American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-05-05

- v sAA@LNh III LHN
country without PollyOp."
The thought Of his staying around
Ithaca filed Evelyn with dread. She
knew something of the tenacity with
which he chung TO any notion that
might take possession of him. How
could she have ever submitted to his
caresses? And the words, Until death
do us part" rang In her ears. filling
her with ~nauseating disgust.
y wish he were dead this minute,'
she thought passionately.
She was waiting for Oscar to con-
tinue, but he evidently did not intend
to; so. settling hack as If anxious to
start. she said coldlx:
TN go to her then, as soon as /
can"
"When-today. ma'am" asked Oscar
eagerly.
If she had DO approach Polly Hop
kins about this disagreeable matter,
the sooner the better, Evelyn thought
"Yes," she consented languidly. ~
might go BOW, l suppose"
but You won't find her home tin
night, Eve" Marcus informed her.
She's gone to see her father before
he goes to Auburn. l tried to put the
qufetus on that, but Boil cut Up so I
told the sheriff to let her in"
Then I'll telephone you later, MI.
Bennett" said Evelyn, lifting her chin
haughtily as If he were really beneath
her consideration. Good afternoon ~
The hours passed slowly byl 1t
seemed an eternity to Oscar while he
waited the call from Evelyn. When
he heard her voice over the telephone,
he answered gFufiy.
"Now, don't be nasty, Oscar" or
dered Evelyn imperiously. SIN doing
the best / can I'm In a booth talking,
and If you'll meet me at seven, We'll
go together to Polly Hopkins, Does
that suit you all rightY'
"You don't suit me very WELL" Oscar
grumbled into the receiver. "Pd like
to give you the licking of your life,
my lady,"
Evelyn's laugh came ringing across
the wire.
ONAN Pun JOhASSl Ouls my uchI
man." she tainted, Now, don't start
bullying me over the phone, Oscar, for
l won't stand it. Hold your temper II
you can possibly do 50. For once do
as I tell you! Win you?"
ooh, l suppose So" Bennett raped
out. "Where'n l meet your
"Well, let me see. At seven on the
boulevard, near the lane" ;
"All right 7" and Oscar slammed up
the receiver without waiting to hear
any more, and proceeded about his
farm tasks. Thoughts of anger toward
Eve, now so overbearing and con-
temptuous, were soon crowded out,
however, by anticipation Of the time
when Polly would belong to him-be
his to love or abuse at his own sweet
will, for Oscar had little doubt that
the squatter girl would eventually
yield to his will.
Pollyop, meanwhile, quite uneon-
scious of Oscars vicious intentions,
was already utterly overwhelmed with
misery.
After the meager supper was over
h a night, she sat crouched near the
wood-bOx, her arm around Billy Hop
IN stringy neck, Granny Hope was
in bed and Wee Jerry, having cried
himself to sleep, was in Jeremiah's
room, rolled up in a blanket.
For the first time in her life Polly
had seen her father weep. How i'm
petuously she had kissed away his
tears! How she had hung to his neckI
When they had been forced to leave
him, Jerry had shrieked his misery all
the way through the streets of Ithaca.
To make the matter worse, it began
to rain, to thunder and tighten. And
now, a forlorn, lonely little creature.
she sat listening to the tempest out
side with no company but the billy
goat. =
How listless and hopeless she fe1tE
Only when the thunder rolled over the
lake, and the lightning flashed across
the sky, did she lift her head. When
she was happy, Polly loved the
storms, but now, with Daddy in Au-
burn, how could she bear the thrash
ing rain and the moan of the willow
trees as they swung to and fro over
the shanty roof?
She found herself wishing fearfully
that the storm would sweep off to the
south and down behind the hills. Over
and over in her mind went the thought
that perhaps she could have helped
Daddy if she had done what Evelyn
wanted her to. Why hadn't she con-
sented to marry Oscar two weeks ago1
knew why, and, blushing, blamed
herself. She could not keep the image
of Robert Percival from smiling at
her.
All of a sudden a frightful fash Of
lightning made dim the flicker from
the small candle, and was followed in
stantly by a thunderous roar that
shook the very earth. Mingled with it
a woman's scream. Polly struR-
gled to her feet Soma ono u,oS IN