CHAPTER Xl|—Continued.
won J Dunn
Pollyop's sobbing volce penetrated
into the young man's darkening sen-
sibilities, and the ghost of a smile
crept to his lips. Then slowly his eyes
closed. The strained muscles relaxed
from about his mouth, leaving it more
boyish; and thus did the Storm coun-
freedom.
. * * * *® * *
op. Even the reproduction of
Greatest Mother in the World,
lift the
stone
falled to
like a
shanty wall, heavy
load that rested
bosom.
it and dream—dream of a deep-toned
dream of Robert's arms about her and
her head pressed against him.
Up and down she went through the
Silent City, unable to smile, well nigh
unable to speak a word of greeting to
those met. were
she So sympathetic
and pan of baked beans found then
way into the Hopkins hut.
effort to see Evelyn, but the rich girl
never appeared as the little
sounded just after nightfall In
Robertson garden.
In July came rumors that Evelyn
Robertson was to marry Marcus Mac-
Kenzie; and that he had bought
Bennett farm of Oscar's heirs.
fled whispers went from mouth to
mouth in the settlement that he had
boasted how he was going to clear the
squatters from the Silent City before
the coming of Christmas.
One night the dark
whom no home 1s closed slipped Into
the Hopkins shanty and summoned
Granny Hope. Although the
of the withered mouth
less to feed, Pollyop missed the oft re-
peated that
messenger
old made one
assurance somehow,
straight.
Late one day, she took Jerry
the Bad
she
toward
Silent City and
Man's Ravine,
on
The picture
cus MacKenzie's fence,
There for a moment Polly
ful face. When she
and that
realized
plea me
her
an
uni
had been happy.
was ages past, she had
what
But as one after another
had dwindled
one but Jerry was left, a clearer
of
loved ones
al-
her head; and
instant the
could not mu
of greeting from
for Robert Percival was
ing at her, his serious white face hold-
ing no hint of smile or welcome. For
a long minute they stared at each oth-
er; then young man swung about
swiftly and strode away.
Crushed almost into Insensibility,
Pollyop lower and lower until
Jerry slid away from her shoulders to
the ground. Her beloved had
person
or
her
look-
Pollyop ve
word
the
sank
not
his mouth softened even a little bit!
Afternoon shadows began to stretch
long over the lake and crowd down
upon the Silent City, and still the
squatter girl knelt and wept out her
sorrow and loneliness with no one
near but the large-eyed, sad little
child, leaning across the thin back of
Billy-goat Hopkins.
At length Pollyop arose, wiping her
worn face on her sleeve. Then she
holsted Jerry to her shoulders and
turned for a last look at the lofty
mother of the world,
For a minute she gazed steadily.
And then, through the gathering
gloom, she thought she saw a smile
hovering about the beautiful mouth.
Pollyop went nearer by two steps. The
woman was smiling at her, and the
squatter girl, overwhelmed with a joy
that hurt keenly like a knife's blade,
smiled back, the first smile since
Granny Hope had left her.
Holding Jerry by one arm,
thrust the other hand upward.
“Biggest an' beautifulest mammy in
all the world,” she faltered, “bless me
an’ Jerry an'—an’ Daddy Hopkins
away off up in Auburn prison.”
Reverently she knelt with her eling-
ing burden, and then, swiftly rising,
went back to the shanty, her pale face
radiant with a world-wide blessing,
she
CHAPTER XII
Midsummer was full upon them;
land still Pollyop and Jerry held to
ithelr lonely tenure of the hut. A few
theart-broken letters had reached the
squatter girl from Auburn, and she
had pawmnstakingly answered them. Yet
iin spite of the aaily predictions of the
untter folks thet Old Mare would
shortly begin agamn to harass the
isin
ris
in Se—
Rm
Polly was happier. She could not have
explained, If she had been asked, why
the agony of doubt had given place to
an warmer glow about her heart when
she thought of Daddy Hopkins, Away
off up there In the gloom of the prison,
he had recelved a mother's benedle-
tion; Polly believed this with all her
Jerry and too had in
their share; this new confi
she come
for and
her side.
The
in
that tormented her most
thing
father. Day by day she had racked
as soon as the novelty of the play had
the old-time cry would
worn off,
“Want to play horse wif my Dadd
Hopkins! Wee Jerry wants
Hopkins!"
