Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-04-07

goin' to work 1t, Miss Eve? l can't
see no help for the squatters if your
marryin' Old Mares part Of it,
That's what I'm trying to tell you,
Polly" was the quick retort, "but I
want your promise. You help me, and
I'll help you and your people. Oscar
says he'll free me if-if-youll marry
him."
For an instant Polly's head whirled
as if it had been suddenly struck and
over her came weight almost unbear-
able. Then slowly she shook her curly
head. .....
81 couldn't do that, ma'am," she
choked. 81 just couldn't"
"But you said you would" retorted
Evelyn sharply. "You must. I can
save the squatters, and / will; but
only on condition that you help me get
rid of Oscar Bennett. Mr. Mackenzie
is going to buy the Bennett farm,
and"
"An' Oscarll be goin' away some
where's elsc?" put in Polly. as that
It? He'd take me away from Daddy
Hopkins an from" g.
She caught herself just IN time. She
had it on the tip Of her tongue to add
the name CT Robert Percival, but Of
course she did not.
"I couldn't ever do that" she ended.
"Never, neverw
The blue eyes looked into the brown
eyes seriously.
"Oh, yes, You can" insisted Miss
Robertson. Oscars not the worst in
the world. and he'll have a lot of
money when he leaves Ithaca. He
loves you. Pollyop, and he'd make life
easy and pleasant for YOU"
4 thoughtful moment or two passed,
while Polly Hopkins gaZed at her
hands locked together in her lap.
you can't tell me nothin' about Os-
car" she remarked at length. 81 know
the dirty dufrer. an l don't know
nothin' good about him, you can bet
your boots on that" She paused while
through the open doorway her eyes
were fixed upon fleecy cloud. high
up in the deep blue sky. "But that
don't make no difference" she contin-
ued. "Ir linked up with Oscar, would
that pup, Old Mare, let the squatters
stay in the Silent City"
"wIiy, Polly, dear, of course he will !!
! talked with Oscar last night and I'll
speak to Mr.. Mackenzie Just a5 soon
as you promise to do what Oscar
wants."
Again the smiling face Of Robert
Percival cut across Polly Hopkins
mental vision, and through the silence
of the shanty she head his voice-deep,
low and like music. Then the evil
face Of Bennett wormed itself into her
mind. Her lids dropped, and she shud-
dered.
Il couldn't do it, ma'am," she
walled. 81 just couldn't do thatw
Evelyn arose and stood over her.
"YOu must, Polly" she asserted
again. Good heavens, it's the chance
of your life! OF course you'll do it,
Polly Hopkins. Take q little time TO
think it over. I'll bring Oscar to see
You some day when Mr.. Mackenzie
and my cousin Robert are away"
At the sound of that beloved name,
Polly'S head fell forward. O
"Scoot now," she said, her curls hid
ing her face. ''Tll think about it."
After Evelyn had gone, Polly me-
chanicaliy resumed her sewing. It
seemed that her hearts JOY had wholly
died within her. Patiently she tried
TO turn her attention to the work in
her hands, but again and again she
caught herself sitting with Idle fingers.
Finally, worried by the conflicting
emotions that were crowding in upon
her, folly flung herself into the open
and ran swiftly along the ragged rocks
to a little glen where many time she
had been before. Here she Haded
through the brook and sank down be-
side It. Mind-picture after mind-pic-
ture passed before her. She saw
Daddy Hopkins happy with Jerry in
the Shanty no longer afraid TO fish
and hunt. Then she visioned the ST.
lent City, safe at last, and saved by
her. Her head sank into her hands;
and SObS racked her slender body.
But 1t was not long before she sat
up and tossed back her curls. 1t
seemed as if she had heard voice.
She turned her head slowly; and 10,
Robert Percival was standing across
the creek, smiling at her.
II followed you, Polly Hopkins" he
called, and springing across the water,
he added: You ran so fast l lost YOU
at the corner of the ragged rocks, and
its taken me all this time to find YOU"
He sat down beside her and took her
hands; but Polly could not look up
at him. Embarrassed beyond utter
ancc. she withdrew her fingers. letting
them fall liStleSSly. Robert laughed.
Her lovely face, first white then scar
let only told him that she was glad
to see him, and spoke of girliSh inno-
cence, dear to all men. .
"YoI went away so suddenly the
other night" he ran on. ~ didn't have
a chance to say half wanted to. 1
had sometime for you, too. hut