“] JUST COULDN'T”
SYNOPSIS. Occupying a
dated shack in the Silent City, a
squatter settlement near Ithaca,
New York, Polly Hopkins lives
with her father, small Jerry, and
an old woman, Granny Hope. On
an adjacent farm, Oscar Bennett,
prosperous farmer, is a neighbor
He is secretly married to Evelyn
Robertson, supposedly wealthy girl
of the neighborhood. Marcus Maec-
Kenzie, who owns the ground the
squatters occupy, is their deter-
mined enemy. Polly overhears a
conversation between MacKenzie
and a stranger, in which the former
avows his intention of driving the
squatters from his land. The stran-
ger sympathizes with the squatters,
and earns Polly's gratitude. Evelyn
Robertson discovers from her moth-
er that they are not rich, but prac-
tically living on the bounty of
Robert Percival, Evelyn's cousin
Polly learns from Evelyn that the
sympathetic stranger Is Robert
Percival Evelyn charges Polly
with a message to Bennett, telling
him she can give him no more
money. She already bitterly regrets
her marriage to the ignorant farm-
er. Polly conveys her message and
Oscar makes threats. He insists
Evelyn meet him that night. Polly
has her father and Larry Bishop,
a squatter, take an oath to do Mac-
Kenzie no Injury. Evelyn unsuc-
cessfully tries to get money from
her mother with which to buy off
Bennett and Induce him to leave the
country, giving her her freedom
She and MacKenzie avow thelr
love. At the arranged meeting that
night Bennett threatens Evelyn
with exposure unless she gives him
money Polly meets Robert Per-
cival, and they are mutually at-
tracted, Polly's feeling being adora-
tion. Oscar kills Polly's lamb and
Percival thrashes Oscar. MacKen-
zie the squatters to leave,
Evelyn plans to marry MacKenzie
dilapl-
orders
CHAPTER Viii—Continued.
a
“Darling,” he broke forth,
so happy, I can’t ha
Why don't you talk to him
squatters? He'll to
that's a detail.”
“I'm just
with Bob
about the
Eve!
ve 8 row
listen you,
3ut, darling,
one of
of her slender fingers. “The most Im-
portant
when n
can't, I simply can’t
Oh
Fiercely
him : and the silence that followed was
fraught with them
Oh! She
forget the past two wretched years
now |
me?
thing to be considered
fire you gol gE ton
Eve, Eve, 1 want you!
he drew her head
rapture for both
wanted to be his wife, to
Oscar did not stand in her how
way,
quickly she would give this man
happiness he craved and drink deep of
it herself,
love?" breath
“Wi
“Shen,
thickly,
Marcus
1, dear?”
my
caressing her.
od
Gravely she lift head
looked into his eyes for
“When buy the
she ventured, “It—{it—"
“And rid of
1 suppose.” he laughin
“And
nodded Evelyn.
sr seconds
you
get the
oly
ir 1 3
Eiy interrupted
Then
Ww hispers d,
she kissed him
softly and “My
heart!”
A moment
lease herself:
let her go.
cally.
sweet
later she to
and with another kiss he
Then he
moved
smiled
iow it's settled, dearest” he
rising uy] you a
peace until you begin on your pretties
though the you've set the
,
wont give
way
“Oh, Eve, Eve, | Want Youl”
makes it rather Indefinite.” He waved
his arm In a wide-open gesture, and
finished : “But I'll see that It's mighty
soon.”
Mre. Robertson's daughter was in
a brown study before the fire when
that lady came into the room, a few
minutes later,
“Mare went early tonight, didn't he,
ive?" she questioned, as she dropped
into a chair,
“He had to go and meet someone
about those tiresome squatters,” Eve
explained. “I'm sick of the sound of
thelr names. Marcus says if he can't
get rid of them, he'll leave Ithaca.”
A step In the hall closed the con-
versation for the time being, and a
moment later Robert Percival joined
them, In silence Mrs. Robertson
studied his face. She wondered what
had changed him so perceptibly in the
last little while. He looked almost
haggard to her searching eyes. She
was about to question him as to his
health when the young man turned to
Evelyn.
“Eve, dear,” he began hesitatingly,
“I want something done very badly,
and perhaps you can accomplish it
for me."
A lazy smile stole to Evelyn's lips.
