Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-05-30

"there's been something on my mind
ever since-since- Or, you don't
think the squatters nave her, do yoHT"
81 don't know" moaned Marcus, and
he sat down quickly az if his legs
would no longer bear tile weight OF
his body.
And they were sitting thus, each
busy with his own unspeakable unhap-
plness, when the servant entered.
"There's girl here, sir" she be-
gan, and Marcus sprang up.
"Bring her in," he cried. Bring her
in instantly!"
The maid hesitated.
"She's queer looking, cir" she said
timidly, ''and she's wet through. She's
one of them squattersp
s '.Bring her ia, IssaId," ordered Mar
Gus once more, and the girl went out,
closing the door softly.
Pollyop crept into the warm room,
her teeth cliattering, her legs un-
STEADY. Her first glance fell upon
Mrs. Robertson who, when She saw
her, made ahusky throat sound. Then
the brown, fearful eyes travelled to
the tall man, no longer an enemy TO be
hated, merely a. wounded human crea-
ture, like her dear, ones in the Silent
City, to be loved and comforted.
81 got your woman in my shack"
said Pollyop, straight to him, swallow
ing. 81.
"God be thanked" screamed Mrs.
Robertson.
Something snapped in MacKenzie's
head, and for a moment he feared he
was losing his mind Polly thought
by the blank expression of his face
that his wits had gone completely.
Ignoring the woman whom She, de-
tested, she went rapidly to Macken-
zie's side. : '7'-&
81 had her roped rsD in the bed when
you was there, tonight, mister" she
told him, the words tumbling over
each other in the haste of confession.
"I were eein. -toschop her head of to
get even with you. But-but-my dead
Granny Hope, an the Biggest Mann
my in All the World wouldn't let me-"
1t seemed an eternity to the quak-
ing young speaker before Marcus
threw up his head and took a long
breath.
"She-she's alive?" he demanded
hoarsely. You're very sure she isn't
dead? Girl" he bounded up and
grasped Pollyop's ara, IF you lie to
me"
II amt lyin' to you, mister" inter-
rupted Polly duly. "You cont need
to be scared for Miss Eve, but now
you'd best come along TO my hut an
get her. She's mournin' for You in
Granny Hopes coop-hole, covered up
with blankets"
Something like a huge fist strCCI
Mackenzie. The conviction that the
squatter girls words were true lifted
him Immediately from the bottom
depths Of hopelessness. The sudden
inrush of joyous relief brought with
it a mental Illumination, and he saw
himself as others had seen him, The
terrible, .blighting uncertainty he had
borne for few maddening hours the
girl before him had known for
months If she were to blame for his
suffering, what was the measure of
his own responsibility?
He turned swiftly to his mothcr.in-
law and said huskily!
"Call some one to get this child
some dry clothes. Take anything Of
Ewes you can find that will keep her
warm, and for Gods sake, take those
ragged boots OF her feet" He Sprang
to the bell. "Ill order the team"
When he had given his orders to the
servant who appeared at the door, he
sank back into chair, and Mrs. Rob
ertson went swiftly out.
Utterly oblivious of the. aquatter
girls presence, Marcus Mackenzie
buried his face in his hands The new
Pollyop, the Polly Of the Sun, crept
forward and touched him.
Your w0man'S all right" she said
huSkily. 'DoRt CRY! She, told me
about-about the little kid a-rOlnn' in
the summer. nm she howlCd like mad
to come along with ne. But j says to
her she couldn't wall; all THIS way to
you without dyin'."
The soft tones vibrated sympathe-
tfcally rs she voiced the assurances.
Mackenzie thrust up MS hand and
clutchcd the slim brown fingers.
"Tcll me something about it while
we're alone" he whispered.
Pollyop shuddered.
"Wcll, sir" she began, so low that
Mackenzie had tn raise his head to
hear, "alI the squatters hate you, but
none of 'em was wicked like me.
said, l did, that you cOuldn't be hurt
no way only through your woman, an
-an'-I WAS .sOin' To cut her head off
with the TX an' then sling 'er in the
lake. / s'poSe I'm goin' to get sent up
for years but just had to come and
tell you"
Before Mackenzie. aGhaSt at the
danger his dear one had faced. could
answer, Mrs. Robertson entered, fol-