The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-07-17


Wakefield he said, an tell her that
her place Is waitin' for her, an will
too" He turned upon Polly with sud-
den decision. why, feel jes' like
pickin'. you up in my arms an carryin'
you right OF now
''Wait, Jimv' She put one tiny hand
ON his arm to restrain him.
Il don't, Observation-Disclosures"
he stammered uncertainty. but we'll
be back here a-showin' next month"
Don't look at me now" Polly an
swered as the doglike eyes searched
her face, because have to say some
thing that is going.to hurt you. JIM"
you're comm. amt you, PoH7"
The big face was >wrinkled and care
worn with trouble.
mo, Jim," she replied In tone 10
low that he could scarcely hear her.
"You mean that you amt never
comm back?" He tried to realize
what such a decision might mean to
him.
mo, Jim." she answered tenderly,
for she dreaded the pain that she must
cause the great, good hearted fellow.
You mustn't care Hike that" she
pleaded, seeing the blank desolation
that had come into bis face. ''N isn't
because don't love you just the same,
and it 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 win
dow above them-"and everything is
peaceful and still I think how it used
to be in the old days, the awful noise
and the rush Of 1t all, the cherries
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 bud and the
rain, and the rumble Of tho wheels
in the plains at night, and the shrieks
of the animala and then the parade,
the awful, awful parade, and 1 riding
through the streets in tights, jim
t1ghtsv' She covered her face to
shut out the memory. II couldn't go
back to it, Jim! just couldn't!' She
turned away, her face still hidden In
her hands. He looked at her a long
while in silence.
II didn't know how you'd come to
feel about It," he said doggedly.
'sYou aren't angry, Jimy' She
turned to him anxiously, her eyes
pleading for his forgiveness.
"Angry?" he echoed. almost bitterly.
II guess it 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,
I Qever figured on givin' you up, al,
when you said you wasn't comm back
it kinder seemed as though couldn't
see nothin' all my life but long, dusty
roads an nobody In 'em. But it's all
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.
''1'u 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. E.e did
not look back, as he used to do, to wave
a parting farewell, and she turned to-
ward the house with a troubled heart,
She had reached the lower step when
Strong and Elverson approached her
from the direction of the church.
WAS that Teller here to take you
back to the circusT' demanded Strong.
She opened her lips to reply, but be-
fore she could speak Strong assured
her that the congregation wouldn't do
anything to stop her If she wished to
go. He saw the blank look ON her
face. I'VE amt tryin' to pry into none
OF your private affairs" he explained,
but my daughter saw you and that
>o'ASA ~-AA0AAu ny ~ 00CA OtueE.
II you're calculatin' to run away with
him you'll save heap Of trouble for
the parson by dom it quick"
'"The parsonv' 49,.
You can't blame the congregation
for not wantfn' him to keep you here.
you got sense enough to see how It
looks. He'd see it, too, If he wasn't
just plain bullheaded. Well. he'd bet
ter get over his stubbornness right
now. If he don't we'll get another min
lister: that's ALL"
Another minister? Youdon'tmean"-
It was clear enough now. She recalled
Douglas troubled look Of an hour ago.
She remembered how he had asked If
she couldn't 60 away. It was this that
ne meant when he promised not to
give her up, no matter what happened.
In an instant she was at the deacon's
side pleading and terrified. .You
wouldn't get another minister! OH.
please. Deacon Strong, listen to me,
listen! You were right about Jim. he
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