OASt MAY OOUHTY Tllttg. BgA MU PITY. K. J.

Storm Country Polly by Grace Miller White

Copyright fay Little, Brown & Co.

CHAPTER tklnx off b« Irn touched tbe proetrate mu. haps be ma deed; end out of somere e thought ehoc Into* her mind If be were, her trouNee were oeer, don't know." ebe whispered. “Bot ooks so!" oily op shoved Evelyn

is eyes! God. etet U swfuir uletly Oscer Uy geshtf st tbe girts bey stared et him. Polly wee tbe o go to him. el awful slet, eh. OscarT" she In s low tone. ‘ man did not answer even by a aent of bis Uda If cut talk," ebe went on. looka round et Erelya. “He oagbt to doctor. Cut you go op to the ilevard an' get Dee Becoor fresb buret of teers eo choked

No. I cut go oet to this awful rm again." ebe finally replied. “Of me, I rant," ebe repeated, swelling. “I'n. afraid. I wont got I n't take a step. If say one goes—" Then stay by him." Interjected Uy. dolly, “u' 111 go!".

and softly closed the door behind •oily Hopkins lingered several moot* to accustom her eyes to the tt'a blei.li dksa, Beyond to the east te Cayuga rushed no toward Ithaca flu

Icb fel. hourly from Granny Mopr Aik ar' it ahull be given thee." ebe I*! - “Than if teeth eo. let me some one to help Oscar r trough the clatter of the elemeots heard the sound sf footsteps o* In dark read. An answer to bar rer was about to. jeep oat ct the >t room. She hoped tt was Larry hop or Lye Eraeger. Opening her l *»ic gave the weird, crying, squat-

no way to keep him In Igance of Evelyn's relation to Oscar, u too excited Co think of u keen bin outside. ’’lyop," commenced Robert, “I to see you if only for a few aslnWatt a second before you go

ee that clutched at bar heart u•red her. 'hen. by the next Rash of lagged unlng, aha saw .Robert Parrtval xlng toward bar. 1* that you, PoUyT" be called, bafs tbe auitterr lep." rite faltered timidly. “I got >c one sick in the shanty ", >f all tbe people ebe bad expected ■ee, be was the last Am she welted him to approach, Polly op's active

stir a step untU be was bending her. Qua ana went around bar ddera, on

iddy*a idlbly. huhr A dear child." answered Robert, own throat full with emotion, what I came to tell you is ttu\ I've already set things moving ring him back. I couldn’t alesp toI saw you.” long shudder ran the length of

would have fallen but tor i

railroaded Dnddy Hopkins to An-

you. Pollyopr urged Robert :! «iaitly, lifting her face and Uy-

*. ter he raacbod out bis bund t» the door. >11 go m,- said be. taking bar gathering both of her hands

hands ud had lifted fm latch. Trembling from bead to foot. Polly°P followed him Into tbe but. When Robert caught sight of bis pale cousin, be stopped short. Tonis not Ul, Ere, dear?" be cried, going to her anlckly. "Pofty said soroe one was sLIrRiere." Ho r'^noet around tbe shanty. A 'hcob of happiness made his pulses beat faster. The Greatest Mother in the World'' still held her piece on the wall. While he was contemplating the wooder of the picture, his thoughts went back to tbe day he bad given It to his Uttleet Mother In the World. Billy-goat Hopkins mousing In tbe wood-box brought his thoughts back, hot not soon enough to catch tbe meaning gtanev that Evelyn shot at the squatter girt, who was gating steadily at her. With a fling of contempt Miss Robertson walked to him and laid her band on his arm. "Ro, Pm not tbe least sick. Bob, but —but just now—" she hesitated, then continued hurriedly: “There'* a little boy here; and 1 often bring him food and candy. When ,1 got here," she whirled around and flung her band toward tbe cot, “this man was so terribly sick that I told Polly Hipklns she ought to get a doctor. Naturally. I consented to stay until some one else came, bpt I never expected—you I" The explanation brought a groan from Pollyop. Slowly Robert drew bis gnie from Oscar's pallid countenance and turned to her. He looked so shocked and hurt that she Impulsively moved toward him. “Bow'd he come here?" Robert excUlmad. going to the bedside. “Why. it's Bennett! What's he doing here?"

