The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1909-12-02

CHAPTER Polly, child of the cir
Gus, is brought up by Toby, clown, and
10y boss canvasman called "Muvver
jim" She learns to ride Bingo, circus
horse, and grows to womanhood knowing
no life except that of the circus. ia
church near the circus lot interests Polly.
Jim reproves her for her reckless riding.
1II-Polly urges Bingo to unprecedented
speed and falls. Toby and Jim carry the
injured girl to the parsonage nearby.
lV--The Rev. John Douglas, much to Dea-
con Elverson's disgust, takes Polly into
the parsonage. Toby and "Muvver jim"
are received kindly by Douglas, who has
placed Polly in charge of his colored ser
want, Mandy. Douglas promises to care
for the girl until she is well. V-When
Polly becomes conscious she declares
that she must rejoin the circus at once.
'Are you sky pilot?" she asks the min
lister. Her mother was killed riding
o circus horse, and her father "got his IL
in lions cage" The minister reads
to her about Ruth and Naomi, and Polly
says, 81 guess I'd like to hear you spiel"
VI-Douglas offends Deacon Strong by
defending boys who play baseball on Sun
day. VII-Polly RECEIVERS her health but
is saddened by the death of Toby. jim
sends the news and promises to keep in
touch with her. VIII-Polly RECEIVERS
from the blow dealt her by Toby Neath
She has ceased using slang and is educat-
ing herself under Douglas guidance She
endeavors to improve Mandy's grammar
IX-Deacons Strong and Elverson re
prove the pastor for harboring the circus
girl. Douglas declares that he is snerely
doing his duty. Strong declares that
the girl must 60. Douglas defes him.
X-Douglas suggests to Polly that she go
to seminary. Her quotation And
Ruth said, 'Entreat me o; to leave
the reveals to both the fact that they
love each other. Douglas takes her in
his arms and tells her that she is never
to leave him. XI-- "Muvver jim" calls
and notes the change in Polly's speech
Polly tells him that she has abandoned
the circus business.
81 didn't know how you'd come to
feel about it," he said doggedly.
'You aren't angry, Jimy' She
turned to him anxiousiy. her eyes
pleading for his forgiveness.
"Angry?" he echoed. almost bitterly.
II guess it couldn't ever ceme ito that
atween you an me. III be all right"
He shrugged his great shoulders. Its
just kinder sudden, that's all. You see,
l never figured on givin' you up, an
when you said you wasn't comm back
1t kinder seemed as though couldn't
see nothin' all my life but long, dusty
roads an nobody in 'em. But it's all
right now, an I'll just he gettin' along
to the wagon"
"But. Jim, you haven't seen Mr..
Douglas" Folly protested. trying to
keep him with her until she could
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 WAS out .of the
gate before she could stop him
Hurry back, won't you. Jim? ALL be
waiting for you" She watched him
going quickly down tine road. his fists
thrust into his brown coat pockets and
his hat pulled over his eyes. LIE did
not look back. as he used to do. to Wfse
u parting farewell. and she turned ITO
ward the house with a trOsabled heii;f
She had reached the lower step when
Strong and Elverson approached her
from the direction of the church.
"Was that Teller here to take you
sback to the circus?' demanded Strong.
She opened her lips to reply, but he
fore she could speak Strong assured
her that the congregation wouldn't do
anything to stop her if she wished to
60. He saw the blank look on her
face. I'VE amt tryin' to pry into none
Of your private AFFAIRS" he explained,
''but my daughter saw you and that
there fealer a-makin' up to each other.
If you're scalculatin' to run away with
him youM save heap of trouble for
the parsOn by dom it quick"
1.-THE ;parsonv'
'You can't blame the congregation
for not wantfn' him to keep you here.
You got sense enough to see how it
looks. He'd see 1t. too, If he wasn't
1ust plain buflheaded. Well, he'd bet
ter get over his stubbornness right
now. If he don't we'll get another min
lister; that's oil"
Another minister Youdon't mean
1t was clear enough now. She recalled
Douglas troubled look of an hour ago.
She remembered how he had asked If
she couldn't 20 aVaY. II was this that
ne meant when be promised not to
give her up. no matter what happened.
In an instant she was at the deacon's
side pleading and terrified. "You
wouldn't get another minister! Oh,