She was at him one
looking
1
considering If
to hurry him off to
when Evelyn Rob-
appeared In
wistfully
it be a way
for a
suddenly
and
!
day,
Even
exceedingly
her uncomfortable,
days
made
though her were
busy,
girl's face
pleading
was
pale,
and she fearful Pollyop
and Marcus MacKenzie would
forever,
made,
be lost
in. Overlooking
shit
LIS,
the room In
barrassment.
catching her
speak to
“Polly op,” she began,
uf Just had to you.
zle, and I came to talk to you about It
and to the baby
bring some
Her expression grave with surprise,
rather have his
she
“Jerry'd
Daddy
in candy,”
frowning
Miss
shaking her head.
“lI couldn't manage that, I'm afraid.”
she sald soberly, u
Pollyop shifted uneasily,
lobertson drew a little,
could Auburn,
¢
die if
take
ventured
Jerry to
“Jerry'll
He's gettin’
He's
she
he
thinner
don't see his daddy.
an’ thinner every day
yelling like mad all mornin
this instant
id do that, I'm
broadly
Iyn pondered on an
avree abo
sure,” she
“I'd love
at the
4
i.
demand a favor, then per-
better offer as much as
she could
“Polly,” si
¢ ejaculated, “you've
awfully ge and you can have
any dresses want, and
keep It And I'l persuade Mr.
MacKenzie to get you a permit to go
to Auburn.”
Polly felt her heart grow big
W
f my
one o
you
too
Then,
his daddy
im Oscar wasn't my man?"
Evelyn Robertson had often
over the horror of the minutes when
the shameful secret of her
to Oscar Bennett was so nearly dis.
closed to Robert Percival, More than
once had she congratulated herself
upon the cleverness with which she
had avolded that danger. To be sure
her escape had been at the expense
of Polly's reputation. She regretted
the necessity but reasoned that a good
name could not be much of a loss to
a Squatter,
“Of course I couldn't do that,” she
returned sharply. “Why--why should
you want—"
The squatter girl's gaze lifted to
the speaker's face, and tears welled
over the fringed lids. Then Evelyn
read the truth; and her eyes glinted
and narrowed.
“Merciful Heavens, you're In love
with my cousin?” she exclaimed. “Is
that what you mean?”
The brown head fell forward, and
a flame-hot face was hidden In the
chestnut curls,
“And he loves you, too,” eried Ev-
elyn, In Qisdain. “What a fool I was
not to discover that before! How per-
fectly awful! That's what has been
the matter with him for months.”
She snatched Pollyop's arm and
shook her,
“It's absolutely mad of you to think
of my cousin In that way,” she con
thued, her voice hoarse with fear,
“Promise me again you'll never tell
him about Oscar?”
Pollyop shook her head,
“I've never told nothin’; I've sald I
wouldn't,” she replied thickly, almost
sulleniy.
Then Evelyn smiled. The dimples
ET ————————
played hide ana go seek at the cor-
neds of her lovely mouth. The steely-
blue glint faded from her eyes, leav-
ing them the color of heavenly tints,
She was certaln her secret was as safe
in the breast of Polly Hopkins as It
wag In the heart of the dead Oscar.
“You sha your father”
sald, dropping her hand, “and you can
have any dress I have to wear, Come
up tonight, at seven. The folks will
be at dinner; and I'll slip out and bring
you in"
Then she went away, leaving Polly
Hopkins alternately plunged Into the
depths of despair when she thought of
Robert Percival and singing with
gladness the joy In store for
Wee Jerry and Daddy Hopkins.
S00 she
over
It was still broad day when Polly
left Wee Jerry playing by
the water's edge with
sOe
son home. True to her word, Evelyn
her In the grape arbor at
and hastily led her up the back stairs
to her bedroom.
“There are the closets,” she sald.
“Take anything you like, Polly, but
hurry. ‘The cook's In the kitchen, and
the other malds are busy. I'll go down
fear someone will come to find me,
the dinner gong.”
the beautiful
its broad
met seven
There's
room,
dimen
alone in
ganze
nee
Polly's
slons,
the
swept
of
only
least these
She
to Auburn, something
brate her visit and do Daddy
proud,
peered
wanted something
IR to
to cele
Hopkins
She swun
in.
gE open a closet
and
the house wave of
her,
sent a terror
She snatched at the first gown
T Tor » N § . i! ’ ¢ "ny
minder her hand, rolled into a b
dle and fled down the stairs
she was In the lane again, she di
breathe easily,
Once back In the
t
Ne Gress
shanty, Po
beneath her bed
it. How Ev
Auburn,
one thing she
withou
: to look at
th visit to
to
did
arrange
o
not know, but of
sure, she had a beautiful
wear,
After she had
and the
iy drew
the
door was securely
the
put
curtains
windows. Even
As If She Had Been Handling Eggs,
She Drew on the Beautiful Robe,
Her Bare Neck and Forearms Gleam.
