The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-30
HE WHO LISTENED.
BY MARY K NC EMORY. / 1901. by Daily Story Pub. Col


 to his feet and hastily looked about him
 The tent was filled with shabbil, dressed women and rough-1oohng men one of whom grabbed him as, surprised and frightened, he started to crawl bacl
 Well. I'll be gol-Jurned.' the mar | said good-naturedly, "whar'd yer conn from? Look CT here. pals" he shouted private apartments Q tn actors Q The Greatest Show on Earth.," Lifting ths boy to his shoulder, he carried him tc the center of the tent. where the other Somehow the tired, unchildish face seem. | ed to arouse the sympathy of the rough looking men, for they showed him tht animals and gave him food, until, happy and contented, he forgot his timidity and unhesltatingly answered their ques- | tions
 "So yer don't like Mrs. Snow an tn baby, and yer dad beats yer?" the big m man s said haSdng the % SSy another h hunl, as | like ter come wid us?" 4 The boy looked at him inamozement. T lows I'd like ter," he said at last. looks honest. an we needs boy ter rub down tn 'orses an things. Yer'll get enough ter eat. an nobody won't beat yet. An maybe" persuasiveiy, yer can TIQe d OISe an wear Hne ClOLheS, uke these gentl'men some day" waving his hand toward his companions The boys eyes sparkled and the un- childish face flushed with excitement. Enough to eat. and no beatingsl He | said, "ef-ef ken take Tildy.", The man looked at him In surprise. l., Who's Who's 4 she 2 he asked, soOd-natured-
 The boy. hung his head. abashed;
 No" he said at last. with dignity; '.her ain't no dawg. Hers my sister," lence. then at the child. The big man
 we can't take no gals" he said. kind ly. But eff yer goes wid us maybe yer'n on, boys" he shouted; "et's time fur tn show ter begin. Good-by, sonny" he said. turning to the boy; "an' recollec', ef by 'leven ternight, fur then we moves"
 The boy looked at him searchingly for moment, then nodded his head. I'll be back afore 'leven," he said gravely. ran across the fields to the road beyond. where he commenced the walk back over the mountains to tell Tidy good-by.
 At first the weary miles seemed short to the boy, whose mind was filled with happy visions of the future. But now, as he sat by the roadside below his home, in the fast-gathering darkness. he felt miserable and uncertain as to what to do. He had just come from the grave beneath the hill after covering it with vines and wayside flowers; but some how the red clay mound seemed to re- proach him for faltsring in his trust. When he started up the path to the road again he had determined to go away without seeing Tildy. Yet he still wait ed though the shadows were lengthen- ing and the katydids were beginning to TtrNtae rl,Na ~f NEa nI,t NhaN hA hnA taken care of' for two years haunted him. while the remembrance of his prom ise kept ringing in his ears.
 T dunno what ter do! he moaned, covering his face with his hands: dunno what ter do!'
 The dark chieftain night crept up the hills. while vanquished day, followed by his banners of crimson and gold, slowly disappeared. A light shone from the cabin on the hill and harsh voices fioated out on the quiet evening air. The boy heard footsteps coming down the path from the house and a timid, childish voice called, "Joe!
 me boy, sitting in the shadow of the oak trees, started.
 T been a-lookin' fur youns everywharn" the child sobbed. "Whar is youns. Joe?"
 The boy rose slowly. his mouth set, Als eyes filled with look of determine ton. Hitching his suspenders over his over his face, he turned slowly toward the rocky path.
 "All right. Tidy" he called. cheer- fully, don't cry; I'm a-comin.?' roRY," by Mrs. Gen. Geo. Fl Pickett.