Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-05-07

shes fit for EN-. SIR Toby plead
ed. "She's good clean into the mid
die of her heart
I'm sure of 1t" Douglas answered.
"Ive heard how some church folks
reels towards us circus people, sir,
an l 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
rather afcre that, an there amt no.
body what's cared more for their good
hume an their childrens good name
an her people has. You see, sir, cir
Gus folks is all like that. They's jes'
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 I'm
leavin' her with you that I'm sayin'
all this" the old man apologized.
I'm glad you told me, Toby" Doug
las answered kindly. 1--WE never
known much about circus folks"
II guess I'd better be goin'." Toby
faltered as his eyes roved hungrily to.
ward the stairway.
III send you our route, an mebbe
you'll be lettin' us know how she is"
Indeed. WILL" Douglas assured
him heartily.
day or So" he added
'I'll tell her." Douglas promised ear
nestly
Good night" The old man hesitat-
ed, unwilling to go, but unable to find
further nratext for staying.
Good night. Toby" Douglas ex-
tended his hand toward the bent figure
that was about to shuttle past him.
The withcred 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 desolation 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.
tits hard to leave her." he mum
bled. but the show has got to go on"
The door shut out the bent, cid 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 shrieking
and roaring Of the animals, as the cir.
Gus train moved up the distant hill.
THE 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
absently 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 little flower"
straight from heaven" Douglas re-
peated as she crossed softly to the ta-
BILE and picked up the satchel and coat.
You can leave the lamp, Mandy. l
must finish tomorrow's sermon"
She turned at the threshold anG
shook her head rather sadly as She
saw the imprint of the days cares on
the young pastors face.
"Yo' mus be pow'ful tired" she
said.
mo, no; not at ALL Good night,
Mandy"
She closed the door behind her, and
Douglas was alone. He gazed absent
ly at the pages of his unfiished SER
mon as he tapped his idle pen on tbs
desk. 1.-THE show has got to go on"
he repeated. and far up the hillside
with the slow moving wagons Jim and
Toby looked with unseeing eyes into
the dim. starlit distance and echoed
the thought, 1.-The show has got to go
on"
(To be continued)