The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-07-31
eve live over there on

planned Toby. eve live over there on
Grove street.
over there was indicated by
semicircular sweep of the arm, and
the big man pulled out a watch from
The coat he had resumed.
You want to come with us if YOUR
mother will let you?" he asked.
Toby's face fell.
she won't" he said dolefully. "She
hates circuses. She's going to whip
me when | get home. She made me
promise not to come, not even to look
at the parade"
He's circus boy, all right, Ted"
laughed ono of the other men. "She
knew that if he hit the tents it would
all come back to him, and it has. He
worked like Il veteran. He'd make n
great top mounter"
He's going to make one" announced
Ted. TN goin to see his mother.
don't know what crouch she's got
against us show folks, but I'll talk
her out of it. Come, kid"
lie held out hand to Toby. and to-
gatller they left the tent Ted stopped
to speak to q man in the dressing tent,
and then they struck out across lots
for the tiny little home where for the
last four years Rena Atkins had
sought to support herself and her son
by millinery aud dressmalSing. She
was Oh the steps now pcering up and
down the street, hoping against hope
that Toby would come. But at the
sight of the man With him she shrans
into the house. though not before the
stranger had caught sight of her and
had gone bounding forward.
When Tohy's shorter legs had COM
passed the distance he found his moth
fight him off. Toby valiantly came to
the rescue With feet and fists, but the
big man seemed scarcely to notice the
attack.
I've found you at last" he was say
ing. Why did YOU run away, DEAR"
"You ask me that?" Her voice was
quiet now and tense with scorn. LET
me go and will show YOU"
His arms dropped to his side. and she
slipped across the room to where her
pocketbook lay Silently she offered
slip of paper frayed With handling and
yellowed With age.
"You believed this?" asked the man
You really thought had eloped With
Clara Grey2 We left the same night
because Griffith was doing us out Of
our salaries. Her husband. Jim Grey,
was playing with Coles circus. and she
joined him 1playel Il couple of houses
for expense money to get back home
with | Wrote. but the letter was there
at the boarding house when l arrived
They told me YOU had gone Griffith
put that lying notice III the paper to
hide the real reason for our leaving. his
own dishonesty.'
and believed it," she sobNed, "and
I've been trying to hide ever since to
keep the boy from being like his ia
Their
ITS in tie blood. the big man SAID,
tenderly why, the kiddie came into
the big top and saw us working on the
mat, and he went 1T it like he used to
in the old Gays. l never guessed that
he was my child. l only saw what a
great top nounter he would make. and
cane to see if you would apprentice
hi.a to US. | never hoped to fnd a
wife and little son where was look
ing Tor a topper
You YOU forgive me-" she faltered.
You were just Il foolish little child
to run away before you found out the
truth" he said. With tender laugh!
Its ali the more reason You should
have a husband to look after you. and
know that Toby wants Il father
You bet | do" put in Toby, at last
finding something he could understand
Are you my dad:"
II am that" said the big man as he
Rugged Toby to his breast And you're
a true chip of the old block. Why.
laddie, | taught You these tricks you
showed us this afternoon. 1t all came
out when YOU saw a ring again"
I'm glad broke my promise" said
Toby comp!acently, even if l am
whipped for it,"
But the whipping was deferred in
definitely.
Witches Brooms Do Not lnjure Trees.
Among the objects which the leafess