Putnam patriot., 1909-07-02

IIowss Barker and all the boys* She
 stopped with a catch in her throat aud
 added mere slowly. T suppose every
 things different now that Toby is
 gone
 He'd a liked to seen you afore he cnshesl inr Jim answered. .-hut maybe
 lt was Just IS well he didn't You'd hardly "a knowed him toward the last.
 he got SO thin an peekea like. He
 wasn't the same after we lest yoa- nobody was. not even RinEo"
 Have you still got Binge: she ask
 ed. through her tears.
 Yep. we got him." drawled Jim.
 "hut he ainst much good no more.
 None of. the other riders can get used
 to his gait like you was. There ain't
 nobody with the show what can touch
 you ridin': there never will be. Say,
 mebbe you think Barker won't let out
 a yell wheA he sees you comin' back" Jim was jubilant now. and he let out
 little yell of his own at the mere
 thought of her return. He was toe
 excited to notice the look on Polly's 1 face. .Toby had a notion before he died that you was never a-cemin.
 back. but l told him I'd change all that once I Seen you. an when Bar l ker sent me over here today to look arter the advertisin' he said he guess 1 ed you'd had all you wanted O church 1 folks. .Jes' you bring her along to Wakefield he said. an tell her that 1 her place is waitin' for her. an l will t~e." He turned upon Polly with sud den decision Why. feel jes' like i piekin' you up in my arms an earryin' you right off now
 Wait. Jimr' She put one tiny hand sn hts arm to restrain him.
 T don't -today-mebbe.
 he stammered uncertainty but we'll be back here a-shown' next month Don't look at ne now," Polly an swered as the doglike eyes searched her face. .because 1 have to say some thing that is going to hurt you, Jim"
 You're eomin,. ain't you. PollF' The big face was wrinkled aud care
 worn with trouble.
 No, Jim she replied in a tone so low that he could scarcely hear her.
 You mean that you ain't never comin' back2'' He tried to realize what such a decision might mean to him.
 No. Jim" she answered tenderly, for she dreaded the pain that she must cause the great, good hearted fellow. You mustn't care like that. she l pleaded. seeing the blank desolation l that had come into his face. 1t isn't | because l don't love you just the same, and it was good of Barker to keep my | place for me. but l can't go back He turned away. She elung 10 the | rough brown sleeve. Why. Jim. when I l lie in my little room up there at nfght''-she glanced toward the win dow above them-.and everything is peaceful and still l think how it used l to be in the old days. the awful noise and the rush of It all. the cheerless | wagons, the mob in the tent. the ring | with it's blazing lights. the whiriing | round and round on Bingo and the hoops. always tLe hoops. till my head l got dizzy and my eyes all dim. and ! then the hurry after the show, and the heat and the dust Of the mud and the rain. and the rumble of the wheels | In the plains at night. and the shrieks
 of the animals. and then the parade,
 the awful. awful parade. and l riding | through the streets in tights. Jim l tightsr. She covered her face to Ahut out the memory. -I couldn't go | back to 1t. Jim, I just couldn't" She turned away. her face still hidden in her hands. He looked at her a long l while In silence.
 l "I didn't know how you'd come to
 feel about it. he said doggetily.
 "You aren't angry. JimT' She turned so him anxiou>ly. her eyes pleading for his forgiveness.
 l "Angry1. he echoed. almost bitterly. l T guess 1t couldn't ever come to that l atween yon an me I'll be all right" l He shrugged his great shoulders "lf's l lust kinder sndden. that's all. You see. l l never figured on givin' sou up. an | when you said you wasn't comin' back st kinder seemed as though couldn't I see nothin' all my life but long. dusty I roads an nobody in 'em. But ifs all right now. an I'll just be getfin' along | tO the wagon"
 But. Jim, you haven't seen Mir. Douglas" Polly Isotested. trying to keep him with her until she could 1 think of some way to comfort him
 I'll look in on him comin' back said Jim. anxious to be alone with his disappointment He gas out of the gate before she could stop him
 Hurry back. won't you. Jimi I'll be waiting for you" She watched him eoing quickly down the road. his fists thrust into his brown coat pockets and hs hat pulsed over his eyes. L.s did | not look back. as he used to d. Ho wave . parting farewell. and she tsrned to- I ward fi1e house with . troubled AeArt Dhs had reached the lower step vixen | Strong and Elvseson approached hef | from the direction of the church. ! -was that feiles here to take yos back to the circusT demanded Strong She opened her lips to reply. bur b. fore she could speak Strong assured | her that the congregation wouldn't do l anything to stop her if she wished to eo He saw the blank look on her face. We afn.t tryin' to rry Into none of your private af1airs.s he explained. but my daughter saw you and that there feilef a-makin' up to each other. If you're calcuiatfn' to run away with l him youH cave . heap of frouble for | the parsOn by doin' 1t quick" | The parsopw
 | You can't blame the congregation for not wapfin' him 10 keep you here. You got sense enough to see how |