“And you know, Bob, I'll do it
if I can,” she responded, “Tell me
what's on your mind, honey."
“Certainly; why, yes, indeed.” Inter.
jected Mrs. Robertson. “You know,
Bob, Eve and I will do anything we
can for you!”
The expression of anxiety, which his
face had worn since he had seen the
last of Polly Hopkins, lifted a little,
“That's fine!” he exclaimed heartily.
“There's nothing lke a fellow's own
women folks, is there? And
Mrs. Robertson bridled consciously,
with herself.
“Why. Robert, dear”
“you do belong to us,
she returned,
you."
I'd
have some of my but
touch the lake,
make a living on
arose and
She
land,
and
it"
the
crossed
had
promise to
Evelyn
the
room
table,
Her
flashed into her mind!
not
MacKenzie
expected
Bob,"
wants
business, she demurred.
sides, he to improve the
erty and he
the fishermen stay on the
down there
can't
n mn shore!”
Gently, for
Robert had always been
and she
loved him dearly, Evelyn
MacKenzie's plans and si
impossible it was
+h the
ith them.
she crossed
over him.
“Rahort Ado "oo Oro “Tw
: r 1 '
)é root
PF Orgel
about the hey aren't
To head
obiection the his aves
tia ne 8av 0
she
noor and
I 1 unfor-
sorry for
an’'t deny they're
¢ all
worst of
where
me be
will
wit giving the man a chance to
Mrs. Robertson
“Mercy, Eve,
Marc will
People of our social standing
interrupted :
why of course he
soon be one of the
family.
don't
squatters.”
wrangle over such cattle as the
to
sweetly :
She turned
and
way,
smilingly
ended
don’t you
the lady
young man
“You feel that
Disregarding both and
and his fine brow corrugated
Evelyn and Marcus cguid do as
“Evelyn,”
be sorry to have
tween us. You've always been like a
dear sister to me. I suppose it's nat-
ural and right for you to see this the
way Mare does. You're engaged to
he said slowly, “I should
Too angry to listen to any more ar
he pushed his chair to one
Mrs. Robertson looked daggers at
“Now, Evelyn,
you've stirred up!
see what a storm
Why didn't you use
That was the least
you could have done. You get Marc
and Bob by the ears, and where'll you
be!”
“Gh! Idon’t know! I don't know!"
moaned Evelyn. “Don’t talk to me
any more, I'm just about erazy. I'm
going to bed! Good night!”
CHAPTER IX.
In spite of the weight of apprehen-
sion that pressed upon the Silent City,
Polly's soul insisted on singing with
gladness, She found opportunity, even
in the midst of her busy hours, to live
over and over the adventures of that
evening in the Robertson house. When
she remembered how Robert had held
her in his arms, her happiness made
her almost faint.
She allowed Jerry's gingham blouse
to fall neglected in her lap, as in imag:
ination she dwelt on every incident of
her visit. She recalled the thrilling
tenderness in Robert's words, and her
face grew soft in delightful revery,
A sound at the door brought her
thoughts back and she glanced up,
startled, Unnoticed, the blouse
dropped to the floor as Evelyn Robert.
son came in, Embarrassed and in si-
lence, Pollyop arose and offered her
a chair,
“You ain't feeling well, I bet,” she
burst out, wiping the dust from the
rope seat of the rocker with her skirt,
“You look white like the moon
before a rain. Go on, an’ sit down!”
Sinking back, Evelyn looked stead
ily up at her. Then she caught at the
hand resting on her shoulder.
“Pollyop, I've come to you because
you're the only friend I have,” she ex-
claimed, tears misting her eyes.
“I'm awful glad you come to me)”
Polly breathed softly. “You want me
to run to Oscar again? I can't stand
the sight of that duffer, but I'll go just
the same. Have you got a letter?”
Wiping her eyes, Evelyn shook her
head.
“No, but Oscar wants to see you"
she replied. She paused and studied
the girl. “Polly,” continued,
“don't you want to do something for
for your people? There's a way, Pol
lyop, that you can—"
Impulsively Polly could not walt,
“Do you mean help Daddy Hopkins
does
she
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes, every
A brilliant
countenance,
“I'd give inches out
do that” declared.
yap it to me."
