Evening times-Republican., 1903-12-26

scarlet trappings. wheezed popula
air of season past. strident and higl
pitched, with deep. unexpected rum
blings and clash of cymbuls in thu
| bass Its voice drowned the nearel
sounds of progress. clink Of hoofs ant
creak of numbering wheels.
Rosy-you are my poSy.
You are--my hearts bouquet!
Come out-here In the moonlight!
The girl who rode the tall bay hose
tust behind the organ was scarcely
conscious of the cheap refrain dinnec
into her ears persistently over anC
over again for the past half hour-fol
many hours during many weeks. She
let the reins slip through her fingers
idly as the horse bent his head this
way and that. fidgeting sidewise to the
music. She had pleasant face, In
which the lines of hard work had oblit
Grated something of the youth that
might under easier conditions have
made for prettiness. Her eyes. under
the cavalier hat with dropping plume
were scanning eagerly each turn and
corner of the little old fashioned street
How familiar it all was! Here was the
corner confectioner's and there the fan
cy shop kept by the old lady with ring
let's. Nothing was changed In the five
years since she had last seen 1t. Life
here seemed to go on smoothly in the
one groove, undisturbed by outer hap
penings, from spring to spring, summer
to summer; always the peaceful sun
light. children playing. men and wo-
men going contentedly and quietly
about their work.
For moment the old home feeling
gripped her strongly, u weary reaction
of spirit against the restlessness, the
comings and goings, the monotonous in
stability of her own life-to be continu-
ally on the road and never to reach
the journeys end. to be here today
and gone tomorrow, always new faces,
new surroundings, new discomforts
The clumsy. numbering car before
her. its cheap gliding and shabby splen-
dor. had faded, and instead she was
seeing an old. quiet garden, with sun
light sitting through pear boughs to
the kindly. homely disorder of growing
things below and small child In
gingham pinafore who sat there play
ing. She had doll beside her, propped
stifily against the tree trunk-a broken
nosed doll, with fishy eyes and staring
complexion. The dolls dress was of
the same check gingham us the child's
pinafore, made unskillfully, with long,
gaping stitches Overhead, through
the branches of the old pear tree,
showed blue April sky with small,
fleecy clouds drifting.
The cavalcade had come to mo-
mentary halt In the pause the steam
organ sounded with renewed energy.
The man who rode level with the girl
resettled his Tapping hat farther back
upon his head and passed dust
grimed hand across his forehead. 1t
was very hot. His horse sheered to-
ward the side OF the road and he
jerkcd ut its mouth with weary
farmynrd oath, relic of some agricul-
tural boyhood.
Near to the curb stood black horse
between the shafts Of light dogcart.
A man who achieved an air OF pros
perity in his summer suit and straw
hat had come out from shop at the
approach OF the noisy gilded organ.
and stood at the horses head, soothing
It. The steam organ throbbed and
r,H
demon, beginning each line Of the eter-
nal refrain with fresh clang and
shock Of sound. Its presence here in
The quiet street seemed an insult, an
affront. The man standing by the
horse's head lifted his eyes to the
halted procession, and for the space
If second they encountered those Of
The girl in the cavalier hat. He looked
away instantly, and. STOPPING down,
began careful readtustment Of some
buckles on the black horses harness. /
He took long time over it. When at
asst he lifted his head the cavalcade /
lad passed on.
|
She had changed her dusty riding /
labit for plain cotton blouse and
'erge skirt and had slipped away in
his hour before the afternoon show I
or quiet walk alone.
The little street seemed to browse.
deserted. Behind her In the big field |
'eyond the town where the dingy tents
lad sprung up mushroom-like since
loon she had left the noise, the cheap
litter and glare. trampled grass and
nell of ropes and sawdust. She could
till hear the voice of the circus organ,
heerful. aggressive, grinding out Its
invitation. assaulting the
quiet with brazen hoo:ings.
She turned up side street that led
way from the town. Houses became
ever: she passed blacksmith's shop,
5ith white cottage adjacent, and
hen the road narrowed and began to
ind up hill. with tall hedges c,n either
de powdered with fine white dust. Al
larn, gaunr and red painted, stood
lone ut a corner of field
A few steps beyond was gate. She
'aused, leaning her arm on the top rail-
md stood there looking out on the
luiet country that lay before her.
Iemlocks grew straight and rank by
he gateposts. and trail OF brionv
waved from the bramble hedge to her =