The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-05-20

that once seen you, an when Bar
ker sent me over here today to look
arter the advertiser he said he guess
ed you'd had all you wanted o. church
folks. 'Jes' you bring her along to
Wakefield he said. AN tell her that
her place Is waitin' for her. an will
too" He TUNED upon Polly with sud
den decision. .sWhy. feel jes' like
pickin' you up in my arms an carryin'
you right on now"
"Wait, Jimv' She put one tiny hand
on his arm to restrain him.
II don't -today-mebbe,"
he stammered uncertainty. but Wen
be back here a-showin next month"
don't look at me now" Polly an
swered as the doglike eyes searched
her face. because L nave to say some
thing that is going to hurt you. jim"
you're comm. amt you. PollY'
The big face was wrinkled and care
worn with trouble.
mo, jim" she replied In tone 80
low that he could scarcely hear her.
"You mean that you amt never
comm backY" He tried to realize
what such decision might mean to
him.
"No. Jim" she answered tenderly,
for she dreaded the pain that she must
cause the great, good hearted fellow.
you mustn't care like that she
pleaded, seeing the blank desolation
that had come into his face. 1T isn't
because don't love you just the same,
and 1t was good Of Barker to keep my
place for me. but can't go back"
He turned away. She chung to the
rough brown sleeve. "Why, Jim, when
lie In my little room up there at
night"-she glanced toward the viii
dow above them-'and everything is
/ peaceful and still think how II used
TO be In the old days, the awful noise
| and the rush of It all, the cheerless
wagons, the mob in the tent. the ring
with its blazing lights. the whirling
round and round on Bingo and the
hoops. always the hoops. till my head
got dizzy and my eyes all dim, and
then the hurry after the show, and the
heat and the dust or the mud and the
rain, and the rumble of the wheels
In the plainr at night. and the shrieks
of the animals, and then the parade.
the awful, awful parade, and riding
through the streets in tights. jim
tights!'' She covered her face to
shut out the memory. II couldn't 60
back to II. JIM Just couldn't" She
turned away. her face still hidden in
her hands. He looked at her long
while L. silence.
II didn't know how you'd come to
feel about e.. be said doggedly.
"You aren't angry. JimT She
turned TO him anxiously. her eyes
pleading for his forgiveness.
angry he echoed. almost bitterly.
, Il guess II couldn't ever come to that
atween you an me. I'll be all right"
He shrugged his great shoulders. Its
Just kinder sudden. that's all You see.
. never figured on givin' you up. an
when you said you wasn't comm back
II kinder seemed as though couldn't
see nothin' all my life but long, dusty
roads an nobody In 'em. But it's al
right now. an I'll just be gettin' along
to the wagon"
-But. Jim. you haven't seen Mr..
Douglas. Polly protested. trying to
keep him with her until she could
think Of some way TO comfort him.
"I'll look In on him comm back"
said Jim, anxious TO be alone with his
disappointment. He was out Of the
gate before she could stop him.
Hurry back. won't you. Jim? I'll be
waiting for you" She watched him
going quickly down the road, his fists
thrust into his brown coat pockets and
his hat pulled over his eyes. lie did
not look back. as he used 10 do. TO wave
a parting farewell. and she turned to
ward the house with troubled heart
She had reached the lower step wher
Strong and Elverson approached hel
from the direction OF the church.
"was that teller here TO take you
back TO the circusY demanded Strong
She opened her lips to reply. but be
fore she could speak Strong assured
her that the congregation wouldn't d.
anything TO stop her II she wished I,
20. He saw the blank look on hel
face. 1--WE amt tryin' TO pry into non,
Of your private AFFAIRS" he explained
but my daughter saw you and tina
there Teller a-makin' up 70 each other
II you're calculatin' TO run away witt
him you'll save heap Of trouble 10
the parson by dom II quick"
THE parsonr'
"You can't blame the congregation
for not wantin' him TO keep you here
You got sense enough 20 see how !
looks. He'd see II. too. II he WASH
Just plain bullheaded. Well. he'd bei
ter get over his stubbornness RICH
now. II he don't We'll get another min
lister: that's ALL"
another minister? yondon't mean"-
II was clear enough now. She recalle'
Douglas troubled look Of an hour ag,
; She remembered how he had asked
she couldn't go away. IL was this tina
he meant when he promised not /
Y give her up. no matter what happened
"