The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-05-05
CHAPTER xl-continusu.
-. IL. ri


---12--
PoIiy0p's sobbing VOICE penetrated
Into the young mans darkening sen
ssbilifiea, and the ghost Of q smlis
trepf to his Hips. Then slowly BIS eyes
closed. The strained muscles relaxed
from about Ills mouth, leaving Ii more
Doyish and thus did the Storm coun.
try give back to Evelyn Robertson her
freedom.
After TINT came dark days for Polly.
op. Even the Reproduction OF Tile
Greatest Mother Ia the World, which
hung III its accustomed place on the
shanty wall. failed to lift the heavy
: load that rested like stone In her
bosom. No more did she stand before
Vt and dreamsdream Of deep-toned
voice telling her Of love aud q 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 70 speak q word of greeting 10
those She met. 80 sympathetic were
her sgnatter friends That many ii fish
and pan OF baked beans found then
way Into the Hopkins hut.
Several times Pollyop hind made an
effort % zee Evelyn, but the rich girl
never appeared ais the little triiI
sounded just after nightfall In the
Robertson garden.
~ Jnly came rumors TINT Evelyn
Robertson was 10 marry Marcus Mac
henzie; and that he had bought the
Emmett farm Of Oscars heirs. Terri
fed whispers went from mouth to
mouth 10 the settlement that he had
boasted how he was going to clear the
squntters from the Silent city before
the coming Of Christmas.
Que night the dark messenger to
whom no home Ii closed slipped into
the Hopkins shnnIy and summoned
Granny Hope. Although the absence
OF the old withered mouth made one
less 10 feed, Pollyop missed the OFT re-
peated assurance that somehow. some
time, love would make crooked things
sfrnighf.
Late one day. SHE took Jerry and
the billy goat and waited through the
silent City and on toward the Bad
Mans Rayine. The picture she had
grown 10 love n those long-ago spring
days stu gaxed ont at her from Mar.
Gus MacKenzie's fence.
There for moment Polly halted
and solemnly contemplated the beautl.
full face. When she Ind been happy.
and that wns ages past. she had not
realized what the call in the mother
plea meant. But as one after another.
her loved ones Ind dwlndled away,
aud none but Jerry was left, d clearer
understanding took possession of her,
The same cruel force had attacked her
mud the woman there, They were llv-
Ing In d warning world. trying by might
md main TO cling to their own Polly
on and this giant mother. The woman
asked aid for her vast army OF sick
sons. and Poliy's sorrow. touched BY
her broad compassion. iightened
little.
Behind her she heard footsteps.
Slowly she turned her head; and al
most at the same instant the person
stopped. Poilyop could not move or
force word OF greeting from her
tongue. for Robert percivni was look
Ing ut her. his serious white face hold
Ing no hint OF smile or welcome. For
a long minute they stared at each 9TH
er: then the young man swung about
swiftly and strobe AWAY.
Crushed almost into lnsensibllity,
Poliyop sank lower and lower until
Jerry slid away from her shoulders 10
the ground Her beloved Ind not
spoken. nor had the panied lines about
his mouth s0ftened even little bill
Afternoon shadows began to stretch
long over the lake and crowd down
upon the Silent City. and still the
sQuatter girl knelt and wept OUT her
sorrow and loneliness with no one
near but the large-eyed. sad little
child, leaning across the thin back OF
Bflly,goat Hopkins.
AT length pollyop arose. wiping her
worn face on her sleeve. Then she
h0lsted Jerry to her shoulders and
sAuilfVu ibt49A luSA iu~k ut InW lofty
mother Of the world.
For minute she gazed steadily.
And then. through the gathering
gloom. she thought she saw d smile
lowering about the beautiful mouth.
I'ollyop went nearer By two steps. The
woman was smiling at her, and the
squatter girl, overwhelmed with n Joy
that hurt keenly like knifes blade,
smiled baek. the first smile since
Granny Hope had left her.
Holding Jerry By one arm, she
thrust the other hand upward
Biggest an beau fullest nanny IN
ell the. world" she ALTERED. bless me
an Jerry ana an Daddy Hopkins
away of up in Auburn prison.
Reyerently she kneIt with her cling
Ing burden. and tlen swiftly rising.
went back TO the shanty, her pale face
radiant with worldwide blessing.