The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-02
EDening Story
A Burnt Sacrifice.
BY MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS.

the tall STRIPPING who sat uneasily on
the edge of his chair in front of a
swapping fire.
"After-after Polly. please, sir.
Nanny sent me. She says it Amt
fair, you with six gaI-cnildren, her
with none. She-she likes Polly fine
same as she does me-" came tum-
bling out all in a huddle. The squire
lay back in his splint- bottomed arm
chair laughing hard but silently. A
full minute he laughed; then wiping
his eyes, flung at the youngster: Go
back ana tell your NANNY. Polly,
none o. my gals amt to be had for her
askin'-nor yours. 1 hope they marry
and-welI, but they must look out for
men," scathing emphasis on the word.
Not somebody that can't say the word
for himself and has to hold on to
mammy's apron strings or fall sprawl
in"
the boy jerkily, but with a touch of
relief. az amt sayin' nothin' against
Polly-she's top notch-but If l had
the pickin', why, I'd say words to
'Melia. She's little and soft and cud-
dle-y like a new-hatehed chicken X.
squire questioned.
mo, sir. lin not free yet
wont be twenty-one till day after
next lection. Nanny says 1 couldn't
git a license to marry nobody till then
WllIIOuI 6AfO~rNOAASSAAef N~AO ~O-0
@You believe herr" the squire ex-
Il have to-ain't she nanny ?''
Joe Ridley answered with an air Of
''B'Jacks! Seems like she's got you
under her thumb for fair" the squire
chuckled Wonder how she man
ages it? Tell her if she'll show me
and make it work on my flock I'll give
= +a oh 'Pn0-nrO-
vided it amt Polly"
But she wants Polly; nobody else"
Joe protested filially. Polly suits
her. Both of 'em are the up-and-
slack-twisted, else lazy or sassy, all
but Ella, and she's got too much re-
ligion. I tried my best to tell her
how she and Polly'd fight; but she's
the sort ye can't tell-got always to
show her"
Eye wont never have the chance to
show her that. Polly's meat for your
masters son-or anybody elses-
Search the length O. Brush Creek. we
wont find her match--not for looks
specially of men-and even boys like
you,' the squire snorted.
Who's calling me out of my name?
Not you, dad? Surely not you?" a
gay girl voice called from the outer
hall. Polly burst thru it into the
starry, her cheeks twin damask roses
What are you two colloguin' about
with such solemn owl eyes?" she
asked. fBetter go out and take run
the top of the Red hill to the door
here at home"
and snow on the ground! You'll
be down with pneumonia If you don't
watch out" the squire said with a
chuckle. Just now you
St N think IF diving HRra'0 Toe
sent by his nanny to court and
marry you right out of hand. What
dye say to it?''
why, let me see! Looks like
so long and tall, I'd never need a lad
DER Polly answered reflectively, tho
her eyes danced. But won't marry
anybody that hasn't money. How
much you got, Joe? Cold cash, re-
member, not prospects?''
why. Ii but it don't matter;
squire says I shan't have ye," Joe
eagerly. The squire
winked at Polly.
That's a put-off," he said severely
let him have~her and leave you dancin'
in the pig trough
mo! Neveri Forbid it heaven!"
Polly calculated, then broke into a
chuckling laugh, saying: Joe. 1 got
that out of playboox we had at
school. But you must tell me about
the money. I'm Meiia's guardian
angel. you know,
I've got what granny left me fol
bein' a boy. She said she'd looked for
twin gals. Nanny SO loved to con-
trary her. That's five hundred with
interest since was born. Then there's
prizes L won with calves. and pigs and
chickens and things, and for ridin
best at~the fairs, and what my two
span fetched after drove 'em in three
and some few more things.
1 don't know jest how much it all
comes to, but I'm goin' to put it in
the Green place the day I can," Joe
answered artlessly.
Joe, you take my breath! I didn't
know there was SO much money in
the world, much less in the neighbor
hood Polly cried. But say, sonny,
put land out of your mind. There's
plenty already in the family-enough
and more if there are four brothers tC
divide it. Better take the money and
go to college. I'd have tried to get
you in the notion years back If ha6
dreamed you were SO well fixed"
''Thanky, ma'am," Joe said. out
the reddest beet. But you
don't understand. Long as nanny
lives the land is all hers. I want her
to live years and years and years.
She's good to me-to all of us-but
don't sense were grown up. She never
will. unless I break away. 1 want a
'And little Melia in it, eh?" Polly
Joe bowed his head. CT wouldn't |
swap it for heaven he said in a |
shoked voice. LAS long as 1 bide at |
home in mammy's house I feel bound |
TO mind her, no matter what she says.
That makes me shy and Backward
ganglin', too. I can't feel nor look |
rightly grown up. But femme get my |
feet on my own doorstep. shant be |
fraid of nothin' nor nobody
You do need room to grow" Polly |
said, suddenly sober. Better try coll |
ege rather than matrimony. I've al |
ways said an education would make |
L big man of you. Why not give your |
self the chance?"
And let some other fellow carry |
off Melia? Not for this world and |