The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-21


NO matter What happens, the sho.C has
,sg. TO 90 on"
er an jes' about everything to that
little one. She wasn't much bIgger'n
a handful Of peanuts when we begun
a-worryin' about her."
well, Mandy will do the worrying
z now" Douglas laughed. "She's been
* dying for a chance to mother some.
body all along. Why, she even tried
It on me-
II noticed as. how some of those
church people seemed to look kinder
queer at me-" said Toby, "an' been
a-wondertn' II mebbe they might feel
the same about her"
"oh, they're all rIghtp Douglas as
sured him They'll be her friends In
NO time.n
eshe's 1T for 'em. sir" Toby plead
1 ed. "she's good, clean into the mid
die Of her heart.''
I'm sure of IT." Douglas answered
1--WE heard how some church folks
feels towards us circus people, sir,
an jes' wanted you to know that
there amt finer families or better
mothers or fathers or grandfathers or
grandmothers anywhere than among
us. Why, that girls mother rode the
horses afOre her, an her mother afore
that an her grandmother an grand
father afore that, an there amt no.
body what's cared more for their good
name an their children's good name
IAN her people has. You see, sir, cir.
Gus folks is all like That. They's jcs'
like one big family. They tends to
their business an takes good care of
themselves. They has to or they
couldn't do their work. It's cause Pm
leayin' her with you that I'm sayln'
all this, . the old man apologlzed.
HTm glad you told me- Toby" Doug
las answered kindly. .'T've never
known much about circus folks"
II guess I'd better he goin'." Tc',y
faltered as his eyes roved hun~~I!y TO-
ward the stairway.
.'I'll send you our route. an mebbe
you'll be lettin' us know how she is"
Indeed ! WILL" Douglas assured
him heartily.
you might tell her wen write ever
day or So" he added.
an tell her." Douglas promised ear.
nestly.
+'Good nlghty The old man hesltat.
3 ed. unwilling to go, but unable to find
further pretext for staying.
Good night, Toby" Douglas ex-
tended his hand toward the bent figure
that was about to shuttle past him.
The withered hand of the white faced
clown rested in the strong grasp of the
pastor, and his pale little eyes sought
The face OF the Stalwart man before
him. A numb des0lation was growing
in his heart. The object for which he
had gone on day by day was being left
behind, and he must stumble forth
into the night alone.
"It's hard to leave her." he mum.
bled, .'but the show has got to go on"
The door shut out the bent, old fig.
ure. Douglas stood. for some time
where Toby had left him. still think.
ing Of his prophetic words. His rev.
erie was broken by the sounds Of the
departing wagons, the low muttered
curses Of the drivers, the shrIekine
and roaring of the animals, as the cir.
Gus train moved up the distant hill
'srhe show has got to go on" he re.
peated as he crossed to his study table
and seated himself for work In the
dim light of the old fashioned lamp
He put out one hand to draw the
sheets Of his interrupted sermon TO.
ward him, but instead It fell upon
small sailor hat. He twisted the hat
absenty in his fingers, not yet realiz.
ing the new order Of things that was
coming into his life. Mandy tiptoed
softly down the stairs. She placed one
pudgy forefinger on her lips and rolled
her large eyes skyward Dat sure
am an angel chile straight from heb.
ben, she whispered. "She done got
+ face jes' like a little flower"
Straight from heaven" Douglas re.
Z peated as she crossed softly to the ta'
BILE and picked up the satchel and coat.
You can leave the lamp, Mandy. /
must finish tomorrow's sermon"
She turned at the threshold and
shook her head rather sadly as she
saw. the imprint Of the days cares on
Z the young pastors face.
"Yo' mus be pow'ful tired" she
said. q
'.No, no; not at all. Good night,
Mandy"
She closed the door behind her, and
Douglas was alone. BE gazed absent.
sssl " at the pages Of his unhished ser.
mon AZ he tapped his idleSpfin on the
desk. THE show has got II 80 op,''
he repeated, and far up the hillside
Z 4 With the slow moving wagons Jim and