calmly, "nod really IPs none of our baamoaa. Is tt? But I do think ho ought to has* a doctor. - beck, flashing a at tha squatter girl which

lyn broke in upon her In frantic haste. “Now listen to me. Bob " she insisted. “Too are very unkind! What’s happened here Is none of your business nor mln*i_ Every sqnstter woman has a man, and you can't expect Polly Hopkins to be an exception. AR you can do la to gat a doctor." Robert peaaed bis hand over his fare. He looked dasedly from Pollyop,

so allant and pale, to the m-jx ao horribly atfll ao tU cot"AM right," be replied gruffly. “Come an! Thl* la no pUce—" H# fi—g a glance at Polly Hopkins that •track her like a Mow from a whip, and flalakwl, "n# place for a docent girt." Stupeflod by the flood of disasters that bad nr erw netmed her, Polly matched Robert Perdval lead his earnsin from tbe bet After the flrrt wild impulse U> Ceil him the truth, rtw bad made no further effort to dear hereelt. Evelyn Robortaou was going to bold her to the word th» bad made two yoaro ago t Being Innately honest heraeif Pollyop could «* oo way to tighten her own dejection or to at.U

ed that she should trust him, yet at the very first trial of his fslth. he t^d flung away and left bar alone. ? Blinded by tears, she felt her •wiy to the cot. Bennett lay In the same position, his wide-open eyes holding an expression of horror. "She's got a lily liver all right, 0*car," Polly hissed through her teeth. “Did you hear all what she said?" Such is the power of habit over h nature like the squatter girl's that Robert faded from her mind, and OPcar Bennett, suffering and dying, absorbed her whole attention. "Can’t you hear anything. Oscarr - the questioned. “-Listen, mebbe you 11 get well. If you do, take your o'd mammy an' get out quick. Eve ninl worth one of your toe nails. You'vk been a mean duffer, Oscar, but you're too d—n good for her. QoJ, but she were t wicked woman, wasn't she, huhr Not a move of the heavy head oo tbe pillow gave evidence that she had been beard. She was still standing by BennetTs aide when, without knocking. Robert opened the door and came In, followed by the doctor. Polly recognized tbe stranger instantly as the medical man who lived a short distance down the boulevard. In anxious Inquiry she glanced at Perdval. Observing that she had been weeping, his anger flared again. V. never occurred to him that his own cruelty had drawn the tears from her eyes. There was the huge farmer stretched out on the bed; and the squatter girl crying beside him! She was mourning over the stricken man! Robert frowned; and hopelessly, In silence. Polly moved aside to give the doctor the space she had occupied. After a hasty examination of the patient, Doctor Bacon turned to Polly Hopkins. “Something struck him," he said shortly. "You've been quarreling with him. eh. girl? What did you hit him with?"

longer could *be tnlnk of him aa ho. own. though bat a few abort minutes bufara te ted oocalortte fw «*lh BM>a «i pruteaa. «e tei *

only Is the speaker's too as but In Robert's Inarticulate cry. "Why did you strike him. Polly Hopkins?" be demanded hoarsely. "Did you? Speak! Did your That he should of bar crushed b head fell forward, but not until Robert spoke sgaln harshly did she asshe breathed. Her tongue frit as if It were covered, with ashes. "Nope, I didn't hit him! 4 That was all she oald. She looked up at him pleadingly through ter thick lashes. Perhaps be did not really believe her guilty. Ya*,hedld! He was dn fixing upon her that accusatory **“He'd better be moved out of this bote." observed the doctor, looking around, “but tt'a an awful night." He considered t moment and then added: Til telephone to Ithaca for an ambulance." Sternly he directed a took of disgust at Polly. He hated attending the squatter* anyway, and never would have consented to enter tbe Silent City If Robert Perdval had not come for Ashaat at the horror of the emergency. Pollyop seemed not to notice the physician's contempt. “Is he gain' to die, mister?" she queried plaintively. “I don't know “ be replied Id gruff Indecision, as he prepared a drangnt. Whan everything within human power bad been done for Oacar Ben-

