The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-04-20
(contined)

~" W b'N hhfhf tufhe ne
here Ia your
Two strides brought him so close
that Polly felt his hot breath against
her cold face She cried out in an.
guish and started 10 speak; but Eve.
lyn broke in upon her 10 frantic haste
"Now listen TO me. Bob. she insist.
ed You are very unklnd What's
happened here is none Of your bust.
ness nor mine Every squatter wom-
an has O man, aud you can't expect
Polly Hopkins TO be an exception. All
you can do f. st a doctor"
Robert passeA his hand over his
face He looked aazedly from Pollyop.
40 silent and pale 20 the man so hor-
rtly still on the cot
"All right" he replied gruffiy.
"Come on This l. no place" He
flung glance at Polly Hopkins that
STRUCK her like a blow from a whip.
and finished. mo place for decent
girl"
Stupeded by the food OF disasters
that had overwhelmed her, Polly
watched Robert Percival lead his cou-
sin from the hut After the first wild
impulse TO tell him the truth. she had
made no further effort TO clear herself.
Evelyn Robertson was going 10 hold
her TO the word -he had made two
years ag6 Being innately honest her
self. Pollyop could see no way 10
Tighten her own detection or TO still
Roberts fierce anger. Her little world
was tumbling to pieces around her. No
longer could she think Of him as her
own, though but a few short minutes
before he had comforted Ter with
kisses and promises. He had demand
ed that she shosld trust him. yet at
the very first trial Of his faith. he had
flung away and left her alone.
Blinded by tears. she felt her way
20 the cot. Bennett lay In the same
position. his wide-open eyes holding
an expression Of horror
''she's got a lily liver all right, os-
car" Polly Missed through her teeth.
did you hear all what she saidf'
Such is the power of habit over
nature like the squatter girls that
Robert faded from her mind. and os-
car Bennett, suffering and dying, alb
sorbed her whole attention.
Cant you hear anything. oscarf"
she questioned. Listen, mebbe you'll
get well. II you do. take your old
nanny an get out quick. Eve Amt
worth one OF your toe nails You've
been mean duifer, Oscar. but you're
too d--n good for her. Goi. hut she
were a wicked woman. wasn't she.
huhf
Not move OF the heavy head on
the pillow gave evidence that She had
been heard
She was stlll standing by Bennetts |
side when. withoH, knocking. Robert !
opened the door and came In, followed (
by the doctor Polly recognized the |
stranger instantly as the medical man |
who lived a short distance down the |
boulevard. In anxious inquiry she |
glanced at PerciyaI.
Observing that she had been weep 1
ing his anger fiared again. II never /
occurred to him that his own cruelty /
had drawn the tears from her eyes. 4
There was the huge farmer stretched 4
out on the bed aud the squstter girl 4
crying beside him. She was mourning 1
over the stricken man Robert
frowned. and hol slessly. IN silence.
Polly moved aside 10 give the doctor
the space She had occupied.
After a hasty examination u the pa
tient Doctor Bacon turned 70 Polly
Hopkins
Something struck him. h. said
shortly You've ben quarreling with
him eh. giri What did you h.t him
Wlfbg
Accusation rang against her not
only lu che speaker tones but % Rob
eft iuaulcaiate ery.
~Why d.a yua strike him po'iy Hop
kiusfr he demanded hgarse'y -n.5
yaas spsak5 DID yauf7
ThaJ BE- should believe Sueh thing
- her crushed her e1ml feter He
head feI forward hut uof uall Rob-
ert sp8Ee aGalu harshiy dil she au.
sHar
-Nere she brsathed Her tongue f
feif 81 u q were covered a.tt ashes
-Nef.e i.ant 80 him
That uas az So said She ioaEed
~ ai bin piead.nsls thrnnEh her thick
iasies Perhaps - did net really BE-
lieFe her guilty Yes he I'D He vas
stM tninx upon her that sceusatory
gare
He'd better ~ moved out q this
hole.- Observed fle Doctor leakinz
Eround hut lt's a. awful night He