Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-06-04

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 plains at night, and the shrieks
Of the animals. and then the parade,
the awful. awful parade. and l riding
through the streets in tights. Jim
tights!" She covered her face to
shut out the memory II couldn't go
back to 1t. Jim! just couldn't!" She
turned away, her face still hidden In
her hands. He looked at her a long
While in silence.
81 didn't know how you'd come to
feel about it," he said doggedly.
You aren't angry. JimY She
turned to him anxiously, her eyes
pleading for his forgiveness
"Angry? he echoed. almost bitterly
II guess 1t couldn't ever come to thai
atween you an me- I'll be all right"
He shrugged his great shoulders. "It'a
just kinder sudden, that's ALL You see,
l never figured on givin' you up, an
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 MIR.
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 to do. to wave
parting farewell. and she turned to.
ward the house with troubled heart
She had reached the lower step when
Strong and Elverson approached her
from the direction of the church.
"Was that feiler here to take you
back to the circusw demanded Strong
She opened her lips to reply. but be-
fore she could speak Strong assured
her that the congregation wouldn't dc
anything to stop her If she wished to
go. He saw the blank look on her
face. Eve amt tryin' to pry into none
Of your private affairs" he explained
but my daughter saw you and thai
there Teller a-makin' up to each other
If you're calculatin' to run away will
him you'll save heap of trouble fol
the parson by dom it quick"
''The parson.'
for not wantin' him to keep you here
You got sense enough to see how 4
looks. He'd see 1t. too, If he WASH
just plain bullheaded. Well, he'd bet
ter get over his stubbornness RICH
now. If he don't we'll get another min
lister; that's all'
"Another minister? Youdon't mean
1t was clear enough now. She recalled
Douglas troubled look of an hour ago
She remembered how he had asked 1
she couldn't, go away. 1t was this tina
he meant when he promised not t,
give her up. no matter what happened
In an instant she was at the deacon
side pleading and terrified. "Yo1
wouldn't get another minister! Or
please. Deacon Strong. listen to me
listen! You were right about Jim II
did come TO get me. and | am goin
back to the circus only you won
send Mr. Douglas away, you won't
Say you won't!' She was searching
his eyes for mercy. ut wasn't hi
fault that kept staying on He didn'
know how to get rid Of me. He di'
try. He tried only today"
$50 he's comm round" sneere
Strong
"Yes. yes. and you won't blame hir
any more. will your. she hurried o
anxiously You'll let him stay. n
matter what he does. If promise t
so away and never. never come bac
again?"
Il amt holdin' no grudgc agin him,
Strong grumbled. "He talks prett
rough sometimes, but he's been a goo
enough minister. ain't forgettir
| that"
i "Oh. thank you. Mr.. Strong. than
you. I'll get my things. 1t won't tax
minute" She was running up til
!. steps when a sudden thought stoppe
her. She returned quickly to Strong
Wed better not let him know ju.
yet. You can tell him afterward. Tie
him that ran away. Tell him that"
She was interrupted by Douglas, WI
came from the house. "Hello. Stron,
Back again?" he asked. in some su
prise. Polly remained with her eye
fixed upon the deacon, searching fl
some way of escape. The pastor al
preached. She burst into nervor
laughter. whats the joker" Douglf
asked
Its only q little surprise that IL
deacon and are planning" She trie
to control the catch in her vote
You'll know about 1t soon, won't h
deacon? Good afternoon. Mr.. Strong
She few into the house, laughing by
terically.
Douglas followed her to the ste
with puzzled frown. 1t was until
Polly to give way to her moods befo
"A