Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-04-28
CHAPTER XI-Continued.

AAN0 ~ VIVID
sibilities, and the ghost of a smile
crept to his lips. Then slowly his eyes
closed. The strained muscles relaxed
from about his mouth, leaving it more
boyish; and thus did the Storm coun-
try give back to Evelyn Robertson her
freedom.
After that came dark days for Polly
CD. Even the reproduction of The
Greatest Mother in the World, which
hung in it's accustomed place on the
shanty wall, failed to lift the heavy
load that rested like a stone in her
bosom. No more did she stand before
1t and dream-dream of a deep-toned
voice telling her of love and a 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 to speak a word of greeting TO
those she met. So sympathetic were
her squatter friends that many a tlsh
and pan of baked beans found theli
way into the Hopkins hut.
Several times Po.lyop had made an
effort to see Evelyn, but the rich girl
never appeared as the little trlil
sounded just after nightfall In the
Robertson garden.
In July came rumors that Evelyn
Robertson was to marry Marcus Mac
Kenzie; and that he had bought the
Bennett farm of Oscars heirs. Terri
fed whispers went from mouth TO
mouth in the settlement that he had
boosted how he was going to clear the
squatters from the Silent City before
the coming Of Christmas.
One night the dark messenger TO
whom no home is closed slipped into
the Hopkins shanty and summoned
Granny Hope. Although the absence
of the old withered mouth made one
less to feed, Pollyop missed the Oft re-
Deated assurance that somehow, some
time. love would make crooked things
straight.
Late one day, she took Jerry ano
the billy goat and walked through the
Silent City and on toward the BAG
Mans Ravine. The picture she hac
grown to love in those long-ago spring
days still gazed out at her from MAI
Gus MacKenzie's fence.
There for a moment Polly halted
and solemnly contemplated the beautl
full face. When she had been happy
and that was ages past, she had no
realized what the call in the mother
plea meant. But as n after another
her loved Ones had dwindled away
and none but Jerry was left, a eleaSH
understanding took possession of hel
The same cruel force had attacked ne
and the there. They were liv
ing in a warning world, trying by Nigh
and main to cling to their own, Polly
op and this giant mother. The woma
asked aid for her vast army of sic
sons and Polly's sorrow touched b
her broad compassion, l%ightened
little.
Behind her she heard footsteps
Slowly she turned her head; and a
most at the same instant the persO
stopped. Pollyop could not move
force a word of greeting from ne
tongue. for Robert Percival was lool
ing at her, his serious white face holt
ing no hint of smile or welcome. Ft
a long minute they stared at each otl
err; then the young man swung abo'
swiftly and strobe away.
Crushed almost into insensibilit
Pollyop sank lower and lower unit
Jerry slid away from her shoulders
the ground. Her beloved had n
spoken. nor had the panied lines abo'
his mouth softened even a little bit!
Afternoon shadows began to strett
long over the lake and crowd dow
upon the Silent City, and still Il
sauatter girl knelt and wept out h
sorrow and loneliness with no OF
near but the large-eyed, sad lit
child, leaning across the thin back
Billy-goat Hopkins.
At length Pollyop arose., wiping n
worn face on her sleeve. Then s.
'hoisted Jerry to her shoulders al
turned for a last look at the lof
mother of the world.
For a minute she gazed steadi
And then, through the gatheri
gloom. she thought she saw a SIN
lowering about the beautiful mou1
Pollyop went nearer by two steps. L
woman was smiling at her, and
souatter girl, overwhelmed with a J
that hurt keenly like a knife's bla'
smiled back, the first smile sir
Granny Hope had left her.
Holding Jerry by one arm,
thrust the other hand upward.
biggest an be%autifulest nanny
all the world" she faltered, "bless
an Jerry an'-an' Daddy Hopk
away off up in Auburn prison"
Reverently she knelt with her ell
ing burden, and then. swiftly rtsi
went back to the shanty, her pale Il
radiant with a worldwide blessing