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

By the aid of II, she could get glimpSeS
OF her slim young figure and the grace
full sweep OF the skirt. Holding the
glass higher up, she studied her slen-
der neck where the Il had tanned II.
But tan did not matter. for Daddy
Hopkins loved her In spite OF 1t.
All at Once she heard a knock
agaiast the side of the hut. Hastily
slipping out Of the dress and folding
II, she showed II under her pillow.
Then she put on her old dress and
opened the door.
Larry Bishop was there, extending
her a letter. Taking the note in
a%mazement, she smiled and thanked
him.
Amt you comm in, Larry?' she
asked. kinda chilly tonight, huh?"
The squatter stepped inside, his cap
in his hand,
yep, too cold for summer, Poll"
he returned. Say, brat, how you
gettin' on? Got 'nough beans left for
n while?"
Sure, more'n enough, Larry" she
replied. 81 writ Daddy in my letter
Yesterday how blessed good you'd all
been to me. | bet, when | get face to
face with i'm, I'll tell things | can't
scribble. An now you go bringin' me
this"
She tapped the letter with her fin
gers as Il mysterious smile touched
her lips.
The man shook his head grizzly.
"You won't be seem your dad very
soon, Pollyop,H he muttered, not II
guess right"
"Mebbe | WILL" she told him. finger
ing the letter.
t She liked Larry Bishop very much
! but she was eaten up with curiosity tc
] know the contents of the envelope In
her hand. Perhaps, oh, might 1t be
"Where'd you get this, Larry| she
|, asked, holding it up.
~ was comm down the lane" ex
planned Bishop, can a Teller asked
l. me if | knowed where the Hopkins
o hut was. | says, Yep, I'm goin' there
now He says, Take this letter t
the Hopkins girl an says, Yep an
an | brung It,"
He paused, hoping she would ope'
n 1t In his presence. Being persuade
n she did not intend to, he went on
His footsteps had no sooner died ava
4 than Polly sprang to the door an
il barred It. Then she turned the lette
over and over and looked at 1t. lie
name was on 1t; so 1t must be mcaI
id for her to read. A thrill of pleasul
ran over her. Perhaps Robert Ia
IS sent her q word Of forgiveness. II
10 might have written that some day
as would come again.
to With sparkling anticipation she q
open the envelope and by the light
d. the candle spelled out its contents.
H. Dear Polly" she read. Il couldr
he manage that trip to Auburn. SO sorr
az"
Polly locked duly at the paper, u
words running into black smudi
y lines. Then she could not 90 to Dad'
Hopkins after all and jerry mrs
u die! Old Mare had nee more laid
powerful hand upon her. Overcot
;, with grief, she wept a while. Tn
she took the dress from under t
. pillow, rolled it carefully in u cle'
cloth and put 1t away.
Il
VA The shock of Evelyn's cold nc
IA brought back the shadows to Pollyol
IA brown eyes. As the days passed $40
ly by, and the rich girl did not col
M to the shack again. Polly lost all no
W Of seeing her father.
Al Her decision to 90 to Auburn in sp'
lM of Old Mare followed q letter that $
I'LL received from Daddy Hopkins. !
ll was very lonely, he said. He "
M counting off each day as so many ho'
M nearer the time when he could see
IA dear children. With the picture
" Daddy's loneliness stamped in mist
on her mind came the thought that
one had the right to keep Jerry FRI
r. his father.
III From the time she conceived I
idea. it never left her thoughts. 5
had often stolen rides OF the Len
:. Valley train from Ithaca to the Stl'
I'll City and dropped off where the eng
VI took a switch while the Buffalo )
cial dashed by. Why could she I
,os. steal a ride clear to Auburnf
he, While the squatter girl was max
am arrangements to carry out I
mighty plan, preparations for
MacKe Robertson wedding w
me going rapidly forward. Evelyn, haE
hed In her new love, untroubIed by 81
zen pathy for the dead Oscar, passed
days mostly at dressmakers and
eek the shops. Her contentment wo
ohe have been complete If her cousin X
her ert had not looked so sad, or If
uoy could have rid herself Of the sense
'hg- responsibility for his unhappin'
up But hoping in her fippant way t
all would come out well after h
an married, she gave little heed to
led and none at all to Polly Hopkins.
nile Early one morning Polly hop
quickly out of bed and after a bre
un- fast Of bread and beans, began to Or
tas- Jerry In the best he had. The