Storm Country Polly
by Grace Miller White
Copyright by Little, Brown & Co.
"I JU8T COULDN'T"
SYNOPSIS.— Occupying a dilapi
dated aback in the Silent City, a
squatter settlement near Ithaca,
New York, Polly Hopkins Uvea
with her father, email Jerry, and
an old woman, Granny Hope. On
an adjacent farm, Oecar Bennett,
proeperoua farmer, la a neighbor.
He la aecretly married to Evelyn
Robertaon, supposedly wealthy girl
of the neighborhood. Marcus Mac
Kenzle, who owna the ground the
aquattera occupy, la their deter
mined enemy. Polly overheara a
conversation between MacKenzle
and a etranger, In which the former
avows hla Intention of driving the
squatters from hla land. The stran
ger sympathizes with the aquattera,
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 Pereival, Evelyn's cousin.
Polly learns from Evelyn that the
sympathetic stranger Is Robert
Pereival. 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 three ta He Insists
Evelyn meet him that night. Polly
has her father and Larry Bishop,
a squatter, take an oath to do Mac
Kenzle no Injury. Evelyn unsuc
cessfully tries to get money from
her mother with which to buy oft
Bennett and Induce him to leave the
country, giving her her freedom.
She and MacKenzle avow their
love. At the arranged meeting that
night Bennett threatens Evelyn
with exposure unless she gives him
money. Polly meets Robert Per
eival, and they are mutually at
tracted, Polly's feeling being adora
tion. Oscar kills Polly's lamb and
Pereival thrashes Oscar. MacKen
sls orders the squatters to leave.
Evelyn plans to marry MacKenzle.
CHAPTER VIII—Continued.
"Darling , 1 " he broke forth, 'Tm Just
*o happy, I can't have a row with Bob.
Why don't you talk to him about the
squatters? He'll listen to you. Eve!
But, darling, that's a detail." He took
one of her hands and kissed the tips
of .her slender fingers. "The most Im
portant thing to be considered now Is
when are you going to marry me? I
can't, Tsimply can't wait much longer!
Gh, Eve, Eve, I want you!"
Fiercely he drew her head against
him ; and the silence that followed was
fraught with rapture for them both.
Oh I She wanted to be his wife, to
forget the past two wretched years. If
Oscar did not stand in her way, how
qnlckly she would give this man the
happiness he craved and drink deep of
it herself.
"When, my love?" breathed Marcus
thickly, caressing her. "When, dear?"
Gravely she lifted her head and
looked into his eyes for a few seconds.
"When you buy the Bennett farm,"
•he ventured. "It—It—"
"And get rid of the squatters too,
I suppose," he laughingly Interrupted.
"And get rid of the squatters too,"
nodded Evelyn. Then she kissed him
softly and whispered, "My sweet
heart 1"
A moment later she moved to re
lease herself ; and with another kiss he
let her go. Then he smiled whimsi
cally.
"Now It's settled, dearest," he said,
rising. "I won't give you a minute's
peace until you begin on your pretties,
though the way you've set the day
fl
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"OH, Eve, Eve, I 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
soot,.''
Mrs. Robertson's daughter was in
a brown study before the fire when
that lady came Into the room, a few
minutes latrr.
"Marc went early tonight, didn't he,
Eve?" ahe questioned, as she dropped
Into a chair.
"He had to go and meet someone
about those tiresome squatters," Eve
explained- "I'm »Vek of the sound ef |
their names. Marcus says if he can't
get rid of them, he'll leave Ithaca."
A step in the halt closed the con
versation for the time being, and a
moment later Robert Pereival Joined
them. In silence Mrs. Robertson
studied his face. 8he 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 Ups.
"And yon 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. "Ton know,
Bob, Eve and I will do anything we
can for you !"
The expression of anxiety, which hi#
face had worn since he had seen the
last of Polly Hopkins, lifted a little.
"That's fine!" he exclaimed heartily.
"There's nothing like a fellow's own
women folks, is there? And you're
Just as good to me as If I belonged to
you."
Mrs. Robertson bridled consciously,
pleased with her nephew and pleased
with herself.
"Why, Robert, dear," she returned,
"you do belong to us. God bless you,
boy, you're my baby and Eve's little
brother. Now tell us what's bothering
you."
"It's Marc's row with the squatters !
I can't get the poor devils out of my
mind. Eve, can't you get him to leave
the settlement people alone? Td let
them have some of my land, but It
doesn't touch the lake, and they
couldn't make a living on It"
Evelyn arose and crossed the room
to the table. She had not expected
Her promise to MacKenzle
flashed Into her mind I
"I don't like Interfering with Marc's
business. Bob," she demurred. "Be
sides, he wants te improve the prop
erty down there, and he can't while
the fishermen stay on the shore!"
