Emma C. Dowd

“ As the bride stood to receive her guests, in her simple white silk gown, the necklace of pearly her only ornament, Polly gazed into her sweet, thoughtful face, and longed to throw her arms around her neck and give her a loving hug. But she had to be content with only one little decorous kiss, and she consoled herself with the words that had been singing in her heart all the day, "She is going to be my mother! She is going to be my mother!" ”

“ Whether there was a nap or not, neither of the chauffeurs came into sight. Half past two—three—half-past three—four—all ticked themselves away on the old clock. It was very quiet in the front room of the little gray house. The light haze that brooded over the hills seemed also to have veiled the blue eyes at the window. Still, they kept loyal watch.
By and by the child suddenly straightened—the tall young chauffeur was striding down to the garage! It seemed as if the blue eyes must pierce the side of the low building, so eager were they to see inside. ”

“ Polly agreed. “But, father, don’t you really care ’cause she called you that?”
“A nobody?” he smiled. “I should be one if I allowed it to annoy me. My little girl, I wish I could make you see how trivial, how inconsequent such things are. No human being is a ‘nobody’ who is faithful to the best that is in him. It doesn’t make much real difference what people say of us, as long as we keep an honest heart and serve God and our fellow travelers according to our highest knowledge. Life is too brief to spend much thought on taunts or slander. We have too much else to do. ”

“ Impatience crept into the sweet voice. "Being in prison is bad enough even with good health; but to be sick, wretched—the worst kind of sickness, because nobody understands!—and to grow old, too, grow old fast—oh, I wish God would let me die!" The little woman gave a sudden whirl and hid her face in the pillow.
"Don't, Miss Nita!" Polly's voice was distressed. She stroked the smooth, soft hair. "Don't cry! You're not old! You're not old a bit! And you're going to be well—father says so!"
"That won't take away the dewlap—oh!" cried Miss Sterling fiercely, "I don't want a dewlap!" ”

“ Doodles began, “I don’t know what to say! But I thank you ever and ever so much, and I know Caruso will. It is just like you to do it! You have always done such nice things for us. You can’t imagine what a comfort you have been to me! I guess there are lots of people that need comforting, or God wouldn’t have told us to do it. I’ve never done much. Blue and Caruso have had to do mine for me. But now I can walk, and Caruso has got such a beautiful home he’ll sing more than ever, and we shall comfort all the folks we can just as long as we live.” ”

“ Polly demurred. “You didn’t use to be this way, Patty. What’s the matter?” She had dropped into a confidential tone.
Patricia’s face grew pink. She laughed uncertainly. “Oh, I’m all right!” she returned, stooping ostensibly to tie her shoe, which the other was positive did not need tying.
“I don’t like it,” Polly went on softly; “I like you best as you always have been. You are too much a woman to be a flirt.”
“It’s fun!” laughed Patricia. “You may as well break men’s hearts as to have them break yours.” ”

“ A "Why!" of wonder was rounding Polly's lips, as the physician continued:—
"Perhaps you have done Mrs. Jocelyn more good than you will ever know. Since her husband and little boy died she has shut people out of her life, seldom leaving her home, and rarely entertaining a guest. From what she has said to me I judge that she has allowed herself to brood over her sorrows till she has become bitter and melancholy. Let's hope that your little story will open her eyes."
"Does she live all alone when she is home?" queried Polly. ”

“ Polly could not even guess, so they followed the driveways at random, on, and on, and on.
There was no lack of company. Young men and women, walking cozily close; wandering lovers from over the sea, like children hand in hand; groups of laughing, chattering girls and boys;—all these, but never a Lone Star or a dignified Colonel with his possible sweetheart. ”

“ Polly's dimples vanished. "No, David, I am not making fun of you, but only of your foolishness—"
"Oh, yes, I suppose it's foolish for me to love you as I do when you don't care a straw—"
"Wait! wait!" she interrupted. "I don't mean that at all, and you know it! But for a great, tall fellow like you to be so unreasonably jealous of a little ten-year-old does seem absurd. I love Doodles, of course; everybody does. But, David, you ought to know that's all there is to it." ”

“ The next morning's musicale was quite the feast that Polly had anticipated, and Mrs. Jocelyn's was a twofold enjoyment. The little girl had feared that her white dress was too wrinkled for grand a party; so her hostess's maid had smoothed it into its original perfection, and, to make good the hair ribbon that had been lost, Mrs. Jocelyn had bought an even prettier one—the palest blue sprinkled with forget-me-nots, and sash too match.
After luncheon came the delightful task of giving the presents pretty holiday touches with fancy tissue papers and gay ribbons. ”