out of th* hut before him. Than, like s shot, he turned back to Polly's aide. Hia eyes biased with Jealousy; and quickly it crossed her mind that he was going to strike her. Oh 1 How she wished be would and then take back all the cruel words he had hurled at her! "When you said you Icved me. you Red," he gritted savagely. ‘You knew all the time you had him. You let me fct— you! You said love was the greatest th.ng In the world!—Oh. God! How I wish I could hate you!" Polly coaid not apeak, neither could she more. Imprisoned tragedy lay In the depths of her eyes. If he had been leas violent, she would have Implored him to trust her. Pereira! really hoped she would resent hU accusations. Stormy denials w.-sild have been sweet music to his ears. He would have welcomed even a torrent of abuse from her. Anything

Bucncr > vrouau to put tha stamp of truth "pon his cousin's explanation of Bennett's presence -Why don’t you speak?" he rasped. When she showed oo signs of answering. he turned to ro. Tbe door was swinging In his hand, but be did not pass eat. It wot as though the agony scorching him fused all his emotions; and In a flash he realised tnat he loved her Jut*, the same! No matter what she had done, be loved her. and no woman In tha world could or wouid take hrt place. He whirled around an<* with one sweep gathered her Into hit arms Unmindful of the man x the bed. be

•Trust me I" she gasped. "Please trust toe." A contemptuous laugh fell from him. Trust your he grated. That I will not! I'll never trust you again. But you're mine Just the same. Do you hear? You belong to me. Bat after this TU watch every step you

He almost crushed,her into unconsciousness. and she hung In his arms a fragile, beaten thing, too tired to cry out too weak to plead. .Then, all of a sudden. Robert loosened his hold upon her, strode to the door and. without a backward glance, opened It and was gone. For a long time after he had left the hut. prorv upon the rough shanty

Large Deep* Appeared on Bennett’* Brow; and Aranty Hope Lifted One

boards, the strained Her eyes at tbe . aa If a gfaost had Jasr passed tnrough it. Granny Hope's voice called her name; and she came limping out of her room on her stick. “I heard a lot of folks talkin’. Poltyop," rite said, “aa* I got awful pains tonight. It 1 # tbe atonu, I guess." Almost exaaustad, Pctlvop forced herself to stand up. ‘Too hadn't ought to ha out of ben. Granny." she remonstrated. “Yep. I guess It's tha rain what makes you ache.” Then Mrs. Hope noticed Bennett.

then moved back to Polly. The old woman hobbled to the cot, and Polly came to her aide aiienUy. “He's awful sick. I guee*. ain't her observed Mrs. Hope, looking up into the girl * face. “Yep r The affirmative was but a breath. “GoIn' tc die, huhr whispered th* other. A deep eob rose to the girl's Ups. brought almost to utterance by her in-

i'' was aU she could say. “Poor man," the woman muttered, wrinkling up her face. “Dyln'a awful hard thing for some folks." A startled expression, smoothing (•way some of the bard lines, spread over Oscar's face. In the presence of death, which every squatter held In superstitious awe, Polly dropped down upon her knees beside tbe bed. Her own hurt had been overcome by the des're to help him if ebe could. And there, while tbe rain dashed its fury into the lake, and tbe wind shook th* ataanty, the three kept quiet vtgU. Large drops appeared on Bennett's brow; and Granny Hope lifted one withered hand and brushed them sway. “Love’ll carry you over weary place*, big dear." she wheezed. "It's all powerful, lor# is. atr." Oscar's staring eyas lost something of the abject fear they had shown, as If he had hoard and was comforted. Then over his face swept that look that coaxes but once to any man. “Aw th* ChriaUU help you, too. honey,” Granny Hope went on again

