News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1909-06-09
[CoNTINUED.J

luSu, Culiu, uuSL, Mduuy WIS
pered. "Jes you lay puhickly still
Oats only de furs' bell a-ringin."
"First bell?" the girl repeated as he
eyes Travelled quickly about the strang
walls and the unfamiliar fittings of tn,
room. "This amt the show" she crieC
suddenly.
"Lor' bless you, no! Dis amt n,
show" Mandy answered. and sh'
laughed reassuringly.
"Then where am II" Polly asked
half breathless with bewilderment
"Nebber you mind bout dat" was
Mandy's unsatisfactory reply.
''But | do mind" protested Polly,
trying to raise herself to a sitting pc.
sition. where's the bunch?'
"De wat?" asked Mandy in surprise.
"The bunch-Jim and Toby an the
rest Of the push!''
"Lor' bless you," Mandy exclaimed,
'dey's done gone long wild de circus
hours ago"
Gone! Show gomez Polly cried in
amazement. Then what am l dom
here?"
"Hor Oh dar honey! Hor onv
Mandy cautioned. Don't you 'cite
yose'f"
Let me aloner' Polly put aside the
arm that was trying to place shawl
around her. II got to get out Of here"
"Youse got plenty O. time for dat"
Mandy answered. "Jes' yo' wait
awhile"
81. can't wait. an I won'tr Polly
shrieked, almost beside herself with
anxiety. 81 got to get to the next
burg-Wakefield, amt it? What time
is it? Let me alone! Let me gow she
cried, struggling desperately
The door opened softly, and the
young pastor stood looking down at
the picture of the frail, white faced |
child and her black, determined cap
tor.
Here, here! What's all this about?'
he asked in a firm tone, though evil
IDENTITY amused.
"Who are you?" returned the girl as
she showed herself quickly back
against the pillows and drew the COW
ers close under her chin, looking at
him oddly over their top.
''She done been cuttin up somefn
awful Mandy explained as she tried
to regain enough breath for a new en-
counter.
Cutting up? You surprise me, Miss
Polly he said. with mock seriousness.
How do you know I'm Polly?" the
little rebel asked. her eyes cleaning
large and desperate above the friendly
covers.
IF you viii be very good and keep
very quiet, l viii try 10 tell you" lie
said as he crossed to the bed.
Il won't be quiet. not for nobody"
Polly objected with a bold disregard
of double negatives. Il got to get
move. If you amt goin' to help me
you needn't butt in"
81 am afraid can't help you to go
tust yet" Douglas replied. He was be-
ginning to perceive that there were
tasks before him other than the shap-
ing Of Polly's character.
"What are you tryin' to do to me,
anyhow" she asked as she shot a
glance of suspicion from the pastor to
Mandy. "What am l up against?"
Don't you be scared. honey" Man
here as you done been in de circus"
"Safer, we hope" Douglas added,
with a smile.
care you two bug?" Polly ques-
toned as she turned her head from
one side to the other and studied them
with a new idea. "Wcll, you can't
get none the best of me. l can get
away all right, an I will too"
She made desperate effort to put
one foot to the floor, but fell back with
cry Of pain.
Oar, dar," Mandy murmured, put
ting the pillow under the poor
cramped neck and smoothing the tan
gled hair from Polly's forehead. You
done hurt yo'scf for suah dis time"
The pastor had taken a step toward
the bed. His look Of amusement had
changed to one of pity.
You see, Miss Polly. you have had
a very bad fall and you can't get away
Just yet nor see your friends until you
are better"
ITS only a scratch" Polly whim-
pered. 81 can do my work; l got to-"
One more feeble effort and she sue
cumbed, with a faint "jiminy crick-
etsr'
"Uncle Toby told me that you were
a very good little girl" Douglas said
as he drew up a chair and sat down
by her side. confident by the express
sion ON her face that at last he was
master of the situation. do you think
he would like you to behave like this?'
Il sure am on the blink" she sighed
as she settled back YEARLY upon the
pillow.
you'll be all right soon," Douglas
answered cheerily. MANDY and l will
help the time to CO." !
81 recollect now" Polly faltered !
without hearing him. at was the last
hoop. Jim seemed to have a bunch l ,
was goin' to be in for trouble when l
went into the ring. Bingo must "a felt a.,
1t too. He kept a-pullin' and a-jerRin'
from the start. 1 got myself together !
to make the last jump, AM can't re-