The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-08-10

they arei You're as wicked as h-ll
Ithacanl he better Off when you're
food for the fishes. I'm glad your
man'll live, though. Lordy, how |
laughed when he busted into tire
shanty. And there was you right be-
side mel Huhf Wasn't 1t a good
joke on Old Marc?"
The speaker held Evelyn's stare, the
chestnut eyes gllttering as the Ques-
tlon was fairly spat out.
~ can't die, PollyOpw groaned Eve
lyn, her head dropping against the
cot. "Oh, Polly dear, listen-please-"
Polly reached ou. for the ak.
"Don't you dare Polly dear me-"
she gritted convulsively, "or I'll hit
you with thisw
"God !-Jesusl" came from between
Evelyn's chatterlng teeth. "No, don't
pick II upl Don'tl oh, want to tell
you something, Polly Hopkins"
"Then fire ahead" Polly grumbled
sullenly.
ax-handle and leaned her chin In the
palm of her hand.
Evelyn Strengthened up and bent
forward, her eyes swimming with
tears.
polly" she gasped, "Pollyop, in the
summer Gods going to send me lit
tie baby. oh, Polly"
The squatter girl scrambled up as
the speaker dropped back, terrified at
the exultant fire In the brown eyes and
the awful smile that crept across Pol
ly's face.
"Glory be to God In the skyl" she
cried. 1.-TWO of you belongin' to Old
Marc goln' with one swipe of the AK"
She wheeled around and paced the
length of the shanty. Old Mares baby
Old Mares womanl Both to 20 out
of his life foreverl And by her hands
hers, Polly Hopkins hands
She lifted them up, those slender,
brown fingers, and looked at them
against the candlelight. But few
months ago they had been the most
willing fingers in all the county But
tonight-Marc's babyl Evelyn's baby
Like hive of bees, the Joy of dis.
sipating the home Of Marcus Mac
Kenzle buzzed through her brain. Nc
sound came from the girl on the floor
for Evelyn Mackenzie had given uT
all hope. The squatter girl was crazy
No human being could entertain such
a CHASTITY purpose and be In his right
mind!
Presently she called Polly's nam,
family, and then again; because Polly
gave her no heed, she cried louder:
"Pollyop, my feet hurt so! cam
bear 1t -
Polly paused, leaned against the
wall and glared at her
I'm glad they do that" she NUT
tered. "You can't hurt anywhere too
much to suit mel"
Then something gave way behlnC
her, and wheeling around, she founC
herself staring into the face of "Th'
Greatest Mother in the World
Daddy's dust-covered coat which haC
hidden the picture all the past weeks
lay at her feet.
AS she looked, the glare left Polly
eyes. The serious face that had ono,
smiled at her, the smile that had beer
benedictlon for herself and Dadd!
Hopkins, was there no longer. Rathe
was there an expression OF sorrow
Death rested In the nurses arms, bu
from her whole reverent attitude tn,
sense OF protection swept out at Poll,
Hopkins.
Then suddenly she heard a man.
voice. II seemed to drift into the hu
through every crevice and crack.
"And you're the Llttlest Mother II
the World" came plainly to her.
Like one struck, she stood rootet
to the spot. Evelyn Mckenzie owe
there against the bed faded from he
mind. Old Mares imaged face wen
away as II 1t had never seered he
words Robert had spoken to he
rushed into her ears and stampe,
themselves in golden fire on her mem
ory.
81 love you, Polly" touched he
like a caress, and, you're my littl
girl" fell upon her like the tende
hand Of Granny Hopes God.
"The Greatest Mother I'm the World,
whispered Pollyop; and then some
thing hard and hateful within he
broke, and the food-tides Of love cam
pouring in. AS when dam bursts
the pent-up waters sweep away all III
accumulated rubbish In the old, un
used channels so was the squatte
girls heart cleansed OF every unlovel
emotion. To her uplifted vision 9TH
Greatest Mother in the World" smile
again In benedictlon; and beyond hel
dim in the background, appeared
wrinkled, toothless smile, and Poll
heard Granny Hopes withered lip
saying:
Loves the hull thing, brat. Jus
love, an love, an keep on loyin'."
Full Of the tenderest compassion
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