Putnam patriot., 1909-07-09

Douglas had held himself more and more aloof from the day of rolly'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 inquisitiye sisterhood was on the point of exploding from an overac- emulation of unanswered questions. He delivered bis sermons conscien- 1 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 dozenth time and saw that the
 afternoon performance was closing It
 
 ttat 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 Nasty 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. xx.hv dfdnsf Sba emma runujpr In in Saa 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. so finally
 she drew quarter from the knotted gingham rag that held her small wad
 of savings and told Hasty to 'go long to de show an. find out bout Miss Polly"
 She was anxiously waiting for him when Deacoif Strong knocked at the door for the second time that after noon.
 .Is Mr. Douglas back yety he asked.
 No, sab. he ain't.. said Mandy very shortly. She felt that Strong and El- verson 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' himT'
 "I don't nebber spec Massa Doug. las till l sees him." Strong grunted uncivilly and went down the steps. She saw from the window that he met Elverson fin front of fhe church
 "Dey sure am a-meanin' trouble, . she nlumbled.
 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 at last. but Mandy could tell from his gait that he brought un- 1 welcome knews.
 ,, "Ain't she darr'
 She's a-trabbelin' wid 'em. Mandy, but she didn't done ride" 'See heah. Nasty Jones. Is dat ere chile sick?''
 q don rightly know" said Nasty "A great big man. what wored clothes I like a gemmen, comed out wid whip | in his hand an says as how he's 'bliged to 'nounce anudder gal in Miss | Polly's place. An den he says as how de udder gal was jes' as good. an deA everybody look disappointed like, an | den out comes de udder gal on hoss an do tricks. an I ain't heard no more bout Miss Polly"
 She's sick. dat's what says" Man dy declared excitedly. "an' somebody s l got to do somethin'l' II done all I knowed." drawled Has ty. fearing that Mandy was regrettiDg | her twenty five cent investment.
 "Go long out an fix up dat 'ere
 kitchen fire" was Mandy's impatient reply. T got to keep dem vitfels warm for Massa John" She wished to 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 a sight of the pastor.
 It was nearly dark when she saw him coming slowly down the path from the hill She lighted the study
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