Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-07-06


The grave young squatter cOntem-
plated her for the space Of twenty
seconds, perhaps.
you're afraid Of the fishermen, amt
you, Mlss?" she asked. swell, you've
got a right to be! Larry's different
from the rest, though he was as will
in, up to this night, to chop off your
head, as me- But Larry's hearts soft
and kind, Larry's is"
"Tm afraid of everybody" gasped
Evelyn. Everybody but you, Polly.
Please, take me with you, Or-Or--
let me stay till morning"
A slight shake of PollyOp's head
brought Evelyn to sitting position,
but paln-racked bones and nerves Id
her back again.
"There," INTERCEPTED the other girl.
"You can see how hard it'd be to get
you through the snow to your mas
house. You'd die before you got there.
I'm blest If you wouldn't. No, got to
go alone, Miss"
Noting the fear In Mrs. Mackenzie's
eyes, she bent over the cot.
"Wlll you believe something I'm 60
in to tell you, Ever" she said in
wheeding tone.
'"Surely l will, Polly" answered
Evelyn, wiping her eyes, "but I'm so
afraid, so awfully afraid"
"That's no lie," replied Pollyop i'm
petuously, IAN as / said, you got
right to be scared Of the squatters.
Why, only this afternoon l hated you
an Old Marc as hard as the rest Of
the Silent City folks-more, mebbe!
But-but what was really goin' to
tell you is this. II b lug you along
with me, you won't have no baby in
The summer. That's Gods truth I'm
tellin' you, too"
Evelyn lowered her lids, and. a pain.
full flush mounted to her hair.
you're wantin' the little thing,
amt your demanded Polly, her voice
vibrant with emotion. "Now, be a big
woman, an stay while I'm gone, will
you? I'll promise to hustle for all
I'm worth"
Mrs. Mackenzie's timid glance ran
around the room.
II suppose So" she whimpered, ''but
what If some of your people came
hereT She shuddered and went on
hurrledly: "Polly, what're you going
to say to Marcus"
II don't know yet" mumbled Polly
op, "but I'll bring him back. Oh, /
got it, Say, I'll stick you away in
Granny Hopes coop-hole. No squat
ter'd think to go in there, even if he
comes in. Here! I'll help you"
Tenderly she coaxed and begged,
but without avail, and patiently Polly
sat down on the side of the cot.
"Mlss Eve" she took up in low
tones, I'm goin' to tell you some
thing Granny Hope told me. Now, you
want to get home to your man, don't
your"
eyes, yes, oh, so bad, Pollyop," cried
Evelyn, "but can't stay here alone !!
l can't! l can'tw
She did not think then of the many
days and nights the other girl had
passed by herself in the same little
shack.
''Mebbe it does seem so, Eve" said
Polly Hopkins. "But, honey, when
I'm done you'll be thinkin' different.
Now, listen; don't you know way down
In your insides that your mans near
ly sufferin' his life away2"
Evelyn burst forth into weeping
afresh.
"Of course l know 1t, Polly" she
sobbed, "but-"
can you want him to be wailing all
night till daybreak, not KNOWN wheth-
er you're in the land of the Twin or
not, huh?"
This was a solemn question asked
by very solemn-eyed girl.
Another thing, continued Polly.
"When it comes daybreak, there'll be
lot of squatters about. They come
every day to this hut. I'd have to
leave you then, wouldn't II Tonight
it's stormin', an most Of 'em are In
bed. / could run as fast as a rabbit
an be back in a jIffy. Can't you
screw up your courage an let me go"
This long statement Evelyn thought
over for a few moments. Then:
Perhaps l could, if"
II know you can" interrupted Pol.
lyop. "Now, listen; Granny Hope said
anything you want you can have out
Of loves own heart for the askin'."
''But Pm such wicked girl"
moaned Evelyn dismally.
$50 be l." returned Pollyop prompt
ly. "We're both rotten bad, God
knows, but never mind all that now.
got to get Old Marc; an the only
way you can help is to stay quiet
while I'm out for him. Now, lean on
me an I'll STOW yo1 away in the rub
bish room till get back"
Ashamed to make further appeals
to the girl who was showing more
spirit than she had ever thought pos
sible for any girl to show, Evelyn al
lowed Pollyop to pick her up and
stand her on the floor.
| Then the weak leaned on the strong.