“Then sit down,
“and don’t
To have saved her life,
the
lt
one in settlement.”
smile Pollyop's
up
of my hide to
she “Go an, an
dear,” entreated
stare at me
Pollyo
80!
p could
she sat down on the floor.
geted under the searching,
“You know, Polly,” she
¥
Ho
SEE IY
slain
“I'm Awful Glad You Come to Me”
Polly Breathed Softly.
“how it Is hetween Mr. MacKenzie po
me. I can make him do
Oh, If I were free
anyth
say.
Bennett I”
“Then
huh?” Polly
the chestnut
—
“Something like that, Polly,” Evelyn
admitted. “That's I've to
you. When I'm free, I can make Mr.
MacKenzie let up on your people”
Anxiously weighing
Polly's quick mind ran on ahead.
“An' to do that,” she threw in, “you
got to get shut of Oscar! I don't blame
from Oscar
you could marry
interposed
curls,
Old Mare
with a
“an’
hab ©
f
him, 1
boas
why
come
every
goin’ to work it. Miss Eve? 1 can't
marryin' Old Marc's part of it.”
Polly,” was the quick retort, “but I
I'l help you and your people,
says he'll free me {f—if-—you'll marry
him."
as If it had been suddenly struck and
able,
head.
“1 couldn't do that, ma'am”
choked. "I just couldn't.” *
“But you sald you would," retorted
Evelyn sharply. “You must. I can
save the squatters, and I 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' Oscar'll be goin’ away some.
wheres else?” put In Polly. “Is that
it? He'd take me away from Daddy
Hopkins an’ from"
She caught herself just in time. She
had it on the tip of her tongue to add
the name of Robert Percival, but of
course she did not.
“1 couldn't ever do that,” she ended.
“Never, never!”
The blue eyes looked into the brown
eyes seriously,
“Oh, yes, you can” insisted Miss
Robertson. “Oscar's 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."
Then slowly she shook her curly
she
while Polly Hopkins gazed at
hands locked together In her lap.
“You can't tell me nothin’ about Os
car,” she remarked at length,
the dirty duffer, an’ I
nothin’ good about him,
your boots on that.”
through the
were fixed upon a
up in the deep
don't make no difference.”
ued, “If I linked up with Oscar, would
that pup, Old Mare, let the squatters
stay in the Silent City?
“Why, Polly, dear, of course he will!
I talked with Oscar last night, and I'll
speak to Mr. MacKenzie just as
as you promise
wants.”
don’t know
You oan
She paused while
open doorway her
fleecy cloud, high
blue sky. jut that
she contin-
soon
to do what Oscar
Again the
Percival cut
smiling face
I
*lln
Oily
Hop}
the sllence
mental vision, and through
d
of the shanty she head his volce—deep
low .
face of
mind,
dered,
mu}
and like music. Then the evil
lennett wormed
Her lids drooped
at!"
over her
asserted
he a
the chance
them
Her |
lot
to see
"You wie
{ other night,”
a chance
on hut
today to bring
ton,
get
it down”
He pulled a little roll of paper from
his pocket and handed it to her. Won.
deringly and there was
| ain exact of “The Great-
est Mother in the World™
Polly was OVercot
| ned silent.
“Don’t like it. little Pollyop?”
queried Robert, putting his fingers un-
der her chin and raising her face to
his
“Yep!”
{ “Sure, sure 1 do
she opened it,
reproduction
she conti
80 ne
von
she whispers blushing.
»],
I love it
“Then why don’t you smile? he de-
| manded; and as she shyly
with his request, ran
talked with MacKenzie, and he's
sot— Confound it! He makes me so
| hot I ean scarcely listen to him. But,
Polly dear, I'll do everything I can.
he “T've
oni
he has, and I'll use "em too.
trust me,
She bowed her head in grateful as
sent. How she thrilled at the touch
of the warm. white hand!
“Look at me, dearie,” he hegged,
and, when she did. flash him a rosy
‘glance, he caught her to him. “I love
you, little girl,” he whispered,
“An' love's the greatest thing in
Ithaca. ain't 11?" she murmured in
trembling confusion.
