Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-03-17

Eyes. sure 4 hhNNN
81 told you that t'other day; but fony
seems TO be always holding OH lor
something. If she toes the mark, then
I'll sell my farm and take her west
7 won't have that brat Of a jerry
though, but 1 suppose Pollyu max d
row when 1 tell her that"
"you won't be worried with the boy,
Rennett. I'm going to have the Chl-
dren's society take him. Hopkins VIII
sarve n long term, and If you marry
polly the rest of the pests will scatter
after q while. I'll be glad to be rid
of the whole Hopkins tribe. But mat
girl is like a burr; she sticks tighter
the more you puHF'
"That's the bargain, Mr.. Mackenzie.
I sell the farm at the price we talked
If I get Polly Hopkins. If l don't get
'er. then l won't sell. l can make a
o living here for me and my moth
er. and l don't intend to leave this
country without Pollyop."
The thought Of his staying around
ithaca filed Evelyn with dread. She
kDsw something of the tenacity with
which he chung to any notion that
might take possession of him. How
could she have ever submitted to his
caresses? And the words, Until death
do us part" rang in her ears, filling
her with nauseating disgust.
"I wish he were dead this minute"
she thought passionately.
She was waiting for Oscar to con-
tinue. but he evidently did not intend
to; so, settling back as if anxious to
start, she said coldly:
'Tll go to her then, as soon as /
can"
"When-today, ma'am?" asked Oscar
eagerly.
If she had to approach Polly Hop
kins about this d~isagreeable matter,
the sooner the better, Evelyn thought.
"Yes," she consented %languidly. Il
might go now, l suppose"
"But you won't find her home till
night, Eve" Marcus informed her.
"She's gone to see her father before
he. goes to Auburn. l tried to put the
quietus on that, but Bob cut up so l
told the sheriff to let her in"
"Then I'll telephone you later, Mr..
Bennett" said Evelyn, lifting her chin
haughtily as if he were really beneath
her consideration. Good afternoon y
The hours passed slowly by! 1t
seemed an eternity to Oscar while he
waited the call from Evelyn. When
he heard her voice over the telephone,
he answered gruffiy.
"Now, don't be nasty, Oscar" or
dered Evelyn imperiously. I'm doing
the best l can. I'm in a booth talking,
and if you'll meet me at seven, We'll
go together to Polly Hopkins. Does
that suit you all right?"
"You don't suit me very WE'LL" Oscar
grumbled into the receiver. 'rd like
to give you the licking of your life,
my lady,"
Evelyn's laugh came ringing across
the wire.
"Don't put yourself out, my dear
man. she tainted. Nov, don't start
bullying me over the phone, Oscar, for
1 won't stand it. Hold your temper if
you a possibly do SO. Fol once do
as 1 tell you! Will your"
ooh, I suppose So" Bennett raped
out. "Where'l l meet your"
"Well, let me see. At seven on the
boulevard, near the lane"
"All right! I" and Oscar slammed up
the receiver without waiting to hear
any more, and proceeded about his
farm tasks. Thoughts of anger toward
Eve, now so ~overbearing and con-
temptuous, were soon crowded out,
however, by anticipation of the time
when Polly would belong to him-be
his to love or abuse at his W sweet
will, for Oscar had little doubt that
the sQuatter girl would eventually
yield t. his will.
Pollyop, meanwhile, quite uncon-
scious of Oscars vicious intentions,
was already utterly overwhelmed with
misery.
After the meager supper was over
that night, she sat crouched near the
wood-box, her arm around Billy Hop
kins' stringy neck. Granny Hope was
in bed and Wee Jerry, having cried
himself to sleep, was in Jeremiah's
room, rolled up in a blanket.
For the first time in her life Polly
had seen her father weep. How i'm
petuously she had kissed away his
tears! How she had hung to his neck!
When they had been forced to leave
him, Jerry had shrieked his misery all
the way through the streets of Ithaca.
To make the matter worse, it began
to rain, to thunder and tighten. And
now, a f~orlorn, lonely little creature,
she sat listening to the tempest out
side with no company but the billy
goat.
How listless and hopeless she felt
Only when the thunder rolled over the
lake, and the lightning flashed across