The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1909-06-16


GIVE heard how some church folks
feels towards us circus people, sir,
an | jcs' wEe'cd YOU to know that
there amt Liner families or better
mothers or fathers or grandfathCrS or
erandmOthcrS anywhere than among
us. Why. that girls mother rode the
horses aforc her. an her mother afore
that, an her grandmother an grand
father aforc that. an there ain't no.
body what's cared moro for their good
name an their childrcn'S good name
an her people has. You see sir. cir
Gus folks Is all like that. ThcyS les
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
icavin' her with YOU that I'm sayin'
all this" the old man apologiZcd.
I'm glad YOU told me, Toby" Doug
las answered kindly. "Ivc never
known much about circus folks"
Il guess ia better lie guin'." Toby
faltcrcd as his eyes yovcd hungrily to-
ward the stairway.
III send YOU our route. Al mcbbe
you'll he lcttin US know how she is"
Indeed. will" Douglas assured
him heartily
You might tell her Wen write ever
day or So" he added.
'I'll tell her" Douglas promised ear.
ncsuy.
Good night" The old man hcsitat-
ed unwilling to 60. but un&ble TO find
further pretcHt for staying
Good night Toby" Douglas eX-
tended his hand toward the bent figure
that was about to shuttle past him.
The withcrcd hand OF the white faced
clown rested In tie strong grasp of the
pastor. and his pale little eyes sought
tie face Of the stalwart man before
him. \ numb dcSolation was growing
In his heart. The object for which he
had gon" ON day by day was being left
behind. and he must stumble forth
into the night alone.
Its hard to leave her" he mum
blCd. "but the show has got to go on"
The door shut out the bent. old fig
urc. Douglas stood for some time
where Toby had left him. still think
ing Of his prophetic words. His rcv-
erie was broken by the sounds of the
departing wagons. the low muttcrCd
curses Of the drivers. the Shrlcking
and roaring Of the animals. as the cir
Gus train moved up the distant hill.
The show has got to go on" he re-
pcatcd as he crossed to his study table
ana seated himself for work I'm the
dim light Of the old fashioned lamp.
He put out one hand to draw the
sheets of his interrupted sermon to-
ward him. hut instead 1t fell upon n
small sailor hat He twisted the hat
abscntly 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 foretingcr on her lips and rolled
her large eyes Skyward Dat sure
am an angel chile straight from heb
ben" she whispered. she done got Il
face jcS' like little flower"
straight from heaven" Douglas re-
pcatcd as She crossed softly to the ta-
bic and picked up the Satchcl and coat
You can leave the lamp. Mandy 1
must finish tOmorrow's Sermon
She turned at the threshold and
saw the Imprint of the days cares ON
the young pastors face
"Yo' mus be pow'ful tired" she
said.
no, no; not at all Good night,
Mandy"
she closed the door behind her, and
Douglas was alone. lie gaZcd absent
ly at the pages OF his unGishcd ser.
mon rs he tapped his Idle pen on the
desk ''rhc 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. stnrlit distance and echoed
the thought, The show has got to go
on"
TO BE Continued.