A Daughter of the Land

The baby had a good, formal name, but no one ever used it. Adam,

on first lifting the blanket, had fancied the child resembled its

mother and had called her "Little Poll." The name clung to her.

Kate could not call such a tiny morsel either Kate or Katherine;

she liked "Little Poll," better. The baby had three regular

visitors. One was her father. He was not fond of Kate; Little

Poll suited him. He expressed his feeling by bringing gifts of

toys, candy, and unsuitable clothes. Kate kept these things in

evidence when she saw him coming and swept them from sight when he

went; for she had the good sense not to antagonize him. Nancy

Ellen came almost every day, proudly driving her new car, and with

the light of a new joy on her face. She never said anything to

Kate, but Kate knew what had happened. Nancy Ellen came to see

the baby. She brought it lovely and delicate little shoes,

embroidered dresses and hoods, cloaks and blankets. One day as

she sat holding it she said to Kate: "Isn't the baby a dreadful

bother to you? You're not getting half your usual work done."

"No, I'm doing UNUSUAL work," said Kate, lightly. "Adam is hiring

a man who does my work very well in the fields; there isn't money

that would hire me to let any one else take my job indoors, right

now."

A slow red crept into Nancy Ellen's cheeks. She had meant to be

diplomatic, but diplomacy never worked well with Kate. As Nancy

Ellen often said, Kate understood a sledge-hammer better. Nancy

Ellen used the hammer. Her face flushed, her arms closed tightly.

"Give me this baby," she demanded.

Kate looked at her in helpless amazement.

"Give it to me," repeated Nancy Ellen.

"She's a gift to me," said Kate, slowly. "One the Peters family

are searching heaven and earth to find an excuse to take from me.

I hear they've been to a lawyer twice, already. I wouldn't give

her up to save my soul alive, for myself; for you, if I would let

you have her, they would not leave you in possession a day."

"Are they really trying to get her?" asked Nancy Ellen, slowly

loosening her grip.

"They are," said Kate. "They sent a lawyer to get a copy of the

papers, to see if they could pick a flaw in them."

"Can they?" cried Nancy Ellen.

"God knows!" said Kate, slowly. "I HOPE not. Mr. Thomlins is the

best lawyer in Hartley; he says not. He says Henry put his neck

in the noose when he signed the papers. The only chance I can see

for him would be to plead undue influence. When you look at her,

you can't blame him for wanting her. I've two hopes. One that

his mother will not want the extra work; the other that the next

girl he selects will not want the baby. If I can keep them going

a few months more with a teething scare, I hope they will get over

wanting her."