Back Of the kitchen Daddy Hopkins
slept. and IN tie miserable coop-hole
where Polly had once stored rubbish
Granny Hope stretched out her weary
bones at night Polly's bed ranged
the kitchen wall and the room had
but q bench. two old chairs and a
three-legged table TO offer In rude hos
pltality.
Il wheedled little milk from os.
car, Granny" said the girl "Goddy,
but he's gettin' stingyr