Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-07-09
Freedom and
MIR. St. John
~-~~~N~N~~~~
Bv H. LOUIS RAYBOLD

"STAY to support" Polly Browns
~ aunt put the question briskly,
but her niece had already risen and
was halfway to the door.
"Tell me-" she demanded breathless-
ly "Who is that perfectly stunning
young man turning in at the gate2"
Sarah Brown peeked' through the
window over Pollys shoulder.
"Why, that's the new roomer I've
been telling you about" she said
Polly sat down abruptly in faded
rocker, arms upllfted to remove her
hat Tell me some MORE" she said.
"And I've changed my mind about
staying to supper"
So, while his footsteps echoed In the
room above them, Aunt Sarah repeat
ed much of what she had said before
and added more.
"My dear, he's perfectly fascinating
but so odd For instance, when he
first came he paid me month In ad-
vance. But listen to what he said:
"'Mrs. Brown, I'm doing this so you
can't possibly lose IL l don't return
some night. I'm liable to 60 out any
morning and never come back
"'But your things, I asked him.
Where would l send 'emf
"'Oh,' he said off-hand 4 always
take them with me-
"And he does, Polly Carts 'em
away in black bag every morning
and back again at night"
Hmm" grunted Polly. sounds
suspiciously unstable, except for his
paying SO In advance. Has he jobf'
Aunt Sarah nodded "a fine one
with Goodrich Silks that he's held for
years. No, he's just a queer one.
Girl-shy, too. Asked II l had any
daughters. Said he made 1t a rule
never to board where there were
manageable women Of any age Now
what do you know about thatW
Polly grinned. "Auntie, this Is
really too good. Think of finding a
rara avis like that among your usual
ly dull crowd" She strolled over to
the blurred mirror and poked at her
curly bob. Then she slipped an arm
about her aunt's waist. Lead me to
the beans" she said "or whatever
your Thursday meal is, and introduce
me to the mysterious Jerry"
A tip to Katie, the maid, enabled
Polly to sit dagonally across from
Mr.. st. John, and she decided
that he possessed other commendable
qualities than mere good looks.
Mt u ~. ts.sl
fnesse In the days that followed be-
fore Polly progressed with him be-
You'd the brlefest interchange of
civilities.
Then, one rainy evening, she
stopped In at her aunt's, her arms
filled with books from her trip to the
library. Picking In at the sitting
room door she saw that 1t was unOc
cupied save for a single reader In the
faded rocker In front Of the flicker
Ing gas log.
Quietly Polly walked In and dumped
her books on the table.
Miserable night !" she declared
cheerfully.
Mr.. st. John jumped to his feet.
"Ah, yes" he vouchsafed, but with
out enthusiasm. Then his eye leaped
TO the top book. Miss Pollyl You
lucky girl Chapman's The Cobb
Desert r Did you bribe the librarian?
thought 1t was always out !"
SO, after all, 1t was Cobb desert
that broke the Ice between them
For an hour they talked about 1t. and
Polly learned many thlngs-that
Jerry had actually crossed II on his
roundabout way home from the war,
that he longed to see It again, that
always the wild places Of the earth
were calling him.
"Once upon time" he said, ~
read Of tribe Of nOmads who
packed their goods and tents each
morning whether they intended to
leave the place or not, so lngrained
In them was the idea that they must
always be free to move. The idea APP
pealed TO me. so much so that / al
ways keep my bag with me, packed
with my few belongings, which take
out at night and repMee each morn
Ing"
At this point Polly's Inspiration
seized her. How terrible !" she cried
How awful Freedom means 80 much
to me that I'd hate to be bound to
an idea " She shuddered.
"Why-why"-th young mans
eyes were wide. He seemed at a loss
and utterly taken aback, as might
a man who, starting to sit down, sees
the chair removed from behind him.
"Welit never occurred to me In
just that light before" He regarded
her curiOusly. Freedom is-well, it's
the thing I'm fondest Of" he ended
lightly.
Polly nodded gravely. II know how
you feel, Mr.. Jerry. It's what made
nae vow never to marry Oh, shame
less fbbing Pollyl
"You, toof' Jerry seemed startled.
Then they both laughed and per-
haps Jerry read in POlly's brown eyes
that some VOWS are better broken than
kept, and perhaps she read In his
gray ones that love with slavery may
be better than loveless freedom. Any
how, unprotected, Jerry leaned over
and picked up Polly's slender hand,
while the rain continued to rain, the
gas log to flicker and somewhere re-
mote and afar the Cobb desert to ex-
eFt its lnscrutablc influence.