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

AAb of1tAth
eoop-hole.
She arose slowly. ready TO spring
at Larry Bishop or Lye Braeger IL
they appeared at the door. To send
them away instantly was the decision
that she made as she saw the latch
lift and the door slowly swing In. A
figure she recognized with startled eyes
stepped across the threshold; she sat
down. but was up again before he
spoke.
The man she had so longed TO see
had come again. But now he WAS here,
she did not dare let him stay mo-
ment. Marcus Mackenzie might come
out OF the eoop-hole even before she
could Apnd the newcomer away. While
he was pressing his great coat collar
down over his shoulders, she tiptoed
to him and with uplifted hand whls-
pered:
"Hushl Go away Go away
quickl" Making a backward gesture,
she added: There's some one In the
coop-hole don't want you TO see"
His errand having completely left
his mind. Robert, after a moment OF
startled inspection, stopped stiffiy by
the door. The resentment and Jealousy
he had nursed so long fiared into ac-
tive life and licked him like flames.
Clothes such as she wore had never
been paid for with squatter money
She was beautiful So much his eyes
told him, but he knew she was not
honest
She had said there was some one
In the
He fixed her with stern eyes and
then showed her aside.
"Tm going to see who he Is" he
snapped.
Pollys fingers caught him as he
tried to pass her.
"No. you can't 20 In there" she
cried. please don't do It,"
The sound of their voices brought
Marcus Mackenzie out into the kitchen
in one stride. lie halted at the sight
of the sauatter girl hanging desperate.
ly 10 Roberts arm. An exclamation
broke from him; and with one wrench
Percival was free and was at him.
$50 it's you !" he said In tone that
told Polly Hopkins what was in his
mind. Damn you. you hypocrite---'
His voice broke on. and he brushed
his eyes across with shaking fingers.
There behind Marcus in the coOp-hole
doorway was his pale cousin.
"Eyelyni" he .gasped thickly. God,
what's this all about7 Every one of
you look as if-as II"
Bewildered and overcome. he could
not finish bis sentence.
Marcus had caught Evelyn to him
and Poilyop. tearlessly ashamed, had
sunk into the big chair to hide the
inery which she knew had brought
the hurt into Roberts eyes. She
wished she WIS clothed in daddy's
boots and her own calico dress
"Shut the door. Bob" Marcus or
dered as calmly as he could.
Mechanically Robert did as he was
hidden. When he turned again. Mar
Gus was seated. with Evelyn clinging
to him. and Pollyop's face was COW
cred by one arm.
Evelyn began to cry weakly.
Bob. dear she broke out. looking
up at her cousin with streaming eyes,
"Pollyops been so good to me"
That sounded 10 Polly as II some
one else were to be punished for the
nights work.
mo. | amt" she protested. lifting
her head. Il was awful bad / were
the only one to blame. hated every
one Of you. Let me tell all Of you
about it,
She began at the beginning and re-
peated how she had eoneocted the plan
10 steal Mrs. Mackenzie She spoke
u Larry and Lye a. her two friends.
but did not mention their nSmes-
4 thought I could KIN 'er. sir" she Z
added. raising streaming eyes. "but 4
when daddys coat fell down. an the
big mammy an Granny Hope smiled 1
az me. J quit hatln' you an Sauun.
20 kll your woman
she struggled W and moving % ihe
waL. icsnei against The 6reaiest 4
Mother in the Wurid~ as u she. t0o,
would add herself 10 the vast family
of hur1 ones
Every one q Der words was directed
10 Mackenzie
Then In % understand" he asked .
slowly. xhat you deliberately took ny
wife away 10 XIII herr
-Bui ale didnt Mare interjected
Eyeiyu-
Marcus msde a vide gesture with /
one arm
-Hush. Eve. be mutfered ! want