Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-04-05


saddened with tears. and she looked
straight out of exquisite coloring at
the wide-eyed squatter girl. In her
arms was a withered, sick, little man
and Pollyop knew that somewhere owe.
the ocean an enemy, perhaps mar
Ike Old Marc, had hurt him. The
woman held him close as she looked
eyes stung with tears. Then she went
closer TO the fence and spelled out the
words under the picture: ''The Great
est Mother in the World
All, So she was. this protector of
the hurt and the sick The Red Cross
TO the very bottom of the squatter
girls heart
A sound, close at hand, caused her
TO turn swiftly. man on horseback
had drawn up on the side of the road.
The blood came in swift leaps to
Polly's face. There was the 'beauti-
full angel" looking down upon heri
What could she do but stare back at
him? In another instant he had dis
mounted and was coming toward her.
Jerry slid from her shoulders to the
ground. Pollyop's hand clasped his;
but she did not speak. What had hap
pened to her "angely' He looked diff
ferent; more like the other men she
occasionally saw on horseback. That
was II He was not wearing the olive
drab uniforml To add to her confu-
sion Robert Perciyal was smiling at
her in the most friendly way. Then
he glanced up at the picture. his fine
face saddening.
"The Greatest Mother in the World,
little girl" he said, and he smiled
again.
1.-THE Greatest Mother In the World"
repeated pollyop, In awed tones.
Does that mean she's mother to the
squatter kids what was hurt in the
war, misterT
EYES," he replied after short pause.
Eyes. 1t means that, and more She's
mother to every hurt boy and brings
comfort to every one on earth that
needs help
|
she?" breathed Polly soberly shes
beautiful too. Squatter mammies has
too many kids to stay handsome like
her" She made backward motion
with her thumb toward the fence and
searched his face graveIy.
A choking sensation in Roberts
throat made him cough The girls
statement was like charcoal draw
ing in which a few broad lines tell the
whole story. He felt his interest in
her increase. She was the quaintest,
prettiest and most solemn child he had
ever seen. Yes, he knew she was an
inhahitant Of the Silent City by the
clothes she wore, and the thin, bow
legged child, TO say nothing Of the be-
whiskered goat and woolly lamb that
were with her.
s'What's your manner" he inquired
"Just Pollyop," was the answer.
Polly Hopkins. My daddy is Jere-
miah Hopkins, the mayor Of this set
Element"
Surely Robert remembered very
well Mackenzie speaking of Hopkins.
and he remembered too the painted
invitation over hut door as Ii II
were before his eyes. Looking PoIlyop
over from the top of her curly head to
the tips of her bare feet, he decided
that she had written 1t.
Question after question he flung at
her, and answer after answer came
from Polly's lips. She told him where
she lived, and now she cooked the
beans, bacon and fish Daddy Hopkins
provided; how cold Ii was 10 the
shanty when the cruel north wind
swept up the lake; and how wet II
was when the rain fell and clammy
fogs shrouded the world In gray: how
Granny Hope was sick with pains. She
gave him an inside view of life In the
Silent City. Long before she had fin
ished her recital, Perciyal's courtesy
had put her at her ease, and she was
chattering like magpie.
"Can / do something for you, Polly
HopkinsT' queried Robert, as she fin
ished telling about life In the squat
ters' city.
She flung out both hands In a COM
prehensive gesture as much as to say
he could see for himself how much she
needed.
"Sure. sure you cam" she said with
fierce emphasis. You can make Old
Marc leave Us squatters be. You're
bigger'n he isl The squatters need
you awful bad"
Her voice broke. Robert took q long
breath. Of course he could help this
girl and her people. He would, too I
As far as money gave power, he could
equal and surpass Marcus Mackenzie.
Il did try to talk sense into Mr..
HacKenzie's head he returned pres
emily. but now will make him leave
ycu alone
In spite Of the curved lips about
which smile iurked. there was appre-
hensfon In her voice when she asked:
~Can you lick I'm to finish, mis-
tsrr'
AYes. I think / could" laughed Rob
est; but II won't be necessary"
Then / see us Silent City folks
bsin' happy again." sighed Polly. Eve
got awful lot Of things an folks to
take care Of here"
Robert made q sweep with his arm
that encompassed the group before