Gently, for Robert had always been
like a younger brother to her, and she
loved him dearly, Evelyn explained
MacKenzle's plans and showed how
Impossible It was for her, ander the
circumstances, to interfere with them.
Then she crossed to his side and bent
over him.
"Robert, dear," she begged. "Forget
about the squatters. They aren't any
thing special to you I" To head off an
objection that she saw in his eyes, she
hurried on: "They're poor and unfor
tunate, I know. Tin socry fer them.
We all are ; but you can't deny they're
worthless and filthy, and worst of all,
they haven't any right to be where
they are. You won't let them oome be
tween you and Marc and me, will
you?"
Without giving the man a chance to
answer, Mrs. Robertson Interrupted:
"Mercy, Eve, why of course he
won't ! Marc will soon be one of the
family. People of onr social standing
don't wrangle over such cattle as the
squatters." She turned smilingly to
the young man and ended sweetly:
"You feel that way, don't you. Bob?"
Disregarding both the lady and her
question, Robert got np, his Ups grim
and his fine brow corrugated with
lines. Evelyn and Marcus could do as
they pleased ; he would take his stand
right there.
"Evelyn," he said slowly, T should
be sorry to have anything come be
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 Marc does. You're engaged to
him, but you can tell him for me I'm
going to help the squatters any way
and every way I can."
Too angry to listen te any more ar
guments, be pushed his chair to one
side and left the room.
Mrs. Robertson looked daggers at
her daughter and as soon as she could
get her breath, broke out :
"Now, Evelyn, see what a storm
you've stirred up ! Why didn't you use
a little diplomacy? That was the least
you could have done. Yon get Marc
and Bob by the ears, and where'll you
bel"
"Oh ! I don't know ! I don't know I"
moaned Evelyn. "Don't talk to me
any more. I'm just about crazy. I'm
going to bedl Good night 1 "
this.
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 la 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
thought* back and she glanced up,
startled. Unnetlced, the blouse
dropped to the fleer a« 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 does
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 eye*.
"Pm 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," she 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 wait.
"Do you mean help Daddy Hopkins
an' the rest of 'em?" she Interrupted.
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes, every one In the settlement"
A brilliant smile lit up Pollyop's
countenance.
"I'd give Inches out of my hide to
do that" she declared. "Go an, an'
yap it to me."
"Then sit down, dear," entreated
Evelyn, "and don't stare at me so !"
To have saved her life, Pollyop could
not drag her eyes away, but obediently
she sat down on the floor. Evelyn fid
geted under the searching, honest gaze.
"You know, Polly," she stammered,
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"I'm Awful Glad Yeu Ceme te Me,"
Polly Breathed Softly.
"how It 1* between Mr. MacKenele and
me. I can make him do anything I
say. Oh, if I were free from Oscar
Bennett I"
"Then yon could marry Old Marc,
huh?" Polly Interposed with a bob of
the chestnut curls, "an' boss hlm, I
bet"
"Something like that, Polly," Evelyn
"That's why I've come to
you. When Tm free, I can make Mr.
MacKenzle let up on your people."
Anxiously weighing every word,
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
you for wantin' to, but how be
goln' to work it, Miss Eve? I ean't
see no help for the squatters If your
marryln' Old Marc's part of it"
"That's what Tm trying to tell you,
Polly," was the quick retort, "but I
want your promise. Yon help me, and
TO help you and year people. Oscar
•ays he'll free me If—If—you'll marry
him."
For an Instant Polly's head whirled
as if It had been suddenly struck and
over her came a weight almost unbear
able. Then slowly she shook her curly
head.
"I couldn't do that, ma'am," she
choked. "I Just couldn't"
"But you said you would." retorted
Evelyn sharply. "You mnst.
save the squatters, and I will; bnt
only on condition that yon help me get
rid of Oscar Bennett Mr. MacKenzle
Is going to buy the Bennett farm,
and—"
"An' Osear'U be goln' away some
where* else?" put In Polly. "Is that
It? He'd take me away from Daddy
Hopkins an' from—"
She caught herself Just In time. She
hod it on the tip of her tongue to add
the name of Robert Pereival, but of
course she did not.
"I couldn't ever do that," she ended.
"Never, never!"
The blue eyes looked tnto the brown
eyes seriously.
