The Lexington Leader (Lexington, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, July 23, 1915 Page: 14 of 19
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
10
THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE
66 TIE
B
99 By FRANCIS GOGGIN MALTBY
Illustrated by S. J. MARTIN
* #
BACK from the fields, where the old
road ran, the berries hung in tempting
blackness. A row of locusts hedged
the trail, the low hanging limbs shaded the
ripening fruit. Down the path, the rustle
of Pollv Dean's skirts sent a covey of quail
brushward.
"Don't let me disturb you," laughed the
girl, as she dropped her bucket with a rattle.
"I come in peace; all I ask is a square deal.
These berries are mine by right of discovery
and ancient ownership. Ned and I staked
our claim years before you were born."
Sinking down on an uplifted root, she
pushed the ruffled bonnet back from the
face, a young face, not from years so much
as from heart and experience—the youth
that wholesome environment
nourishes and purifies, just as
the violet that blossoms in the
shade retains its freshness,
while those exposed to the sun
wither and perish. Yonder,
where a spring of vivid water
burst from its limestone bed,
a group of high-bred colts
lifted their heads and whinnied
in recognition.
"Ned," she repeated reflec-
tively, digging the toe of her
boot into the soft earth, "Ned.
No wonder he never took me
seriously in poke-berry war-
paint and chicken-feathered
trousers." I he girl's merry
laugh rang out. "What a mis-
erable little tag-cat I was in
those days!" she declared, as
she rubbed the nose of a
friendly colt. "I wonder if he
has ever discovered the sun
does not rise because he
crows' 1 used to believe it
did truly—would have sworn
it—am not so sure I would
not swear it now. Poor old
Chanticleer! I wonder what
life holds for him? It held everything then,
everything that seemed worth while; but,
now I wonder?"
A stealthy crackling of vines made the
giil spring to her feet. Looking through
the low undergrowth, she saw two childish
eyes, round and solemn, fixed on her. The
owner wore a glorious Carib-suit with
feathered-trousers.
"Is these yours?" demanded the boy, as
lie held two chubby fists streaming with
overripe berries up for inspection. The
crimson juice flowed freely; but the boy
held firmly, as if lie meant to keep his
precious treasure at all hazards.
l\ ours, you blessed cherub, just as many
as you want."
Does they long to you or God?" asked
the boy, solemnly.
1 lie girl caught the child in her arms
and kissed the stained cheek.
"Everything belongs to God," she said,
"everything, everything —the birds, the
trees, the berries, the colts, the little boys,
the little girls, the mama-
O! no, cried the boy, his eyes growing
round and wise, "Papa said the devil owns
most of the world, lie >aid lie was taking
me away from the devil when lie brought
me down here. Papa said this was God's
own country, and. if he owns the berries
and the grass, I think it must be. In the
city, where I come from, the policemans
owns the grass and the market mans the
berries. Papa said God owned the little
boys and girls, but he didn't say notliin'
'tall 'bout my mama."
1 he girl looked at the child with puzzled
eyes.
\\ here did you come from, and who
brought you?" she asked in a breath.
I come from the city in a bi-plane," he
said coolly. "Papa dropped me here and
flew away. lie showed me the house up
yonder, and said one of God's good angels
lived there, and for me to stay there under
her wing, until he came for me. He said
it might be a long, long time; but for me
to stay with the angel. Does you know
''Is These Yours?"
the angel, and does you think she would
mind a little boy like me?"
Again the girl caught the child in her
arms, and held him close.
"No one would mind a little boy like
you," she cried. But—but—what does
your father know of me?"
( \ oucried the boy, in astonishment.
"He don't know notliin' 'bout you! I wish
he did. Then, he might' a' left me with
you. If you don't mind, I'll stay with you,
anyhow. I's kinder 'fraid uv the angel.
()ne uv them come one dark night and
tooken my little sister away, her did, and
didn't bring her back; so I'll just stay with
you.' He tucked his head trustingly
against the girl's shoulder.
1'oily smoothed the hair back from the
temples, looking deep into the eyes. "If
you want to stay with me," she said, "you
will have to tell me your name, your father's
name, and all about yourself."
"\ou don't know?" he cried in surprise.
It don't look like you know notliin'. His
name is Papa and 1 know him just as
easy!"
The girl laughed aloud in spite of compli-
cations.
"I like to see you laugh," said the child.
"It makes such a funny round hole in your
face. Show it again," he demanded, as he
reached up and inserted a stained forefinger
in the soft cheek.
"Listen, Cherub," said Polly, as she
caught the little hands between her own;
"what is his real name? What do others
call him?"
A perplexed look came into the eves;
then, the brow cleared.
"O, I know what you mean! They call
lii'm 'Your Papa,' everybody does except
Mama. She generally says, 'Your Father
there.'"
Again the dimple shone in the cheek;
again, the boy cried out in delight; but the
hands were held tightly by two stronger
ones and could not free themselves.
"You can at least tell me your name?" per-
sisted the girl, bent on solving the mystery.
"You are so funny," declared
the child, openly amused. "You
sure don't know nothin'. But
pshaw! you's just playing like.
You called my name as soon
as you seen me. Most'n every-
body calls me 'Cherub' sepin'
Mama, and she called me 'The
Brat.' Papa says 'The Blessed
Cherub,' just like you did."
He looked into her eyes
solemnly for a moment; then,
he asked in a tone of command
that reminded her vaguely of
some one that had passed out
of her life: "What is your
name ?"
"My name?" she repeated.
"My name? Just Polly."
"Polly." lie cried, his face
beaming with delight. "Polly?
My sister's name was Pollv.
Papa called her Pollv. My,
but I missed her when she
went away! She ain't been
gone but a little bit. and I
thought niebby Papa wuz go-
ing alter her when he started
up in the air." A thoughtful
look came into the child's face
as he turned his eyes to the
sky. "We went so fast at first," he con-
tinued, "that I thought it wouldn't take no
time to catch up with her; but Papa said
we just never, never could. . . . Don't
you guess Papa has gone on to hunt her
by hisself, and just left me here because I
got so cold and hungry?"
"You poor little lamb," cried the girl,
catching the child up in her arms and hold-
ing him close, "here I have kept you hun-
gry, while I asked questions."
She bore him lightly along, her strong,
} oung arms flung about the baby form, her
cheek pressed against his.
our mother, suggested the girl softlv,
"has she gone in search of Polly, too?"
O, no! declared the boy "she ain't got
time; she's so busy with parties and things.
She didn't see much of Polly and me. She
were gone the night Pollv died. Polly got
to coughing and just choked to death.
A\ a n t nobody with her sepin' me. Papa
said she just flew up to God, 'cause there
wasn't no lit place for her to stay. When
we started this mornin', I asked Papa if ht
were goin'^ to take me up to God, too; but
lie said: "No, I'm just going to take you
away lrom the devil!"
I he girl s heart was beating painfully, her
pulses throbbed and the blood surged
< 0
* Jk
4
*
4 4
(Continued on Page 12)
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Lexington Leader (Lexington, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, July 23, 1915, newspaper, July 23, 1915; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc110683/m1/14/: accessed April 18, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.