“Yes, yea" he breathed
girl—och, my littlest dear—"
His volee trailed away, and his pas.
slonate kisses made Polly Hopkins for-
got everything but him. Primeval pas
sion rose within her. She had found
her man, and nothing should take him
from her,
sweet 7
“Little
“I'll keep the baby an’ the
shanty ‘till you get back, Dad-
dy darlin’”
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Duteh children are dressed In ex
actly the same style as their parents
Tunic, Hip-Length and Tuck-In
Models Are in Favor,
Beads, Jet Girdles,
Among
Flowing Sleeves,
Embellishments That
Adorn These Garments,
Among the newest
blou smart tund
fall to the ankles
over-blouses drop ju
there are
thot
chic
ES ule
almost Other
clever little
themselves Ing!de the
blouses
skirt band
One does not gee 80 many blouses this
season as formerly, but
at the
For
there
the selection
Lops is even more elaborate,
formal afternoon occasions,
is a long tunic
ith
pleoted
lower section
most up to
edges are pleoted,
blouse of Span-
ish lace, w wrist
at the
of the bi
the
lengil
gloeves
looped ut the sid becoming
fullness at a low One needs
only to com
with
plete
a sl of
she mi
black crepe
or
such
attempt a colored slip,
* or midnigh
ACTORS
motif
THE TWEED DRESS AND CAPE
LZ [SH EL at
This season presents a tweed dress
and cape which promises to rival the
ever popular tweed suit. This model
is distinguished by the binding of
is embroidered in colors,
THE UMBRELLAS FOR SPRING
Not Much Change in Style; Favorite
Colors Are Brown, Navy, Red
Purple, Green.
in
Nome
shown
being
umbrellas
little new is
spring lines of
new patented features,
movable covers, folding
Very
the
such as
handles,
re-
ete.
colored silk umbrelia with a matching
or harmonizing pyroxylin handle and
flat carrying strap or thong is in
The are the
usual street shades, such as brown,
navy, red, purple and green.
A novel feature in men’s umbrellas
colors
ors, says Dry Goods Economist.
er's green Are all being shown
men's umbrellas. As to whether these
will become popular Is still a question,
but men wear soft hats In these colors
and there 1s reason to believe they will
carry umbrellas in these very dark
tones,
Children’s lines continue to grow in
variety and also popularity.
Boudoir Garments Are Wool Trimmed.
Among the very popular and prac
tical boudoir robes of the present sea-
gon Is the garment made of a light
silk, such as crepe de chine and china
silk, interlined with lambs’ wool and
daintily quilted. Frequently wool em-
broidery supplies the trimming touch,
although quite as many are entirely
untrimmed., Washable flannel kimonos
are algo popular and dainty, and wool
challls is used for serviceable boudoir
garments, For spring some very
dinty cotton crepe negligees are be.
CONOR Sn (OI FNRI
ARE RR
—
0 SAAN A,
aK
A SC A TR 0 RAHN RE
Nie
A
. Ve
This charming spring suit consists
of a gray broadcloth skirt and a
uniquely cut coat of blue serge, crossed
diagonally by matching gray stripes
OR SPRING
Fruits and Flowers in Abundance Are
Predicted for Use on Variety of
rieadgear.
Separate Skirts
od
iris
this
Of
but
I and
atter whether the
fabric i8 © ik otton or wool,
the plain ones are in the ma ority,
this holds
ing shown, and the low
much featured
the negligee
waistline so
apparel enters
some rather
effects having been developed
4
i
in outer
field also,
pleasing
Ribbons Again,
set in Paris has resur-
rected the neck ribbon, and it is fast
in popularity. ‘he girls are
a band of ribbon tightly about
the neck, Just below chin. It is
usually about half an inch wide, and
the colors run all the way from bright
yellow to black. Some of the wearers
have a small gold ornament, such as a
miniature heart, hanging from the rib.
hon by a chain in front. It is just a
fad and probably won't last more than
a couple of months,
Neck
The flapper
gaining
wearing
the
Summer. Underwear,
Fine sateen, either In plain or self.
weather undergar
ments. Another practical undergar-
ment fabric is fine sheer cotton crepe
This is available In many colors and
patterns. This crepe is used effective
ly for warm weather negligees as well
as underzarments, with pipings and
bindings in plain color cotton or silk
fabric or of ribbon.
Beautiful Hands,
To develop hand muscles regulated
exercises are most useful, With the
fingers outstretched and the arms held
straight before you from the shoulder
forward, bend the hands downward 20
times, Then bend them upward in the
same way from the wrists, Exercise
each finger in turn similarly and the
Joints of the fingers. Then with one
hand squeeze the finger tips in turn
and manipulate each joint.