Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-05-25

Blinded by tears, she felt her way
to the cot. Bennett lay in the same
position, his wide-open eyes holding
an expression Of horror.
"She's got lily liver all right, Os-
car" Polly Missed through her teeth
did you hear all what she said2"
Such is the power of habit over a
nature like the squatter girls that
Robert faded from her mind, and Os-
car Bennett, suffering and dying, abb
sOrbed her whole attention.
Cant you hear anything, Oscar?''
she questioned. listen, mebbe you'll
get well. If you do, take your old
nanny an get out quick. Eve amt
worth one of your toe nails You've
been mean duffer, Oscar, but you're
too d-n good for her. God, but she
were a wicked woman, wasn't she,
huh2"
Not a move Of the heavy head on
the pillow gave evidence that she had
been heard.
She was still standing by Benefits
side when, without knocking, Robert
opened the door and came in, followed
by the doctor. Polly recognized the
stranger instantly as the medical man
who lived a short distance down the
boulevard. In anxious inquiry she
glanced at Percival.
Observing that she had been weep
ing, his anger fiareS again. It never
occurred to him that his own cruelty
had drawn the tears from her eyes.
There was the huge farmer stretched
out on the bed; and the sQuatter girl
crying beside him She was mourning
over the stricken mani Robert
frowned; and hopelessly, in silence,
Polly moved aside to give the doctor
the space she had occupied.
After a hasty examination Of the pa
tient, Doctor Bacon turned to Polly
Hopkins.
Something struck him." he said
shortly. you've been quarreling with
him, eh, girl? What did you hit him
with?"
<ANNuShIAOh AuA6 uSulhoL ACA uOl
only in the speakers tones but in Rob
erts inarticulate cry.
"Why did you strike him, Polly Hop
kins?" he demanded hoarsely. did
you? Speak Did you"
That he should believe such things
of her crushed her completely. Her
head fell forward, but not until Rob-
ert spoke again harshly did she an
swer.
"Nope," she breathed. Her tongue
felt as if it were covered with ashes.
Nope, 1 didn't hit him !"
That was all she said. She looked
up at him pleadingly through her thick
lashes. Perhaps he did not really be-
lieve her guilty. Yes, he did He was
still fixing upon her that accusatory
gaze.
He'd better be moved out of this
hole" observed the doctor, looking
around, but it's an awful night" He
considered moment and then added
"Fll telephone to Ithaca for an ambu-
lance"
Sternly he directed look of disgust
at Polly. He hated attending the
sQuatters anyway, and never would
have consented to enter the Silent City
if Robert Percival had not come for
him.
Aghast at the horror of the emer-
gency, Pollyop seemed not to notice
the physicians contempt.
us he goin' to die, mister?" she
queried plaintively.
II don't know" he replied in gruff
indecision, as he prepared draught.
When everything within human
power had been done for Oscar Ben
nett, Robert allowed the doctor to pass
out of the hut before him. Then, like
a shot, he turned back to Polly's side.
His eyes blazed with jealousy; and
quickly it crossed her mind that he
was going to strike her. Oh How she
wished he would and then take back
all the cruel words he had hurled at
heri
"When you said you loved me, you
lied," he gritted savagely. "You knew
all the time you had him. You let me
kiss you! You said love was the
greatest thing in the world oh, God
How wish / could hate your
Polly could not speak, neither could
she move. Imprisoned tragedy lay in
the depths Of her eyes. If he had been
less violent, she would have implored
him to trust her.
Percival really hoped she would re-
sent his accusations. Stormy denials
would have been sweet music to his
ears. He would have welcomed even
a torrent of abuse from her. Anything
was less maddening than this sinister
silence that seemed to put the stamp
of truth upon his cousins explanation
Of Benefits presence.
why don't you speak3" he rasped.
When she showed no signs Of an
swering, he turned to 60. The door
was swinging in his hand, but he did
not pass out. It was as though the
agony scorching him fused all his emo
tons; and In a fash he realized that
he loved her. just the same No matter
what she had done, he loved her, and |
no woman In the world could or would |