The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-05-26

looked ut him blankly. III she would
only complain" he said to himself;
III she would only get mad, anything
anything TO wake her." But she did
not complain. She went through her
She sometimes wondered how jim
could talk SO much about her work
but before she could answer the ques
tion her mind drlfted back TO Other
days, TO II garden and flowers, and jim
stole away unmlssed and left her with
gazing Into the distance.
The memory of these times made
Jim helpless tonight. He had gone on
hoping from day to day that Barker
might not notice the ''let down" In her
work. and now the blow had fallen.
How could he tell her?
One of the acts came tumbling out
Of the main tent. There was mo-
ments confusion as clowns, acrobats
and animals passed each other OH their
way to and from the ring; then the lot
cleared again. and Polly came slowly
very different from the little girl
whom Jim had led away from the par
sons garden In simple white frock
one month before. Her thin, pensiv0
face contrasted oddly with her glitter
Ing attire. Her hair was knotted high
on her head and ntertwined with
flowers and Jewels Her slender neck
seemed scarcely able to support Its
burden. Her short, full skirt and low
cut bodice were ablaZe with white
and colored stones.
whats on, JImY she asked.
"The leap o death You got plenty
of time"
Polly's mind went back TO the girl
who answered that call IL year ago.
Her spirit seemed very near tonight.
The band stopped playing Barker
made his grandiloquent announcement
about the wonderful act about to be
seen. and her eyes wandered to the
distant church steeple. The moonlight
seemed to shun 1t tonight. 1t looked
cold and grim and dark. She won
ueTtu WietHef iHe Spitlh' UGH thd'
once called its flock to worship had
become ms mute as her own dead heart
She did not hear the whlr Of the great
machine inside the tent MS II plunged
through space with Its girl occupant
These things were n part Of the daily
routine. part Of the strange, vague
dream through which she must stun
BILE for the rest of her life.
Jim watched her In silence. Hell
face was turned from him She had
forgotten his presence.
Star gain, Poll?" he asked al
length dreading to disturb her reyerie
~ guess was, jim" She turned &c
him with little, forced smile. He
longed to save her from Barker'f
threatened rebuke.
How you fcelin' tonight
Pm all right she answered cheer
fully.
Anything you wantf
want" She turned upon him with
startled eyes. There was so much
that she wanted that the mere men
ton Of the word had opened well OF
pain In her heart.
II mean can do anything for you?
"Oh, of course not" She remem
bered how little any one could do.
what Is It, Poll?' he begged, but
she only turned away and shook hei
head with . sigh. lie followed heI
with anxious eyes. what made you
cut out the show today Was 1t be
cause you didn't want to ride afort
folks what knowed you-rlde afors
him mebbe?''
HIM" Her face was white. jim
feared she might swoon. You dom
mean that lie was
'Oh. no." he answered quickly, "ol
course not. Parsons don't come Il
places like this one. | was only fgur
In that you didn't want other folks t
see an TO tell him how you was rid
In" She did not answer.