Polly of the Pots and Pans
Rodman, an author, leaves society for two weeks in order to study boarding house types for his new novel. Under an assumed name he engages a room at the boarding house of Amanda Hicks. He does not know that he has almost immediately won the heart of Polly, a waitress at the boarding house. Polly is sentimental, and when Rodman indulgently returns her smiles, she is in an ecstasy of joy. In truth, Rodman is interested in Polly because she is good material for a story. But Polly misinterprets his attentions for reciprocal love. Then comes the Clerks' Ball. The entire boarding house is going to attend. Polly alone is to be left behind. Rodman, in sympathy, arranges to escort her to the dance. At the ball Rodman and Polly are the cynosure of all eyes. On the way home, in her first taxi ride, she sees visions of a happy married life with a man of her heart. Impulsively she asks Rodman when they are to marry. Rodman, realizing for the first time that he has unconsciously planted love in the innocent heart of the simple little girl, braces himself for the ordeal and slowly tells Polly of his identity, his purpose in staying at the boarding house, and lastly, of his fiancée and marriage plans. He leaves her heartbroken, but even in her sorrow, she is staunch as a friend, and gives him a rose from her bouquet to remember her by. Days later, on the night of his marriage to his society fiancée, Rodman lingers in his study, in reminiscence over a carefully pressed rose. And Polly, in the boarding house kitchen, pauses at her work over the pots and pans long enough to read in a newspaper the account of Rodman's approaching nuptials. A tender, wistful smile at the recollection of Rodman, and she continues to scrub the kitchen sink with the newspaper containing the news of his engagement.
