Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-19

.ssanDA
arm than ever; here crept the octoge-
marian. Mr.. Bodeffer, shaking on cane
and the shoulder Of posterity; here
waddled Mr.. Snoddy. who had hurried
through the animal tent for fear of
meeting the elephant; here marched
sturdy yeomen and stout wives; here
came William Todd and his true love,
the good William hushed with the en-
barrassments Of love- but looking out
warily with the white Of his eye for
MIR. Martin and determined not to sit
within a hundred yards Of him; here
rolled in the orbit Of habit the town
bacchanal. Mr.. Wilkerson, who politely
answered in kind all the uncouth roar
ings and cultural calculations OF jun
gle and fen that came from the animal
tent-in brief, here came with llghtest
heart the population of Carlow and
part of Amo.
Helen had found true word; II was
a big family. Jim Bardlock. broadly
smiling and rejuvenated, shorn of de-
preston, paused in front of the re
serve" seats. with Mrs. Bardlock on
his arm, and called loudly to q gentle
man on tier about the level of Jim's
head: How are yer 1 reckon we were
leetle too smart fer 'em this morning,
h0hr S5So O. N aunese pssRse -
cry one wItnln nearing, turned TO ioUn
at Jim, but the gentleman addressed
was engaged in conversation with a
lady and did not notice.
Hi! Hi, there! Say! Mr.. Harklessv'
beloved Jim informally. The people
turned to look at Harkless. His atten-
ton was arrested, and his cheek grew
red
What is itT' he asked, little con-
fused and good deal annoyed.
Il don't hear what We say" shouted
Jim, putting his hand to his ear
What is it?' repeated the young
man. "Fll kill that fellow tonight" he
added to Lige Willetts. "Some one
ought to have done it long ago"
"What?"
81 said, What is it2"
IL jest wanted to say me and you
certainly did fool these here HOLSTERS
this morning. Hustled them two fell
lers through the courthouse, and no.
body thought to slip round to the other
door and head us off. Ha, ha! We
were jest a leetle too many fer 'em,
huh?"
From an upper tier of seats the rusty
length of Mr.. Martin erected itself
joint by joint, like an extension ladder,
and he peered down over the gaping
faces at the town marshal. Excuse
me-" he said sadly to those behind him,
but his dry voice penetrated every
where Il got up to hear Jim say we
again"
Mr.. Bardlock joined in the laugh
against himself and proceeded with
his wife to some seats forty or fifty
feet distant When he had settled him
self comfortably he shouted over cheer
fully to the unhappy editor. Them
shell men got it in fer you. Mr. Hank
lessr'
'Hain't that fool shet up yit?" snarl-
! : % .Trpf1 n! RFfe2Sr indignantly.
: & II IL E1Ras esuDle,
ana tne expression of his sympathy
was distinctly audible TO them and
many Others. Got no more regards
than braZing calf-disturbin' n Teller
with his sweetheartr'
THE both of 'em says they're going
to do fer ye," bleated Mr.. BardIock:
"swears they'll ketch their evens with
ye."
MIR. Martin rose again. Don't git
scared and leave town. Mr.. Harklessv'
he called out. 'JIm III protect you"
Vastly TO the young mans relief the
band began to play and the equestrians
and equestriennes capered out from
the dressing tent for the grand en-
trance" and the performance COM
meuced. Through the long summer
afternoon IL went on-wonders of
horsemanshlp and of horsewomanship,
hair raising exploits on wires tight
and slack, giddy tricks on the high
trapeze, feats of leaping and tum-
bling in the rings, while the tireless
musicians blatted inspiringly through
II all, only pausing long enough TO
allow that riotous jester. the clown.
to ask the ringmaster what he would
do If q young lady came up and kissed
him on the street. and to explode his
witticisms during short intervals of
rest for the athletes.
When it was over, John and Helen
found themselves in the midst OF a
densely packed crowd and separated
from Miss Briscoe and Lige. People
were pushing and showing, and he saw
her face grow pale. He realized with a
pang Of sympathy how helpless he
would feel if he were as small as she
and at his utmost height could only
see big, suffocating backs and huge
shoulders pressing down from above
He was keeping them from crowding
heavily upon her withs1ll his strength,
and royal feeling - protectiveness
came over him. She was so little. And
yet, without the remotest hint of hard
ness, she gave him such a distinct i'm
preston of poise and equilibrium. She
seemed so able to meet anything that
might come, to understand it-even to
laugh at it-so Amerlcanly capable and
sure Of the event that, in spite of her
pale cheek, he could not feel quite so
protective Ss he wished to feel
He managed to get her TO one of the