"Oh, yes, you can," insisted Miss
Robertson. "Oscar's not the worst 1 b
the world, and he'll have a lot of
money when he leaves Ithaca. Me
levez you, Pollyop, and he'd make Ufa
May an<i pleaeaM fler yom."
admitted.
you
I can
A 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. "I know
the dirty duffer, an' I don't know
nothin' good about him, you can bet
your boots on that" She paused while
through the open doorway her eye#
were fixed upon a fleecy cloud, high
up in the deep blue sky. "But that
don't make no difference," she contin
ued. "If I linked up with Oscar, would
that pup. Old Marc, let the squatters
stay in the Silent City?"
"Why, Polly, dear, of course he will f
I talked with Oscar last night, and I'll
speak to Mr. MacKenzle Just as soon
as you promise to do what Oscar
wants."
Again the smiling face of Robert
Pereival 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 drooped, and she shud
dered.
"I couldn't do ft,
walled. "I Just couldn't do that!"
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 a little time to
think It over. TO bring Oscar to see
you some day when Mr. MacKenzle
and my cousin Robert are away."
At the sound of that beloved name,
Polly's head fell forward.
"Scoot now," she said, her curls hid
ing her face. "I'll think about it."
After Evelyn had gone, Polly me
chanically resumed her sewing. It
seemed that her heart's 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, Polly flung herself into the open
and ran swiftly along the ragged rocks
to a little glen where many a time she
had been before. Here she waded
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 flsh
and hunt Then she visioned the Si
lent City, safe at last and saved by
her. Her head sank into her bands;
and sobs racked her slender body.
But it was not long before she sat
up and tossed back her curls. It
seemed as If she had heard a voice.
She turned her head slowly; and lo,
Robert Pereival was standing across
the creek, smiling at her.
"I followed you, Polly Hopkins," he
called, and springing across the water,
he added : "You ran so fast I lost you
at the corner of the ragged rocks, and
It's taken me all this time to And you."
He sat down beside her and took her
hands ; but Polly could not look up
at him. Embarrassed beyond utter
ance, she withdrew her fingers, letting
them fail listlessly. Robert laughed.
Her lovely face, first white then scar
let, only teld him that she was glad
to see him, and spoke of girlish inno
cence, dear to all men.
"You went away so suddenly the
other night," he ran on. "I didn't have
a chance to say half I wanted to. I
had something for you, too, but
couldn't get away until today to bring
it down."
He pulled a little roll of paper from
his pocket and handed It to her. Won
deringly she opened It, and there was
an exart reproduction of "The Great
est Mother In the World."
Polly was so overcome she contin
ued silent.
ma'am." she
"Don't yon like It, little Pollyop?"
queried Robert, putting his fingers un
der her chin and raising her face to
hi*
"Yep!" she whispered, blushing.
"Sure, sure I do. I love It"
"Then why don't you smile?" he de
manded; and as she shyly complied
with his request he ran on : "I've
talked with MacKenzle, and he's so
set—; Confound It! He makes me so
hot I can scarcely listen to him. But
Polly dear, TO do everything I can.
I've get money and friends, as well as
be has, and TO ose 'em too. WU 1 you
trust me. sweet?"
She bowed her head In grateful as
sent How she thrilled at the touch
of the warm, white hand !
"Look at me, dearie," he begged,
and, when she did flash him a rosy
glance, he caught her to hlm. "I love
you, little girl," he whispered.
"An' love's the greatest thing In
Ithaca, ain't it?" she murmured Id
trembling confusion.
"Yes, yes," he breathed. "Little
girl—oh, my Httlest dear—"
His voice trailed away, and his pas
slonate kisses made Polly Hopkins for
get everything but him. Primeval pas
sion rose within her. She had found
her man. and nothing should take him
from her.
"I'll keep the baby an' the
shanty 'till you get hack, Dad
dy darlin'."
(TO BE CONTINUED )
Dutch children «re dressed In eue
acUr the seme style «4 their parents.
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Dear Mus Brook*:
One of my friend* and mytelf have
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"Between you and me" is correct,
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My dear you are not alone in your
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Rodolph Valentino was bom in
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seems
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Will you please tell me the correct
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Glory Gray. What an interesting
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Always eat olives by holding be
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Miss C., Murray, Utah.
Yours is an interesting question, and
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Hair split at the end will not grow.
This condition denotes an unhealthy
•calp. Clipping (not singeing) the ends
oftentimes prevent» the return of the
trouble for some time, but scalp treat
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Who is Senator Sorghum?
Miss Lucy, St. Anthony, Ida,
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/ have often wondered who first
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Peggy O., Payson, Utah.
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Jams* Bridger,
Greet Seit Lek«
a trapper, discovered
is the year 1824.
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