The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-05-13

porson by dom 1t quick"
died that you was never a-comin'
back, but l told him I'd change all
that once l seen you, an when Bar
ker sent me over here today to look
arter the advertiser he said he guess
ed you'd had all you wanted O. church
folks. 'Jes' you bring her along to
Wakefield he said, AN tell her that
her place is waitin' for her. an l will
too" He turned upon Polly with sud
den decision. why, l feel jes' like
pickin' you up in my arms an carryin'
you right off now"
"Wait, JIM She put one tiny hand
on his arm to restrain him.
Il don't Ot-today-mebbe,
he stammered uncertainty. but Wen
be back here a-showin' next month"
Don't look at me now" Polly an
swered as the doglike eyes searched
her face, because | have to say some
thing that Is going to hurt you. JIM"
You're comm, amt you, Poll?"
The big face was wrinkled and care
worn with trouble.
mo, jim" she replied in u tone 80
low that he could scarcely hear her.
You mean that you amt never
comm back?" He tried to realize
what such a decision might mean to
rim.
mo, JIM" she answered tenderly,
for she dreaded the pain that she must
cause the great, good hearted fellow.
You mustn't care like that" she
pleaded, seeing the blank desolation
that had come into his face. 1T isn't
because 1 don't love you just the same,
and it was good of Barker to keep my
place for me, but can't 60 back"
He turned away. She chung to the
rough brown sleeve. why, Jim, when
! lie in my little room up there at
night"-she glanced toward the win
dow above them-"and everything is
peaceful and still think how it used
to be in the old days, the awful noise
and the rush Of it all, the cherries
wagons, the mob in the tent, the ring
with its blazing lights, the whirling
round and round on Bingo and the
hoops, always the hoops, till my head
got dizzy and my eyes all dim, and
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 shrleks
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
c1,Yyt at
back to 1t, Jim! just couldn't" She
turned away. her face still hidden in
ner hands. He looked at her lon.
| while In silence
81 didn't know how you'd come to
feel about It," he said doggedly.
You aren't angry. Jim She
| turned to him anxiousiy. her e,es
| pleading for his forgiveness.
| Angry" he echoed. almost bitterly
L guess 1t couldn't ever come TO that
atween you an me. III be all right"
He shrugged his great shoulders. Its
| just kinder sudden, that's all. You see,
l never figured on givin' you up, an
when you said You wasn't comm back
1t kinder seemed as though l 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 Mr..
Douglas Polly protested. trying to
keep him with her until she could
think of some way to comfort him.
IN 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
a 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 Teller here to take you
back to the circus?' 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 t.
go. He saw the blank look en- he,
face. I'VE amt tryin' to pry into none
OF your private affairs" he explained
but my daughter saw you and tha
there Teller a-makin' up to each other
II you're calculatin' to run away will