Okolona messenger., 1922-07-20


"Thls nights work." said MacKen-
zle, moved almost beyond speech,
won't pass outside the few who know
1t. And Polly-look up, child. / want
to tell you something"
In silence she dared a timld glance
at him.
"Whlle you-yOu were-asleep-Just
now, Mr. Percival and made arrange
ments with your father to give him
work." Mackenzie told her. Does
that please you"
awful much" she sighed; then she
turned and looked at Bishop, standing
against the wall.
"What about Larry?" she murmured
softly. "Poor, poor Larry"
"I'Il help him, too," Marcus agreed
eagerly.
Polly cogitated one small moment.
"There's Lye Braeger," she sighed
again. "He amt got many friends,
Lye amt"
MacKenzie's laugh sent sense of
relief over the gloomy group.
"Then Lye Braeger, too" he ex-
claimed, "and any other squatter who
wants to work"
Pollyop, overwhelmed with this gen.
eroslty. stood up before him, curls
showering eachI shoulder and framing
her lovely, eager face.
II guess mebbe you were an angel
all the time, like Granny Rope said
once" she said shyly. I'm thankin'
you, sir, an I'm hopin' the little
one Gods sendin' in the summer'll look
just like--like''-a smile touched her
lips-"just like Jerry" she ended.
Because she was so simply natural,
Mackenzie replied solemnly:
"If my child looks as much like me
as Jerry looks like his father, I'll be
satisfied"
Then he hurried his wife away, Of
fering to carry Robert home with
them.
mo, sir" said that young man
stoutly. "Pve got to talk to Polly Hop
kinS."
I'm goin' now, too," grunted Larry
Bishop. "Got to 60 an see Lye Brae-
ger. He's sick in bed with stun
mick ache. Good night, Poll See
you tomorrow, Jerry Hopkins"
He made gesture of farewell to
Robert; and POllyop went to the door
with him. There she brought wry,
twitching smile to his lips by throw.
ing her arms about his neck and kiss.
ing him.
Its all right now, Larry, dearT
she whispered. "Good-by."
When she turned slowly to Robert
her face was suffused with crimson
blood.
"Ain't your horses gettin' cold, sirT
she queried. Its worse outside than
when you camel"
jeremiah blinked at them, went tc
the cot and picked up the drowsy
baby. To hide his embarrassment, he
seated himself and rocked the child
back and forth. He was almost afraid
of his beautiful daughter, dressed SO
unlike herself, her hair hanging In
glistening curls over Evelyn Robert.
sons exquisite clothes.
'The horses are well covered, Polly"
answered Robert. "I'll make it worth
the drivers while to wait bit"
Then unable to bear the strain any
longer, he burst out:
Darling, can you ever forgive me?"
She gave him one melting glance
and like fluttering bird sped into his
arms and stayed there. And thus the
two young things, with nothing be.
tween them and long stretches of hap.
piness, clung to each other until the
Of the Mackenzie sleigh
bells was lost in the night.
Then the squatter girl, disengaging
herself from her sweetheart's arms
went to her father.
Daddy" she breathed, bending
over him, "ever since l mended the
roof that day-the same day Old Marc
came home, I've been lovin' "--she
reached back her hand, and Robert
clasped ii, "Tve been lovin'-" Chok-
ing, she could get no farther in that
important explanation.
Robert stepped beside her, and rest
ed his hand on the down-bent head.
He knew now that though she was a
squatter, one Of the despised of the
earth, he loved her better than the
whole world.
ITS just like Granny Hope said.
Daddy" Pollyop went on, the velvety
brown softening the misty eyes. "She
said, Granny Hope did, that loves big
ger an better'n hate any day. An it's
rue, amt it?"
"Yep," nodded Hopkins, smoothing
ler face with one great hand. II guess
80, brat ~
ut sure is" added Robert in her
EAR.
Then he looked at jeremiah.
May have her some day, sir?" he
lsked in reverent tones. "Tll make
Ter so happy you won't regret it."
Jeremiah's big frame shook. and
'ollyop, ever devoted to him, kissed
lin tenderly.