The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-06-15


strangers His little spirit had called
10 her IN the grief Of its goingi She
cast glance at the man and the
woman. They were wholly enveloped
In themselves and paid no attention
TO the plaintiye wall that broke from
her lips. She struggled to the door
and opened II. and there-right before
her startled eyes-was Daddy Hop
kins. with Jerry astraddle his neck.
Daddy" came In one bewildered
cry from her shaking lips.
Then they faded from her vision,
and the brown eyes yielded TO semi
consciousness. and seml-consciousness
was lost in complete oblivion.
When Polly Hopkins again lifted
her lids. she was surrounded by q
group Of people whom at first she did
not recognize. Then Daddy Hopkins
detached himself from the rest. He
was seated very near her. That was
nice, indeed she thought dimly. She
must have dreamed that Old Marc
had sent him to prison. Wee Jerry
was cuddled at her side. Then he,
too, had never gone swayi
What brought full remembrance TO
her was the sight Of Larry Bishop
leaning against the wall at the foot OF
the bed. He was looking at her with
tear-filled eyes. his cracked lips work
Ing painfully.
larry" she cried, struggling up.
II was Marcus Mackenzie that
showed himself In beside Jeremiah and
bent over her.
LARRY didn't do II, Daddy; I did"
she mosned. please, Mr.. Mackenzie.
please. believe mel'
She crawled wearily into Jeremiah's 9
arms and hugged his bushy head. =
.Oh. Daddy Hopkins, ] got TO go
toto jail. been-a wicked-bad-"
She was straining so TO finish that
Robert Percival was no longer able to
keep quiet. He stepped forward SO
that Polly saw him over Dsddy's
shoulder. She glared at him wildly.
"Tell 'em-oh-tell EN-. sshe shud-
dered.
The tears In his eyes softened her
expression.
ats like you 10 feel sorry for me,
sirr She WINGED. "An' gettln' Daddy
an Wee Jerry back is like you, too.
Every day I'm In Jail I'll be prayin'
you'll be happy" She strangled at the
memory OF Old Mares words, "rll get
you next huzzyr"
Then Robert, stung with remorse at
his disbelief In her. picked her out OF
her fathers arms. When he had placed
her in a chair he said:
"POlly, darling, we've heard the
whole story from-from-"
He looked toward Larry Bishop,
stumbling as IL he did not remember
his name.
"And we've forgotten II, too" Mac.
Kenzie doomed In. yesterday II
wouldn't have been any great loss If
my whole family had been sunk in the
lake. We we're all more wicked than
any one in the Silent City. But to-
night it's differentw
Polly Strengthened up, her eyes bril-.
liant with questioning.
Daddy" she asked, "does he
mean-I amt goin' TO jail for my llfe-
longl Oh, Daddy"
She was In the big squstter's out
stretched arms in twinkling, weep
ing against his breast.
"This nights work" said MacKen-
zie. moved almost beyond speech.
"won't pass outside the few who know
H. And Polly---look up, child | want
to tell you something"
In silence she dared a timid glance
at him.
while you-you were-asleep-just
now. Mr.. Percival and made arrange
ments with your father to give him
work" Mackenzie told her. Does
that please your
Awful much" she sighed; then she
turned and looked at Bishop. standing
against the wall
what about Larryf' she murmured
softly Poor. poor Larry"
"rll help him. too" Marcus agreed
eagerly
Polly cogitsted one small moment.
There's Lye Braeger." she sighed
again. He amt got many friends.
l.ye aln'ti''
MaeKenzie's laugh sent a sense OF
relief over the gloomy group.
Then Lye Braeger. too" he ex-
claimed. "and any other squatter who
wants 10 work"
Pollyop. overwhelmed with this gen
erosity. stood up before him. curls
showering each shoulder and framing 1
her lovely. eager face.
Il guess mebbe you were an angel ]
an the time. like Granny Hope said 4
once, she said shyly "Tm thankln
you. sir. an lin hopin' the little .
one Gods sendin' in the summer'll look /
Just uke-like@-a smile touched her
ilp--iust ike Jerry" she ended
Because she was So simply natural !
Mackenzie replied solemnly:
~Ir my child looks as much Ike me
- Jerry looks like bis father. IN b.
srtFsf.sF~