The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-04-22
HENDERSON GOLD LEAF-THURsDAY APRIL g. 1909

70 the charge or being a piker," Doug
las admitted, half sheepist'y, "for did
see the par de-
well, / was the one on the white
horse right behind the lion cage" she
began excitedly. you rememberw
"It's little confused in my mind
he caught her look OF amazement-"just
at present" he stammered, feeling her
wrath again about to descend upon
him.
well. I'm the twenty-four sheet
stand" she explained.
Sheet Mandy shrleked from her
corner.
Eyes, the billboards, the pictures"
Polly said, growing impatient at their
persistent stupidity.
"She suah am a funny talkin' thing"
mumbled Mandy to herself as she clip,
ped the withered leaves from a plant
near the window.
"You are dead sure they know amt
comm on?" Polly asked, with linger-
ing suspicion in her voice.
Dead sure And Douglas smiled to
himself as he lapsed into her vernacu-
lar.
There was moments pause. Polly
realized for the first time that she must
actually readjust herself to new Or
der of things. Her eyes again r0ved
about the room. 1t was cheerful
place in which to he imprisoned Even
Polly could net deny that. The broad
window at the back. with its white and
pink chintz curtains on the inside and
its frame Of ivy on the outside, spoke
of singing birds and sunshine all day
long Everything from the white cell
ing to the sweet smelling mating that
covered the floor was spotlessly clean.
The cane bottomed rocker near the
curved window seat with its pretty
pillows told Of days when a cow ales-
cent might look in comfort at the gar
den beneath. The counterpart, with its
old fashioned rose pattern: the little
white tides on the back of each chair
and Mandy grooming beside the win
dow all helped to make homelike pic.
ture.
She wondered what Jim and Toby
would say if they could see her now,
sitting like a queen in the midst of her
soft cOverlets, with no need to raise
even a finger to wait upon herself.
"Aint it the limit ~ she sighed, and
with that Jim and Toby seemed to
drift farther away. She began to
see their life apart from hers. She
could picture Jim with his head in
his hands. She could hear his sharp
orders to the men. He was always
short with the others when anything
went wrong with her.
"I'll bet 'Muvyer Jim's' in the
dumps" she murmured as cloud
stole across the fiowerlike face; then
the tired muscles relaxed. and she
ceased to rebel.
"Muvver Jim?" Douglas repeated.
feeling that he must recall her to a
knowledge Of his presence.
THAT'S what l call him. Polly ex-
planned. but the fellows call him Big
be a good mother just to look at him.
but he is, only sometimes you can't
tell him things you could real
mother" she added. half sadly.
''And your real mother went away
when you we're very young:'
NO, she didn't go away"
MOI" There was a puzzled note in
the pastors voice.
''She went out Polly corrected.
''Out!' he echoed blankly.
Yes; finished-lights OUT
'Oh, an accident Douglas under
stood at last.
Il don't like to talk about it.' Polly
looked at him solemnly, as though
about to impart bit Of forbidden fam
lily history. 1t was this look in the
round eyes that had made Jim so often
declare that the kid knew everything
why, mother d "a been ashamed if
she'd "a knowed how she wound up.
She was the best rider of her time
by fallin' off a skate what didn't have
no more ginger an 4 kitten. If you
can beat that!' She gazed at him
with her lips pressed tightly together,
evidently expecting some startling ex-
preston Of wonder.
"And your father?" Douglas asked
rather lamely, being at a loss for any
which the child before him was too
desolate even to understand.
"Oh, dads finish was all right. He
got his'n in a lions cage where he
worked. There was nothin' slow about
his end She looked up for his ap
prevail
For de Lords sake" Mandy
groaned as the wonder Of the child's
conversation grew upon her.
'An' now I'm down an out" Polly
concluded, with a sigh
But this is nothing serious" said
the pastor, trying to cheer her.
Its serious enough with a whole
show a-dependin' on you. Maybe you
don't know how it feels to have to
knock off work"
''Oh, yes, l do" Douglas answered
quickly. 81 was i'll while ago myself.
/ had to be in bed day after day, think
ing Of dozens Of things that I ought to
be doing"
Was you ever tioored?" Polly asked
with touch Of unbelief as she studied
the fine, healthy physique at the side
Of her bed.
Deed, he was chile" Mandy cried,
feeling that her opportunity had now
~