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


Polly avoided his eyes and continued
nervously to Jim:
"What made you come back? Why
didn't you wait for me down the
street? Now you've spoiled every
thing" She pretended to be very
veXed with him. The big fellow look
ed puzzled. He tried to protest. but
she put a warning finger to her lips
and pressed the little brown satchel
into his hand. Its no use." she went
on hurriedly. 1--WE might as we'll tell
them everything now" She turned to
Douglas and pretended to laugh. "You
have found us out"
The deacons were slightly uneasy.
The frown on Douglas forehead was
deepening.
''Oh. see how serious he looks!' she
teased, with a toss of her head toward
the grim vtsaged pastor.
lis this some trickT" he demanded
sterniy.
"Don't be angry" she pleaded. wish
me luck"
She held out one small hand. He did
not take 1t. She wavered: then she
felt the eyes Of the deacons upon her.
Courage returned, and she spoke in a
firm, clear voice, ~ am going to run
away"
Douglas stepped before her and stud.
led her keenly.
'Run away?" he exclaimed incredu.
lousy.
~'Yes-to the circus with JIM"
''You couldn't do such thing" he
answered excitedly. "Why, only me-
ment ago you told me you would never
leave me-"
"Oh, but that was moment ago."
she cried In a strained high voice.
'''That was before Jim came. You see.
didn't know how l felt until I saw
Jim and heard all about my old
friends-how Barker is keeping my
place for me and how they all want
to see me. And l want to see them
and to hear the music and the laugh
ter and the clown songs Oh. the
clown songs!" She waltked about,
humming the snatch of melody that
Mandy had heard the morning that
Polly first woke in the parsonage:
Ting, ling
That's how the bells ring.
Ting, ling. pretty young thing.
She paused, her hands clasped be-
hind her head, and gaZed at them with
a brave little smile. "Oh, it's going to
be fine-fnev'
"You don't know what you're doingw
said Douglas. He seized her roughly
| by the arm. Pain was making him
brutal. 81 won't let you go! Do you
hear me? l won't-not until you've
thought it over.''
81 have thought it over" Polly an
swered, meeting his eyes and trying to
speak lightly. Her lips trembied. She
could not bear for him to think her so
ungrateful. She remembered his great
kindness. the many thoughtful acts
that had made the past year so pre-
cious to her.
you've been awfully good to me.
| Mr.. John" She tried to choke back q
sob. I'll never forget it-never! I'll
always feel the same toward you. But
you mustn't ask me to stay. I want to
get back to them that knew ME first
to my own. Circus folks aren't cut out
| for parsons homes. and l was born in
the circus. l love i'll love itv She
felt her strength going and cried out
wildly: Il want Bingo! l want to go
round and round the ring! | want the
lights and the music and the hoops!
want the shrieks of the animals and
the rumble of the wheels in the plains
at night! l want to ride in the big pa
irade! | want to live and die-just die
AS circus folks die! | want to go
back! l want to go back"
She put out one trembling hand to
Jim and rushed quickly through the
gate, laughing and sobbing Historically
and calling to him to follow.