When Polly Was Eighteen

The young man, stretched on the grass among the waving shadows, was gazing across the valley to the hills in their soft afternoon veiling. It was a June picture beautiful enough...

The City Hall clock struck twelve, and Polly Dudley was still awake. The circumstances of the afternoon were passing before her. What David had said and what she had said, when...

Mechanically she received the bunch of mail, mechanically she threw off the envelopes and papers, one by one, on the hall table. Then she stared. There was the familiar handwrit...

Polly awoke early. Her first feeling was one of vague depression. Then her mind cleared, and she knew what had happened--it was all over between her and David. And this was the...

On the top floor of the Children’s House of Joy was the most beautiful hospital ward in the whole world. When Mrs. Gresham was completing her plans for the institution Polly Dud...

The tiny girl sat in her pillowed chair by the window while the lady from the next street talked with Aunt Sophie. Mrs. Hamilton Garde wanted Aunt Sophie to go over to the great...

The sun was radiant; the sky wore a most alluring blue dress; the breeze was sending up little velvety waves and ripples from the south;--Polly wanted Outdoors. As she gazed fro...

For a whole week Dr. Dudley’s automobile was active in professional work; then word was brought Polly that the car would be at her disposal for three hours that afternoon. Her p...

“How much money have I in--Oh, I do beg your pardon!” she cried, meeting her father’s glance. Then she laughed. “I had been thinking and didn’t even know you were talking.”

“I couldn’t, mother! I couldn’t! I had to come home to talk it over with you and father!” Polly was hurriedly pulling off her gloves, her joyous heedlessness reaching even to he...

Although Mrs. Gresham and Polly were most closely concerned in the plans that crowded the next week, Dr. Dudley’s home and the entire hospital were a little off their balance. M...

During these days that were filled to the very brim with plans and the carrying-out of them Polly had little time for thoughts of David or herself. Not a word had come from her...

Polly was preparing the chosen ones of her small flock for a ride. Of late automobile rides had been few, the driver’s time having been too full of indoor work. “They will live...

The little gray house in Prattsboro, opposite Mrs. Hamilton Garde’s garage, saw busy hours throughout that sultry July night of Sardis Merrifield’s message. Aunt Sophie and a ki...

“I’ll tell you all about it, honey,” broke in Benedicta, appearing in the doorway. She moved a chair towards the child, and sat in it, pulling her sleeves down and buttoning the...

“Mercy, no!” laughed the housekeeper. “I manipulated that long before you was born--I mean, one just like it. What I’m yearning for is to be sittin’ up in your chariot, makin’ i...

Three weeks had wrought encouraging changes among the small patients on Overlook Mountain, changes visible not alone to professional eyes. Little Duke was growing so plump that...

“Didn’t you get our telegram?” asked Kate, when Polly expressed her surprise. “John telegraphed the first thing this morning, as soon as we decided to come. You see,” turning to...

Patricia had come up to Overlook, had stayed a week, and had gone back to Fair Harbor, leaving manifold regrets that the visit could not have been longer. Patricia Illingworth i...

“Yere, ’xpress agent, ticket agent, freight agent, telegraph operator--all hands in one. He said he had a telegraph for you, an’ you was goin’ to have comp’ny, he guessed, comin...

Polly and Lilith did not go to Overlook the next morning. What was the use, Polly said. The expected guest might have been so delayed that he could not come for several days. He...

“Oh, ever so different!” she laughed. “But I’m not going to tell you one word more. He’ll stay, Miss Dudley! I know by his eyes--they are full of nice twinkles.”

After Sardis Merrifield’s visit Polly plunged into action with an energy that called out comment from her associates. She took the children on long drives until they had jaunted...

A pink flush on Benedicta’s cheek was the only response, and Polly quickly filled up the break with a laughable little nothing which turned the children’s attention away from th...

“Miss Brooks, would you like to go to Skyboro, to see a granduncle and grandaunt of mine? They are pleasant, old-fashioned people, and very hospitable. I think you would like th...

Little Duke rapidly recovered from his shock, and the sudden arrival of David Collins gave the entire household something to think of besides the storm. Polly alone bore the bru...

Nelson Randolph drew up his car before the chalet as Polly dashed out of the door. A flutter of hands greeted her, and then she and Mrs. Randolph were in each other’s arms. Miss...

It was not until Polly returned from taking her last guests to the Overlook train that she inquired of Esther Tenniel about the note with which David had entrusted her.

They had been three days without Benedicta, and she was missed more than she could have been made to believe. Nothing seemed the same. Even the mountain was apparently farther r...

It was nearly four o’clock when Sardis arrived. The family were on the veranda, each curious to see the cook whom the young man was to bring. As he appeared alone at the big bir...