ing White in the Candle Light,
the room lost thelr shadows; and “The
Greatest Mother In the World” seemed
to stand out more plainly than even
when the sun shone,
Pollyop placed her warm cheek
against the picture and smiled, She
earnestly believed this wonder-mother
was helping her to go and see Daddy
Hopkins, She turned and looked long.
ingly at the sick little man, then up-
ward to the woman's face,
“You've done so much for me an’
Jerry, ma'am,” she whispered. *“Meb-
be sometime you'd make—him-—smile
Just once at me”
Then she took the bundle from un-
der her cot and spread out her treas.
ure, It was a delicate shimmering
silk, ana in it was the color of the
sun just before he salled over the
western hill on his journey around
the earth. There could not be such
another beautiful gown In all the
world, Polly thought. Then she slow.
ly slipped from her own ragged dress
and stopped a moment, contemplating
Daddy Hopking' big boots. Even to
Polly's primitive mind they did not
seem to be just the thing to wear
with such a dress, So the boots, too,
came off,
As If she had been handling eggs,
she drew on the beautiful robe, her
bare neck and forearms gleaming
white In the candlelight.
Then back and forth she walked, en-
tranced with its voluptuous loveliness.
But twist and turn as best she might,
she could not see the whole of her
golden glory; so she took down Daddy
Hopkins cracked plece of mirror
which he had used when pulling out
his shaggy whiskers with the tweezers,
By the ald of it, she could get glimpses
of her slim young figure and the grace-
ful sweep of the skirt, Holding the
glass higher up, she studied her slen-
der neck where the sun had tanned It,
jut tan did not matter, for Daddy
Hopkins loved her in spite of It.
All at once she heard a knock
agninst the side of the hut, Hastily
slipping out of the dress and folding
It, she shoved it under her pillow.
Then put on her old dress and
opened the door,
Larry Blshop was there, extending
her a letter, Taking the note In
amazement, she smiled and thanked
him,
“Ain't you comin’ in, Larry?
asked. “Kinda chilly tonight, huh?"
The squatter stepped inside, his cap
his hand.
“Yep,
he returned.
gettin® on?
a while?"
“Sure,
replied.
she
in
cold for summer,
brat, how
too
“Say,
"”
more'n she
“] writ
enough, Larry,
been to me,
face with
scribble,
this,"
She tapped the letter
mysterious
im, I'll tell things I
with her
Rers as a smile
ps.
The man shook his head grimly,
“You won't be seein’ your dad very
soon, Pollyop,” muttered, “not If
I guess right!”
“Mebhe |
Ie
he
ing the letter,
Sh
but she was eaten up with curiosity to
know of the
Perhaps, oh, might
“Where'd you get this, Larry?
the contents envelope
asked, holding
rl
plained
me if 1
hut was.
the lane”
feller
was down ex.
asked
Hopkins
goin
“an' a
where the
there
an’ 1 un
He paused,
it in
gha
would open
his resence, ng persuade
did not wen
tad a
than Polly
it
it.
sprang to the do
barred Then she turned the letter
looked at it. Her
ft: so it must be meant
her . A
over her. Perhaps Robert
word of fi
over and over and
was on
for
thrill of pleas
aril of
to reas pi
ran
written tha
again,
ng anticipation
and by the light
out contents
ture of
in misery
came the thought that no
liness stam:
ht to keep Jerry from
father,
the this
She
From time she
left
stolen rides
conceived
never her
thoughts
often t
on the Lehigh
Valley train from Ithaca to the Silent
City and dropped off where the engine
took a switch while the Buffalo Spee
cial dashed by. Why could she not
steal a ride clear to Auburn?
While the squatter girl was making
arrangements to carry out this
mighty plan, preparations for the
MacKenzie-Robertson wedding were
going rapidly forward,
in her new love, untroubled by sym-
pathy for the dead Oscar, passed the
days mostly at dressmakers and
the shops,
responsibility for his
all wonld come out well after she wns
and none at all to Polly Hopkins,
Early one morning Polly hopped
quickly out of bed and after a break.
fast of bread and beans, began to dress
Jerry In the best he had
was chilly, and a fine rain drizzled
over the lake,
Polivop wrapped Granny Hope's
old shawl around the little boy and
tied a warm rag about his head; and
the child, satisfied with his sister's
assurance that he was going to see
his father, sat on the cot widéeyed,
watching her in silence.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
0. K. Till Their Fuse Blew Out!
Their meeting was mutual, She be
ing immediately attracted by his mag-
netic personality, while he was not
repelled, for his lips soon made con.
tact with hers, and the sparking grew
Intense. He proposed with lightning.
like precision, then they were united,
Thelr friends were electrified. Wasn't
it shocking?-K. K. Loafbowrew In
Detroit Free Press.
