Palisadian., 1923-06-01
Polly, the
Stay-at-Home
By MARTHA RHODES

g, 1928. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndieate.)
"Polly, sometimes | think I'll never
ask you to go anywhere with me again
at least until there's some chance
of my being accepted"
If her darnng needle had suddenly
turned to a stick of dynamite and ex-
ploded in her fingers Polly would not
have been more surprised than at such
all unprecedented outburst of indi-
viduality from the patient. long-suf-
fering Don.
"Why, Don-you-you-I thought"
Eyes, ] suppose So" shortly. BE
cause I've kept coming out and been
satisfied with seeing You here at home
two nights week for the last six
years / suppose you thought I'd al
ways keep coming and always be sat
isfed. But I'm only human, Polly.
l."
DO be reasonable. Don. Grand
father White-you know ! can't leave
him."
But you can leave me" pointedly.
Thus confronted with blind alley,
the amazed and fluttered Polly
changed her tactics.
"But, Don, l always thought that
you wanted me to do what is right
for grandfather" virtuously. "My be-
ing faithful to him now ought to be
your sures. proof that I'll be true to
you by and BY"
"By and by" disgustedly. when
mans been put off until by and by
for six years l tell you he'd rather
have little faith and love in the
by and by"
"But, Don, why are you SO particu-
larly anxious for me to 60 to this
house party? j. ii anything specialT'
mo. nothing special Does it take
something special to induce you to ap-
pear in public with your fance?"
AS she had the grace to blush shame
facedly he continued: ITS just re-
union Of my company. All my buddies
found their sweethearts ready to
marry them when they got back from
over there and they're all married
now but ne. l can't even get my girl
to 60 to the reunion with me-" bitterly.
You're very critical tonight, Don."
coldly. perhaps you can suggest some
remedy?"
Eyes, l can, and have been suggest
ing it ever since got back. Marry me /;
we'll tale an apartment in town and
your grandfather can live with us the
rest of his life. Think of 1t, Polly !!
It's two of us with our lives still be-
fore us against the notions of one
old man."
Polly shook her head II can't" she
groaned. "He wouldn't go. He says
he's too old to be transplanted."
II thought as much! Then have
someone come in and stay with him
part time, so you can get out and have
little pleasure"
Touched by his Modified mood, she
said little wistfully: Il would like
to go to the party with you, Don. But
what could | wear? l haven't anything
suitable, and really can't afford any
thing new"
Wear what you have. It's no dress
affair-and-you look good to me,
dear. in the clothes you have"
"Pawle-e-eel called Querulous
voice from the next room, and Polly,
with tired, perplexed sigh, rose to
answer her grandfather's summons.
Half an hour later as Polly was tip
toeng from her grandfather's room,
where she had finally succeeded in
soothing him to sleep, she was startled
by the Screech of an automobile horn,
followed by girls joyous call to Don.
Then came the buzz of several voices
exchanging greetings, and, peeking out
the window, she saw Don coming up
the walk with a pretty girl on either
side holding his arm-in a most pro-
prietary manner, she noticed-while a
third miss skipped ahead to open the
door to TIE broad veranda.
Presently Don came in. nervous and
hurried, and, it must be confessed, a
little shamefaced.
zone of the girls was riding past
here and stopped to take me back to
the city with her. She's got a couple
of friends with her."
Following Don to the porch, Polly
greeted her guests with the utmost po-
likeness, but somehow or other found
her usual cordiality anu spontaneity
strangely lacking.
AS soon as Don was seated, one Of
the girls Ierched Familiarity on the arm
of his chair, throwing her arm lightly
over his shoulders, while second girl
took her place at his back, ruffled his
hair, and fed him from box of bon
bons which she held. The third young
lady Immediately engaged him in a
sprightly conversation, which, to Polly,
bordered suspiciously on lively flirta-
ton. Could it be that those girls did
not know that Don was engaged to
her?
AS for Don, she had never seen him
more animated and jovial as utterly