West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-05-20

lamp, rearranged the cushions and
tried to make the room look CHEEKY
Tor his entrance.
as 'fraid yo's mighty tired" she
said.
"Oh. no." answered Douglas absently.
"hebbe yo'd Ike Mandy TO be sarvin'
your supper In here tonight. It's more
cheerfuler"
out upon the circus lot. The flare of
the torches and the red fire came up
to meet his pale. tense face. How
like the picture OF thirteen months
ago.' he thought. and old Toby's words
came back 10 hlm-"The show has got
10 go on
He longed 10 have done with dreams
and speculation. TO feel something tam
gible. warm and real within his grasp.
II can't 20 on like thisr' he cried. -
can't" He turned from the window
and walked hurrledly up aud down tho
| room. Indoors cr out, he found 70
rest. He threw himself I'm the arm.
chair near the table and sat buried I'm
thought.
Mandy came softly into the room.
She was followed by Hasty. who car
ried trny laden with things that
ought to have tempted any man. She
motioned for Hnsty To- put the tray
on the table and then began arranging
the dishes. Hasty stole TO the window
and peeped out at the tempting fare
OF red fire.
When Douglas discovered the pres
ence OF his two "falthfuls" he was
touched with momcntary contritlon.
Have you had hard day with the
new gravel walk he asked Hasty.
remembering that he had been laying
fresh path to the Sunday school
room.
"Jes' yo' come eat yo' supper" Man
dy called TO Douglas. Don yo' worry
your head bout dat lazy husb1n' oh
mine. He amt goin' ter work nun
TO hurt hisself" For m instant she
had been tempted TO let the pastor
know how Hasty had gone to the cir
Gus and seen nothing OF Polly. but her
motherly instinct won the day. and
she urged him to eat before disturbing
him with her own anxieties. 1t was
no use. lie only toyed with his food :
he was clearly III at ease and eager to
be alone. She gave up trying 10 tempt
his appetite and began TO lead up In
d roundabout way TO the things which
she wished to ask.
"Dnr's quite some racket out dar I'm
de lot tonight" she said Douelas did
not answer After moment she went
on. "Hasty didn't work OH no walk
today" Douglas looked at her quiz
Eically, while uasty. convinced that
for reasons Of her own she was going
| to get him into trouble. was making
frantic motions. "He done gone ter de
| circus" she blurted out Douglas face
became suddenly grave Mandy saw
that she had touched an open wound.
IT Jes' couldn't stan II, Massa John.
| had ter find out bout dat angel chile"
There was n pause She felt that he
was waiting for her to go on.
"She didn't done ride today"
He looked up with the eyes Of
dumb. prosecuted animal "And de
gemmen In de show didn't tell nobody
why-Jes' speaked bout de udder gal
takin' her place"
"Why didn't she rider cried Doug
las. I'm an agony Of suspense.
Oats what / don know, sab"
Mandy began to cry. IL was the first
time in his experience that Douglas
had ever known her 70 give way 10
any such weakness
/ Hasty came down from the window
and tried 20 put one arm about Man
| dy's shoulders.
"Leab me alone, yo' niggerw she ex.
claimed, trying 20 cover her tears with
a show Of anger that she did not feel:
then she rushed from the room. foi.
lowed by Hasty.
The band was playing loudly. The
/ din Of the night performance was
| increasing. Douglas nerves were
strained 20 the point OF breaking. lie
would not let himself 90 near the win
dow. lie stood by the side Of the Ia
BILE, HIS fists cllnched, and tried to
| beat back the impulse that was pulling
! him toward the door Again and again
be set his teeth
IL was uncertainty that gnawed at
him so Was she nl7 Could she need
himl Was she sorry for having left
himI Would she be glad n he went
/ for her aud brought her back with
bim1 He recalled the hysterical note
IN her behavior the day that she went
away-how she had pleaded, only a
few moments before Jim came, never
TO be separated from him. Had she
really cared for Jim and FOR the old
lifel Why had she never written?
Was she asbamed7 Was she sorry for
what she had doneg What could II
meant He threw hts hands above bfs