Polly, weeping silently, bent forward and gased hard at tbe dying fanner. Oscar wanted to stay a little longer. He was trying to speak; but tha knew he could not. To help him through the vaUey of shadow * and upward into eternal light, ah* thrust her bead close to bia. Mesas Is ginn' you rest. Oscar man P she wblspervd. (TO BE CONTThTED ) Careful Mrs. Nawijcvsd. “Mother—" “Ye*. Ethri-" “WU1 you do something lor me?" “What la 1:T" T wish you would buy me e roll-Ing-ptn." “Why don't you buy one yoasarifr -Oh. you know Jim and 1 here only been married a few weeks and tbe store man might think w*

Invite Needlewoman’s Art; Trimmings Vary Taffetas

CV)R afternoon and evening gowns, the vogue for simple styles, united with the. for fine sheer fabrics. In lovely odors. Invite the art of the needlewoman; for needle craft is depended on to give distinction to almplldty. Beading, drawn work, embroidery and other kinds of stltchety. have Important part* to play this season—there la nothing In the wny of

lace, or organdie. Into pretty frocks for summer afternoons. It Is apparent that all designers of afternoon and evening frock* have been more'or lees fascinated by the old-tlmey charm of the bouffant skirt In company with the cuirass bodice. At any rate gowns following these lines continue to be presented, especially In tbe materials that are moat

Bod Embroidery Makes This Gown.

adornment to equal them. With Ingenious draperies they vary the simple styles ana redeem them from the commonplace. The gown shown here might be pretty without Its bead embroidery, but It would not be more than that, and It would peas unnoticed. Aa It Is. with embroidery and drapery - . It 1* more than pretty. Imagine It in amber colored georgette crepe, embroldwred In amber and rust-colored bends, and you will vision its loveliness. or think of It In light, peri winkle blue, with bead* In blue and orchid. In tbe cascaded drapery at each aide the designer has shown un usual cleverness by attaching it to the skirt, where It falls below the bodice. The Caring sleeves take advantage of the pretty wblm of fash-

adaptable to them, as organdy and taffeta, and many little tricks arc resorted to by designer* to Insure the bouffant rilfcooette. Tucks—wide or narrow—ruffles, bound edges and covered cord trimming serve Instead of hoops to keep tbe skirt* outstanding Tbe prettv taffeta frock shown bare is a flue example of this popular styi# for afternoon or Informal erenlv wear. Its tucks end ruffles do double duty, serving for odormnrat r.nd to give nddltloawl body to the silk. Tbe skirt Is straight and full, bordered with pin tuesx and scalloped et tbe bottom. Narrow ruffle* serve to outline tbe scallops. They have pi cot edges and are gathered with a little upstanding frill along th? upper edgs. Tbe dhow sleeve* are finished with n corresponding trimming and a coder

Prstty Taffata Frock.

Ion to allow a silt r'onc the top of the arm. and the soft jlrdle la made !

of the georgette.

Dtvasei made of fine voRra are •vrn simpler than those at georgette, but there Is much handwork In them Drawi work, fine tucks, hemstitching. feath**r-*t itching, and oilier dainty needlework place these lovely cotton frocks In the class of their fragile, silk slater* They appeal to the taste of gentlewomen everywhere, and are exquisite In light colors and white. There are sheer voiles showing fine, colored croes-hers a white ground that ar* made up with white net, or

, cut from pin-tucked taffeta xiffb edged ! with a ru<Th- finishes th* round neck. A little sash of plcut-edged ribbon Is tied at tbs aide and bolds a small dealer of bright dierrlsa that lend the •lark drea* a gl-eni of vivid color. T*.ts model might be made up In light colors fot evening wear, with Its flalshine touch of fruit or flower*, rhouaa to «1 'iff the color In the drees. Aa pictured. It is made of black taJata.