The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-12
HOW ALVlRA WENT
TO THE CIRCUS.
Rx cornelia wesson Boyden.

BY Cornelia Wesson Boyden.
"The biggest show on arth is COM
in to Pineville!" exclaimed Silas Hol-
brook. walking into the farmhouse
kitchen, his hands filled with gaudy
show bills.
"Wen ,supposn 'tis,' answered AL
vira, shortly. without looking up from
the sock she was dsrning. You
hain't no call to get excited over 1t es
! know Of
La! Alvira, how you do snap fellei
up" said Silas, fumbliug for his glasses
and scanning eagerly the list of attrac-
tions set forth upon the bills. i didn
know but you might like to take a
squint at it yourself, seein yc hahn
been nowhere this summer"
Alvira paused with uplifted needle.
and glanced sternly at her husbands s
flushed face.
"Silas Holbrok. air you a deacon o
the church, or air you not ques-
toned she.
THAT don't make no difference, AL
vira, not a mite. Everybody goes to
the circus nowadays, even the min
ister." answered Silas, coolly.
'Well you an I'll stay at home an
set 'em q good example" answered AL
NlGd UfnllN. w e maven dIg lllOllGy
to fool away goin' to the circus"
IAN right, Alvira, we won't have no
quarrel over it, eff you don't want to
go, that settles it," answered the peac>
loving Silas, throwing down the gay
colored bills with a littls sign. I'm
goin' down to the south meadow to
turn over the hay" he adde, as he
walked out into the summer sunshine
Left alone, Alviras eyes seemed
drawn unconsciously towards the cir
Gus bills. For a time she resisted the
temptation, then with an impatient
sniff, no doubt at her own weakness,
she picked them up, and was soon lost
to all save the wonderful pictures, and
the marvellous feats of circus people.
Good morning, Alvira! I see you are
as fascinated over those wonderful
show bills as the rest of us. OF course
you are going to the circus"
Alvira sprang to her feet with
scream.
why, Lucinda Peters! How you did
scare mel" said she, going to the open
door, where stood d plump little wo-
man in a bicycle costume, leaning
against her wheel. 81 suppose | was
sort o. interested readin' about the big
show, but ! hain't no idea of goin' to
it, just the same"
"Well, I wouldn't miss it for the
world" said Lucinda. "A party of us
are going on our wheels. l wish you
rode wheel, Alvira."
80 do |, Lucinda. That's jest the
one thing I've been a hankerin' after
is to ride a bicycle. But l suppose I'm
too old and hefty," answered Alvirar
looking longingly at Lucindas up-to-
date wheel.
Not bit of it," cried Lucinda with
gay laugh. "It would do you lots OF
good, Alvira. I'll tell you what I'll do
] will teach you to ride on my wheel
then after you've learned you can hire
wheel and go to the circus with
u.s.
"Sakes alive, Lucinda. 7 don't care
anything about the circus, but I'd like
mazin well to learn TO ride a bicycle
only Silas wouldn't IKE it, I'm afraid,
said Alvira, flushed with pleasure al
the thought.
Don't tell him until you can ride
and then he'll think it's all right. that's
the way with all the men. Now you
come down to our place this afternoon
and I'll give you your first lesson.
urged Lucinda, as with a laughing no.
she sprang upon her wheel and spe
away, followed by Alvira's admirin
eyes.
The rest of the forenoon Alvira W.
a prey to conflicting emotions. Th
opportunity of learning to ride a hicy
Gle was what she had long yearned for
and after some mental struggle she
decided to accept Lucinda's offer.
Not that she had the slightest ide.
of going to the circus, should she CON
quer the machine during the three
weeks before the coming of the biz
show Oh, no! not she!
But to be able to skim over the
smooth roads at her will, was a de-
lightful thought.
Her dinner work out of the way, and
Silas safe in the south pasture raking
hay, Alvira FASTENED across the fields
a short cut to the home of her friend
Lucinda.
AS the days passed onward, Silas
said no more about going to the circus,
though his mind was fully made up to
take in this biggest show on earth, ''
in spite of Alviras verdict.
Tain't no use O. sayin' anythn'
more about it. cause I'll have to go to
Pineville that day anyhow. with some
garden truck, an / can sort o. slip into
the show an see the fun jest es easy S
not, muttered Silas, in a conversation
with his conscience, as he decided up
on this bit of stolen pleasure.
As for Alvra, no pangs of conscience
troubled her. or disturbed the pleasure
of her bicycle lessons, and every bit of
spare time when Silas was out of the
way, was spent in practicing upon the
wheel.
After the first few lessons, she had
sent by Lucinda and bought a second
hand wheel which she kept hidden in
the attic when not in use.
Dear me. Alvira how rheumaticy
you must be a gettin'," said Silas. no.
ticing her frequent use of arnica ana
witch hazel.
"Well, suppos'n I be. l guess I'll get
Owe It" answered Alvira, a little
crO5~-J.
AS circus day drew near, Lucinda
had at last aroused in Alvira a desire
to go with the bicycle party. and her
success in mastering the wheel so
elated her that she finally consented
to he one of them.
But how to avoid Silas? Having his
own little plans afoot, he unconscious
ly helped her out.
I'm goin' out peddling garden
truck" said he, as the day dawned
clear and sunny.
Where to, Silas? Down to Pine
ville?" asked Alvira, a little anxiously.
"Well. l may fetch up there some
time during the day" answered Silas.
evasively. i've quite a number o.
customers along the way. you know. ?"
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