Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-07-02
y MARGARET NAY0
1905. BY DoDn. MEAD AND COMPANY

the inquisitive sisterhood was ON the
point of exploding from an overac-
emulation of unanswered questions.
He delivered his ssrmons conscien-
tiously. called upon his poor, listened
to the sorrows, real and fancfed, of his
parishioners and shut himself up with
his books or walked alone on the hill
behind the church.
He had been absent all day when
Mandy looked out on the circus lot
for the dozenth time and saw that the
afternoon performance was closing. It
had driven her to desperation to learn
that Miss Polly was not In the parade
that morning and to know that the
pastor had made no effort to find out
about her. For weeks both she and
Hasty had hoped that the return of
the circus might bring Polly back to
them, brit now It was nearly night
and there had been no word from her.
WHY didn't she come running In to see
them. as Mandy had felt SO sure she
would? Why had the pastor stayed
away or the hills all dayf
OnulS NCItQ QuSSIOuS were dIWdyS
an abomination to Mandy, 50 finally
she drew a quarter from the knotted
Bingham rag that held her small wad
Of savings and told Hasty to Ego long
to de show an find out bout Miss
Polly"
She was ~anx1ousfy waiting for him
when Deacon Strong knocked at the
49, o. A. $1,000. Aw-o 49, ST.
noon
els Mr.. Douglas back yetY' he asked.
"No, sab, he amt" said Mandy very
shortly. She felt that Strong and FL
version had been 'a-tryin' to spy on de
parson all day." and she resented their
visits more than she usually did
What time are you expect1n' himT
Il don't nebber spec Massa Doug
las till l sees him.
Strong grunted uncivflfy and went
down the steps. She saw from the
window that he met Efverson in front
Of the church.
"Dey sure am a-meanin trouble
she mumbled-
The band had stopped playing; the
last of the audience had struggled
down the street She opened the door
and stood on the porch; the house
seemed to ~suffocate her. What was
keeping Hasty7
He came at last, but Mandy could
tell from his gait that he brought I'M
welcome knews-
"Ain't she darY'
pne~5 a-trdUUeI1n VIII Tfnr m..H1$,
but she didn't done ride
"See heah, Hasty Jones, Is dat ere
chile sickT'
1T Ion rightly know" said Hasty.
"A great big man, what wored clothes
like a gemmen, coined out wild a whip
In his hand an says as bow he's
'bliged to 'nounce anudder gal in Miss
Polly's place. An den he says as how
de udder gal was 5es' as good, an den
everybody look disappointed like, an
den out comes de udder gal on a boss
an do tricks, an I amt beard no more
bout Miss Polly"
"She's sick, OATS what I says" Man
dy declared excitedly, "an' somebody's
got to do somethin'T"
II done all I knowed," drawled Has
ty, fearing that Mandy was regretting
her twenty-five cent investment.
Go long out an fix UP dat ere
kitchen fire." was Mandy's impatient
reply. II got to keep dem vittels
warm for Massa John"
She wished to be alone, SO that she
could think Of some way to get hold
Of Polly. dat baby faced mornin'
glory done got Mandy all wobbly bout
de heart she declared to herself as
she crossed to the window for a sight
of the pastor.
1t was nearly dark when she saw
him coming slowly down the path
from the hin. She lighted the study