Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1909-06-10
CHAPTER XII.

little comments WHICH once amused the
pastor had now become an interruption
to thoughts in which she had NO part.
He would sit for hours with bis head
In his hands, taking no notice Of what
passed before him. She tried to think
Of new dishes to tempt his appetite Ind
shook her head sadly a. she bore the
untasted food back to the kitchen.
She sometimes found q portfolio OF
drawings lying open upon his study ia
BILE. She remembered the zeal with
which he had planned to remodel the
church and parsonage when he 6rst
came to them, how his enthusiasm had
gradually died for lack of encourage
ment and how he had at last put his
books in cupboard, where they grew
dusty from long neglect. She mar
veled at their reappearance now, but
something In his set, faraway look
made her afraid to inquire. Thus she
went on from day to day, growing
more impatient with Hasty and more
silent with the pastor.
Mandy needed humor aud compan-
1onship to oil the wheels Of her hum
drum life. There was no more laugh
ter In the house. and she began to
droop.
Polly had been away from the parson-
age month when the complacency Of
the village was again upset by the ar
rival OF the Great American Circus"
There were many callers at the par
sonage that day. for speculation was
now Mt fever heat about the pastor.
"Will he try to see herr" HAS he for
gotten her" and "What did he ever
find In herr" were few Of the many
questions that the women were asking
each other. Now that the cause Of
their envy was removed they would
gladly have reinstated the pastor as
their idol. for. like all truly feminine
souls, they could not bear to see man
unhappy without wishing to comfort
him, nor happy unless they were the
direct cause OF his state. How dare
any man be happy without meY' has
been the cry Of each woman since Eve
was created to mate with Adam.
Douglas had held himself more and
more aloof from the day Of Polly's dis
appearance. He expressed no opinion
about the dcacons or their recent dis
approval Of him. He avoided meeting
them Oftener than duty required, and
Strong felt 80 uncomfortable and
tongue tied In his presence that he, too,
was glad to make their talks AZ few
as possible.
Nothing was said about the pastOr's
plans for the future or about his con.
tihued connection with the church, and
the inquisitive sisterhood was on the
point OF exploding from an overac-
cumulation OF unanswered questions.
He delivered his sermons conscien-
ttously. 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
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 It was nearly night
and there had been no word from her.
Why didn't she come running in to see
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 a quarter from the knotted
Bingham 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 Deacon Strong knocked at the
door for the second time that after.
noon.
us Mr.. Douglas back YETI: lie asked.
NO, sab. he ain't," 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' him?"
Il don't nebber spec Massa Doug.
las till I sees him"
Strong grunted uncivilly and went
down the steps. She cav from the
window that he met Elverson In front
OF the church.
.Dey sure am a-mcanin' 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 at last, but Mandy could
tell from his gait that he brought un-
welcome knews.
"Ain't she dar?''
She's a-trabbelin' wild 'em. Mandy,
hut she didn't done ride"
See heah. Hasty Jones, Is dat ere
chile sick?''
Il don rightly know" said Hasty.
"A great big man, what wored clothes
Ike n gcmmen. coined out wild a whip
In his hand an says as how he's
'bligcd to 'nounce anudder gal in Miss
l'olly's place. An den he says as how
de udder gal was jess us good an den
everybody look disappointed like, an
den out comes de udder gal on boss
an do tricks. an amt heard no more
bout Miss Polly"
Shes sick, OATS what says" Man
dy declared excitedly. IAN somebody's
got to do somethin'!"
II done all knowed," drawled Has