American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-05-25
Storm Country
Polly
CONTINUED
Pollyop shook her head.

go 1 81 SWIM u LuG CUT
neds Of her lovely mouth. The steely-
blue CLINT faded from her eyes, leav-
iPg them the color Of heavenly tints.
She was certain her secret was as safe
In the breast of Polly Hopkins as it
was in the heart of the dead Oscar.
You shall see your father she
said, dropping her hand, ''and you can
have any dress 1 have to wear Come
up tonight, at seven. The folks will
be at dinner; and I'll slip out and bring
you in"
Then she went away, leaving Polly
Hopkins alternately plunged into the
depths of despair when she thought Of
Robert Percival and singing with
gladness over the joy in store for
Wee Jerry and Daddy Hopkins.
1t was still broad day when Polly
Hopkins left Wee Jerry playing by
the waters edge with some squatter
youngsters and started for the Robert
son home. True to her word, Evelyn
met her in the grape arbor at seven
and hastily led her up the back stairs
to her bedroom.
There are the closets" she said.
Take anything you like, Polly, but
hurry. The cooks in the kitchen, and
the other maids are busy. IN go down
for fear someone will come to find me.
There's the dinner gong"
Once alone in the beautiful room,
Polly's gaze swept it's broad dimen-
slons. 1t did not occur to her to covet
the least of these gorgeous surround
hgs. She only wanted something to
wear to Auburn, something to cele-
brate her visit and do Daddy Hopkins
proud. She swung open a closet door
and peered in.
The sound of laughter somewhere in
the house ent a wave of terror over
her. She snatched at the first gown
under her hand, rolled it into a bun
die and fled down the stairs. Until
she was in the lane again, she did not
breathe easily.
Once back in the shanty, Pollyop hid
the dress beneath her bed without ever
to look at 1t. How Evelyn was
to arrange the visit to Auburn, she
did not know, but of one thing she was
sure, she had q beautiful dress to
After she had put the child to bed,
49, the door was securely locked, Pol
ly drew the curtains tightly over the
small windows. Even the corners of
the room lost their shadows and 1.-THE
Greatest Mother in the World" seemed
TO stand out more plainly than V
when the sun shOne.
POllyop placed her warm cheek
against the picture and smiled. She
earnestly believed this wonder-mother
was helping her to go and see Daddy
Hopkins. She turned and looked long
ingly at the sick little man, then up
ward to the woman's face.
You've done so much for me an
Jerry, ma'am," she whispered. "Meb-
be sometime you'd make-him-smile
just once at me-"
Then she took the bundle from III
der her cot and spread out her treas
ure. 1t was a delicate shimmering
silk, and in it was the color Of the
sun just before he sailed over the
western hill on his journey around
the earth. There could not be such
another beautiful gown in all the
world, Polly thought. Then she slow
ly slipped from her own ragged dress
and stopped a moment, contemplating
Daddy Hopkins big boots. Even to
Polly's primitive mind they did not
seem to be just the thing to wear
with such a dress. SO the boots, too,
came off.
AS if she had been handling eggs,
she drew on the beautiful robe, her
bare neck and forearms cleaning
white in the candlelight.
Then back and forth she walked, en-
tranced with its vOluptuOus loneliness.
But twist and turn as best she might,
she could not see the whole of her
golden glory so she took down Daddy
Hopkins cracked piece of mirror
which he had used when pulling out
his shaggy whiskers with the tweezers.
BY the aid of 1t, she could get glimpses
of her slim young figure and the grace
full sweep Of the skirt. Holding the
glass higher II, she studied her slen-
der neck where the sun had tanned ii.
But tan did not matter, for Daddy
Hopkins loved her in spite Of 1t.
All at once she heard a knock
against the side Of the hut. Hastily
slipping out Of the dress and folding
1t. she showed it 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
amazement, she smiled and thanked
him.
"Ain't you comm in, LarryT she
asked. kinda chilly tonight, huhr'
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