The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-04-27
ecopyrisht BY Luls. brown s. cOmpsny)
BY GRACE
MILLER
WHITE
Illustrated 3, x. n. Ls,iassions
CONTINUED from page u

ly by. and the rich girl did not come
to the shack again. Polly lost all hope
OF seeing her father.
Her decision 10 90 TO Auburn In spite
Of Old Marc followed letter that she
received from Daddy Hopkins He
was very lonely, he said. He was
counting OF each day as SO many hours
nearer the time when he could see his
dear children. With the picture Of
Daddy's loneliness stamped In misery
on her mind came the thought that no
one had the right TO keep Jerry from
his father.
From the time she conceived this
idea. IL never left her thoughts. She
had often stolen rides ON the Lehigh
Valley train from Ithaca TO the Silent
City and dropped OF where the engine
took switch while the Buffalo Spe.
cial dashed by. Why could she not
steal ride clear TO Auburnl
While the squatter girl was making
arrangements TO carry out this
mighty plan, preparations for the
Mackenzie Robertson wedding were
going rapidly forward. Evelyn. happy
In her new love. untroubed by sym
pathy for the dead Oscar, passed the
days mostly AT dressmakers and In
the shops. Her contentment would
have been complete II her cousin Rob
ert had not looked so sad. or II she
could have rid herself Of the sense Of
responsibility for his unhappiness.
But hoping In her filppant way that
al would come out well after she was
married, she gave little heed 10 him
and none at all 10 Polly Hopkins.
Early one morning Polly hoped
quickly out of he'd and after a break
fast OF bread and beans, began TO dress
Jerry In the best he had The day
was chilly, and a fine rain drizzled
over the lake.
Pollyop wrapped Granny Hopes
old shawl around the little boy and
tied warm rag about his head; and
the child, satisfied with his sisters
assurance that he was going to see
his father, sat on the cot wide-eyed,
watching her in silence.
Polly combed her hair and washed
her face and hands. Billy-goat Hop
kins was In his place at the wood-box
eating handful of oats she had
CLEANED for him along the roadside
Polly wished that she might take him,
too, but as long as she could not, Billy
After everything else was attended
to. she unwrappeo the silken dress
and put II on. Her bare feet showed
from under the hem, but she had de-
clded she looked better without the
boots. and as she stood gazing at her
self up and down, she regretted that
she had not asked Evelyn for pair Of
shoes too. Being careful not to soil
her skirt, she knelt and allowed Jerry
to climb on her shoulders.
The moment she stood outside the
shanty In the rain, she shlvered. The
damp air nipped at her uncovered
arms and neck To travel the long dis
lance 20 the station. so illy covered.
was out OF the question, and the gown
would he drenched through in few
minutes. She turned back into the
shack and placed Jerry on the cot.
Jerry wants 10 see Daddy Hop
kins." the child whiInpered "Ain't we
goln'. PollyopT'
"Yep. surei" said Polly. "But sis
ter's got 10 put 90 her boots. She
can't go this way It's too cold and
the walk to Ithacss too long. honey"
Her brow puckered into frown as
she drew on her fsther's heavy boots
and slipped into his ragged coat. Then
she tucked the dress into the top Of
the boots that II might show as little
as possible and went out again.
II was a long climb 10 the boule-
ward and the boy was heavy But he
was very quiet aud 2 sudden rush Of
tears ALMOST blinded her as she turned
toward the city How delighted both
Jerry and Daddy would bewhen they
spied each other, Gulping down her
tears. she shut out the thought that
perhaps some one would catch her
breaking the law and clap her in Jail
too.
Granny Hope and her tooihless
smile flashed before the eyes Of her
tortured soul.
ASK and 81 shall he given thee
seemed @ leap from the vision Of old
sre
Il 90 ask PollTop cried aloud
~but Of8 Marc said Couldn't
In the pasf megt8s which had taken
away three ~ her loves. many o. The
lessons Mrs Hope had Taught her had
been eHaced. She bad even given 10
the habit q asserting with utmost
fslth. "Underueath are the eve-iast-
lnr aT75-"
Ito be continuedl