Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-03-31

mhlie ioiy hOpklnS gaZeu at her
hands locked together II her lap.
"YOu can't tell me nOthin' about Os.
car" she remarked at length. ~ know
the dirty duffet, an l don't know
nothin' good about him, you can bet
your boots on that" She paused while
through the open doorway her eyes
were fixed upon a f1eecy cloud, high
up in the deep blue sky. But that
don't make no difference" she contin.
ued. IF | linked up with Oscar, would
that pup, Old Marc, let the squatters
stay in the Silent City%
"Why, Polly, dear, of course he will
| talked with Oscar last night. and I'll
speak to Mr.. Mackenzie just as soon
as you promise to do what Oscar
wants"
Again the smiling face Of Robert
Percival cut across Polly Hopkins
mental vision, and through the silence
OF the shanty she head his voice-deep,
low and like music. Then the evil
face OF Bennett wormed itself into her
mind. Her lids dropped, and she shud-
dered.
II couldn't do It, ma'am," she
walled. II just couldn't do that"
Evelyn arose and stood over her.
You must, Polly" she asserted
again. Good heavens, it's the chance
OF your life! OF course you'll do it,
Polly Hopkins. Take a little time to
think 1t over. I'll bring Oscar to see
you some day when Mr.. Mackenzie
n my cousin Robert are away"
AT the sound Of that beloved name,
Polly's head fell forward.
"Scoot now" she said, her curls hid
ing her face. "Ill think about it,"
After Evelyn had gone, Polly me-
chanically resumed her sewing. Il
seemed that her hearts JOY had wholly
died within her. Patiently she tried
to turn her attention to the work in
her hands, but again and again she
caught herself sitting with idle fingers.
Finally, worried by the conflicting
A'h NNlV ulllS Ill uJOH
her, Polly flung herself into the open
and ran swiftly along the ragged rocks
to n little glen where many a time she
had been before. Here she waded
through the brook and sank down be-
side 1t. Mind-picture after mind-pic-
ture passed before her. She saw
Daddy Hopkins happy with Jerry in
he shanty, no longer afraid to fish
and hunt. Then she visioned the ST.
lent City, safe at last, and saved by
her. Her head sank into her hands;
and sobs racked her slender body.
But 1t was not long before she sat
up and tossed back her curls. It
seemed as If she had heard a voice.
She turned her head slowly: and 10,
Robert Percival was standing across
the creek, smiling at her.
II followed you, Polly Hopkins" he
called, and s%pringing across the water,
he added: "You ran so fast | lost you
at the corner of the ragged rocks, and
it's taken me all this time to find YOU"
He sat down beside her and took her
hands; but Polly could not look I'D
ut him. Embarrassed beyond utter
ance, she withdrew her fingers, letting
them fall listlessly. Robert laughed.
Her lovely face, first white then scar
let, only told him that she was glad
to see him, and spoke of girlish inno-
cence, dear to all men.
"You went away so suddenly the
other night" he ran on. II didn't have
a chance to say half I wanted to. I
had something for you, too, but
couldn't get away until today to bring
1t down."
He pulled a little roll Of paper from
his pocket and handed 1t to her. Won
deringly she opened it, and there was
an exact reproduction of THE Great
est Mother in the World"
Polly was so overcome she contin.
ued silent.
"Don't you like 1t. little Pollyop?"
Queried Robert, putting his fingers I'M
der her chin and raising her face to
his.
"Yep!" she whispered, blushing.
"Sure. sure l do. l love It,"
"Then why don't you smileT he de-
handed; and as she shyly complied
with his request, he ran on: "Tve
talked with Mackenzie, and he's so
set Confound it! He makes me so
hot | can scarcely listen to him. But,
Polly dear, I'll do everything l can.
I've got money and friends, as well as
he has, and I'll use 'em too. Will you
trust me. sweet?"
She bowed her head in grateful as
sent. How she thrilled at the touch
OF the warm, white hand!
"Look at me, dearie," he begged,
and. when she did flash him a rosy
glance, he caught her to him. 81 love
you, little girl" he whispered,
AN loves the greatest thing In
Ithaca. amt itT she murmured in
trembling confusion.
"YeS, yes" he breathed. Little
girl-oh, my littlest dear"
His voice trailed away. and his pas
Sionate kisses made Polly Hopkins for
get everything but him. Primeval pas
sion rose within her. She had found
her man. and nothing should take him