The Washington herald., 1907-07-05
HIS BROKEN PROMISE.
By COLIN S. COLLINS.

! DV NOLih
Coin to tn circus?" Toby glanced
longtngly at the gaudy bills as he shook
] his head.
Ma says I can't even go TO the side
show he said.
"Cummon, I'll take you.' volunteered
! Freddy Plastrick. Il was goin' [ take
| Nettie Fless, but her aunt from Cannels-
ville's goin' { take her, so I'll take you.
/ Cummon."
The tempter never had assumed such
an enticing form before. but Toby held
/ back
Tain't that" he explained. uncloslng
four moist and grimy fingers to show a
shining quarter in his hand. I got the
money, but ma cried when I asked could
/ 1 60"
/ Freddy regarded him with pity That
boy should have quarter and yet not
be permitted TO 90 TO the circus seemed
| 70 sound the depths Of human woe, but
/ ne could not pause TO comfort. Already
[ the shrin scream of the calliOpe an
n0unced the approach Of the parade and
/ he raced down the strecet.
/ Eight-year-Old Toby kicked his heels
disConsolately against the wooden stoop.
He fought hard against temptation, but
I'm the end the boy nature asserted itself.
He could cut cross lots and reach Tom
kin's pasture before the parade got back.
Ten minutes later Mrs. Atkins, coming
10 the door with n huge slice Of bread
and jam 10 stay his hunger and make
him strong against temptation. saw what
had happened, and went back into the
tiny house TO throw herself upon the bed
and cry.
But Toby for once had forgotten his
mother He was racing across the back
lots 20 beat the parade TO the grounds.
He brought up painting just as the band
wagon came into sight. and he climbed
q fence post To get a full view. The free
show, that brought the people 20 the lot.
held him fascinated and almost tempted
him % follow the crowd into the side
show tent. but something in his mothers
face had sunk deep into his heart He
would play trgant, but he would not go
TO the circus.
He wandered about the lot II was
only a twO-ring show. but the horse tent
fascinated him and he fingered. watching
the men take the gaudy trappings from
the horses and give them feed and water
Almost unc0nsciOusly he stroHed
through the. dressing tent and into the
big top" where the performance would
be given later. He seemed oddly at home
somehow. and he sat down on the bank
Of one Of the rings where a group Of men
were tumbnng On a pad
One Of them dropped out Of the group
and sat down beside him He was a tall
dark man with a kindly face ana
smile that would win the confidence Of
any child. Toby smiled upon him and so
attracted attention 10 himself.
Hello cried the man. What are
you doing in here, youngster? I thought
you We're Metcalfs kid
Il just came In" explained Toby. as
though such a proceeding were most
natural Il can do those things
The big man laughed. Most small boys
could do those things" after a fashion
and were anxious to show off before the
circus folk.
Let's see what you can do he sug-
gested as the others paused for a rest.
Toby made for the mat. Somehow he
seemed to remember tricks long since for
gotten. Somehow also he seemed to re-
member doing just these same things in
ring like this one and he gravely went
through his repertoire
The men crowded about the mat laugh
ing and crying encoura cement, but II
was the big man to whom Toby turned
for applause.
You're a pro kid all right" he de-
clared. 4 guess you've seen the rings
before Want TO come with us. kid?
We could use a light boy"
I've got to stay with mother" Toby
announced regretfully TN all she's
got. you see, and she can't spare me"
What does your mother do?" demand
ed the big man. He had known mothers
who were open to argument, and the boy
gave promise of being an addition to the
troupe
"She makes hats and sews," explained
Toby. We live over there on Grove
street"
over there was indicated by a semi
circular sweep Of the arm, and the big
man pulled out a watch from the coat he
had resumed.
"You want to come with rs if your
mother will let your he asked.
Toby's face fell
"She won't" he said dolefullv. "She
hates circuses. She's going 10 whip me
" iitli / EtL ioIllts ollt lIdtlt NE promise
not II come; not even to look at the pa
rade-'
He's a circus boy, all right Ted"
laughed one of the other men. 'She
knew that if he hit the tents it would all
come back 10 him. and it has. He worked
like a veteran. He'd make a great top
mounter"
Hes going to make one" announced
Ted. I'm going to see his mother 1 |
don't know what crouch she's got |
against Us show folks. but I'll talk her |
out Of IL. Come, lid"
He held out a hand to Toby. and to- |
gether they left the tent. Ted stopped 10 |
speak TO a man I'm 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 and |
dressmahng. She was on the steps now
peering up and down the street. hoping |
against hope that Toby would come. But |
at the sight Of the man with him she |
shrank into the house. though not before |
the stranger had caught sight Of her |
and had gone bounding forward
When Toby's shorter legs had COM |
passed the distance he found his mother |
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