Part of Wardrobe.
Wraps for All Hours of the Day, From
Earliest Morning Until Late
at Night,
the wrap
important part
In Paris
8 Inost
has come to
of the
notes & Paris fashion
the French woman has been
liking the cape In preference to the
coat or the sult,
There Is something so
and so charming.
that French women
lUnes?7—it makes them
when It graces
The capes and cape
the new season are more
than ever and, In spite of
Is it any
appreciate
much
their forms.
wraps
8)
the
the
seems no immediate of
change taking place.
danger
morning until late at night.
of them has its distinct character—
own way of expressing the feeling of
Ua
occasion,
Many are made in that v
luminous manner of heaping
upon thinness until it becomes a com-
fare
capes
position of varied shadings. Some
with large hand-made flowers
and + i 1
Then some are covered ir
ke them glitter In
ler blossoms
1 places with
com-
petition wi the evening gowns they
are used
Numerous capes f silk are
Paris openings.
rity
pped
and
liars of some
crepe
to be seen among
Lome f then
. wre
ra style,
are others
have only
ent materi
them notable
Is made
gleeves
The
vers
provided with girdles
differ.
trimming to make
One interesting Wrap
a
of black serge and has hi
ge
composed of black moire,
afternoon
apt to be made of
in one
Wear are
f crepe de chine
qmvier varieties, and
One of these
has ¢
layers of
to m
the
B 4
ike a picturesque
face,
i ed
& Ir, 3 Leh
Even the sweater has its accompany.
and this one is of white silk
black dots.
with large
GOWN
This gown of oyster white crepe
with georgette sleeves embroidered in
black, and worn with a black milan
hat whose only decoration is a large
cerise rose-—makes an ideal dinner
costume,
CAPE AND DRESS “EN SUITE”
Outfit Ils One of the Newest in Spring
Fashions; the Dress Is
One Piece.
in
The Ears Are Revealed.
iressine
with it
i
the high
back rether
revealed.
8elf Fabric Decorations Now Bloom.
ing in Charming Profusion on
Many Types of Frocks.
The only surprising thing
reat vogue for frocks trimmed solely
self fabric, which
have begun recently to bloom in charm.
had not realized their charming possi
bilities before, notes a fashion writer
in the Kansas Clty Star. Flowers,
THE GOWNS
usually the
naturalisti
fame ag the gown. but in
c eolors, with ostrich swirls,
lose much of their dis
together, unless it be the single flower
which Is used to catch up a swirling
drapery, or one which has apparently
and other dainty intimate things are
such an alluring and essential part of
decks itself.
These soft, simple, graceful frocks,
with only the shy appeal of a gariand
or mass of these hand-made flowers,
contrast delightfully and restfully with
to which we have become accustomed
for some time since. It is not a far
ery from the dainty, tiny satin rose.
buds which have long adorned the
the waistline and was caught and held
by the end of the sash or a floating
panel,
Canton crepe, crepe romain, georg-
ette, chiffon and even broadcloth have
that in their texture which make flow.
ers of Intriguing realism,
A new idea is the single flower at
dahlias which now encircle the waist
line of a frock as its sole trimming.
The flowers are very often of the
same color of the material, making for
a far smarter and more subtle effect
than if the contrasting color were
used, though this ig probably contrary
to one's first thought on the matter,
One of the loveliest types of frocks
seen this season Is the all-white frock
of clinging chiffons or soft silk with
water lilies defining the waist line all
the way around.
These flowers are made by rolling
the edges of slender strips of material,
the waistline with long ends falling
deboniarly below the hem and giving
it the smart uneven iine.
A Taffeta Frock.
New jaunty ways to trim the f|pring
taffeta frock are band effects of ribbon
or velvet. Graduated black velvet or
alternate narrow widths are pretty
an inch or half-inch wide, in rich rain.
bow or orange and henna shades
makes a stunning oriental effect on
brown, Skirts and bell sleeves are
thus decorated.
Spring Suits,
Monkey jackets are back! Newer
than the wery straightdined jacket
they will probably not be seen quite so
much this spring, but they're on the
way! And designers say that next
fall there wil. be a very decided waist.
line on the new garments for outdoor
wear,