The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-05-26

Douglas had held himself more ana
more aloof from the day of Polly's dis
appearance. He expressed no opinion
about the deacons or their recent dis
approval of him. He avoided meeting
them oftener than duty required, and
Strong felt so uncomfortable and
tongue tied in his presence that he, too,
was glad to make their talks as few
as possible
Nothing was said about the pastors
plans for the future or about his con-
tinued connection with the church, and
the inquisitive sisterhood was ON the
point of exploding from an overac-
emulation of unanswered questions
He delivered his sermons conscien-
tiously, called upon his poor, listened
to the sorrows real and fancied, of his
parishioners and shut himself up with
his books or walked alone ON the hill
behind the church.
He had been absent all day when
Mandy looked out on the circus lot
for the do2enth time and saw that the
afternoon performance was closing. 1t
had driven her to desperation to learn
that Miss Polly was not In the parade
that morning and to know that the
pastor had made no effort to find out
about her. For weeks both she and
Hasty had hoped that the return of
the circus might bring Polly back to
them. but now 1t was nearly night
and there had been no word from her.
Why didn't 9ha Inn I'm IN
them, as Mandy had felt so sure she
would? Why had the pastor stayed
away on the hills all day?
Unanswered questions were always
an abomination TO Mandy, 80 finally
she drew a quarter from the knotted
gingham rag that held her small wad
of savings and told Hasty to Ego long
to de show an find out bout Miss
Polly.
She was anXiously waiting for him
when Deacon Strong knocked at the
door for The second time that after
noon
as Mr.. Douglas back YETI" he asked.
mo, sab, he amt" said Mandy very
shortly. She felt that Strong and Ell
version had been ''a-tryin' to spy on de
parson all day" and she resented their
visits more than she usually did.
"What time are you expectin' himf"
II don't nebber spec Massa Doug
las till sees him.
| Strong grunted uncivilly and went
down The steps. She saw from the
| window that lie met EMERSON IN front
| of the church
'Dey sure am a-meanin' trouble
| she mumbled.
The band had stopped playing; the
| last of the audience had struggled
down the street. She opened the door
and stood on the porch; the house
seemed TO suffocate her. What was
keeping Hasty?
He came nj last, but Mandy could
tell from his gait that he brought I'M
welcome knews.
"Ain't she darf'
"She's a-trabbelin' Wild 'em. Mandy.
but she didn't done ride
"Set heah, Hasty Jones. Is dat ere
chile sick =
II don rightly know" said Hasty.
"A great Dig MIN. w Hdl NbTcu tlotueS
like a gemmen. coined out wild Il whip
In his hand an says as how he's
'bliged 10 'nounee anudder gal In Miss
Polly's place An den he says as how
de udder gal was jcs' as good, an den
evcr'tcdy look disappointed like. an
den cut comes de udder gal on II boss
an do tricks, am amt heard no more
bout Miss Polly
"She's sick, OATS what | says Man
dy declared excitedly. IAN somebody's
got TO do somethin'.'
81 done all | knowed," drawled Has
ty, fearing that Mandy was regretting
her twenty .hYc cent Investment
"Go long out an fix up dat ere
kitchen fire. was Mandy's impatient
reply Il got to keep dem vittels
warm for Massa john
She wished 10 be alone, so that She
could think of some way to get hold
of Polly. Dat baby faced mornin'
glory done got Mandy all wobbly bout
de heart" she declared to herself as
she crossed TO the window for sight
of the pastor
1t was nearly dark when she saw
him coming slowly down the path
from the hill. She lighted the study