The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-10-09
+ JiIn's +

By CARTER HAVEN.
Copyrighted, 1907, by Homer sprague.

81 never saw a circus" pouted Dru-
ella.
at amt done We no harm so fur as l
en- see," commented her father criti-
cally. II guess you're likely to get
your full growth without SEEM one.'
I've got the egg money!" put in
Mrs. Chesney. Il can let her have
some of that, ST."
I'm goin' t. need that for the mort
gage" he explained.
Mrs. Chesney sighed. Some of the
women she knew really kept the egg
money. There was a fiction to the
effect that she did also, but Silas
usually found some excuse for bor-
rowing the money before the sum
grew large. and Martha Chesney meek
ly submitted to his demands. She did
want Drucie to see a circus, though.
Half a dollar would not be much.
I'll take her"
Silas wheeled angrily to confront the
last speaker. 1t was all very well that
Jim Peters, his hired man, should
worship Drucilla. Silas paid Jim 81 Il
month less than the prevailing wage
on that very account. To pay her
open court was another and very diff
ferent matter. Silas had decided that
Drucie was to marry Hank Festis.
Hank was a little old about sixty,
but he had a fine farm adjoining the
Chesney place, and the match was an
ideal one from the fathers point of
view.
You won't take her nor yourself"
he snarled. II told you l had a job
for you. You get every Sunday, don't
you? And 1 give you the Fourth o.
July without dockin' ye!!"
I'm going to the circus" said jim
coldly. IF Drucie wants to come she
can come with me. I'll be glad to
have her."
You amt neither of We goin'," said
Silas as he stumped out of the kitch-
en-. That settled it so far as he was
concerned. He did not even trouble to
stay home or circus day to see that
his commands We're carried out. He
was accustomed to being obeyed. That
there could be defiance of his wishes
was Il thing not to be dreamed of. He
had business at Center Mills, and h.
drove off early in the morning with Il
final negative to the fearful Drucilla's
appeals.
Jim watched him drive off, and
when at last the gray team disap-
peared over the hill he came toward
the house. Martha Chesney was bus
ting ABOUT the Kltcnen wnlIe I;rucIIia
sat on the back porch pairing the pota-
toes.
Going to the ~circus:' Jim asked
cheerfully. Its about time we go.
ready"
II can't" Drucilla's face turned
grave at the suggestion of disobedience
to the paternal command.
Look here" said Jim, calmly drop
ping down upon the lowest sep. ''lts
about time that something was done
to show your pa that you've got some
rights. l bet old man Festis won't
take you to the circus when you marry
him.
who. said she was goin' to marry
Hank Festis?" demanded Mrs. Ches-
ney, coming TO tue uuur.
"Everybody-and Mr.. Chesney." was
the scornful answer.
She's not going to marry u man old
enough to be her grandfather even if
he's got q farm as big as this Whole
county," declared Martha.
Just what l say declared Jim
/ u ynfoh lv sSyXyo no,,lI ~0 IN kh@ n;~o,,e
as a sort of Honeymoon"
Drlcie clasped her hands. Long ago
she had confessed her love for Jim
even while she told him that her ia
ther would never give his consent.
This suggestion of elopement fairly
took her breath away. A circus-h her
first circus-and a marriage on the
same dayl 1t seemed too wonderful to
be true, yet Jim was talking about II
as calmly us though being married
were an everyday AFFAIR.
why not?" he demanded. eth take
an hour to drive to town. We can see
the street parade, go get married and
see the afternoon show. Old Martha
will come over from the poor farm to
look after the house."
In the end it was even as he had
planned. Silas Chesney came aome tc
find the house deserted save for cid
Martha sitting on the porch. She was
very deaf, and only by dint of mucf
shouting did he learn that his folks
had gone off with Peters to the circus
He made n solitary meal and thel
went out on the front stoop to avail.
the return of the runaways. Jim ha(
insisted upon a supper at il %restauran
after the show as Il windup to thu
celebration, and it was late when the,
drove into the yard. For several hour:
Silas had been letting his wrath gathe
strength, and he came storming acroS:
the grass as they drove down the sid
path.
Get outer here" he cried. 81 don
want one o. We about me, We deceitfu
critters. l told We not to go to tn