Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-07-24
Continued from last week. }

Douglas had laid himself more and
more aloof from the day of PUlly's dis
: appearance. He expressed no opinion
about the deacOue or their recent dis
approval of him. He avoided meeting
them oftencr than duty required, and
Strong felt so uncomfortable and
tongue tied in his presence that he. too,
was glad to make their talks rs few
as possible.
Nothing was said about the pastors
plans for the future or about his con-
tinued connection with the church, and
the inquisltive sisterhood was on the
point of exploding from an overac-
emulation of unanswered questions.
He delivered his sermons conscien-
tiouslS' called upon his poor, listened
to theisorrows, 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 tirle and saw that the
afternoon performance was closing. 1t
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 boped that the return Of
the circus might bring Polly back to
them. but now 1t 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 q quarter from the knotted
gingham rag that held her small wad
of savings and told TASTY to go long
to de show an find out bout Miss
Polly"
She was anXiously waiting for him
when Deacon Strong knocked ut the
door for the second time that after
noon.
"Is Mr.. Douglas back yetT' he asked.
mo. sab, he amt" said Mandy very
shortly. She felt that Strong and FL
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"
II don't nebber spec Massa Doug
/. las till sees him."
Strong grunted uncivilly and went
down the steps. She saw from the
window that he met E1verson in front
of the church.
"Dey sure am a-meanin' trouble"
she mumbled. '.1
The band bad 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 I'M
welcome knews.
"Ain't she darT
"She's a-trabbelin' wild 'em. Mandy,
but she didn't done ride"
"Sec heah. Hasty Jones, Is dat ere
chile sick?"
II dom rightly know" said Hasty.
"a great big man. what wored clothes
like n gemmen, coined out wild whip
In his hand an says as how he's
'bliged to 'nounce anudder gal i'm Miss
Polly's place An den he says as how
de udder gal was jes' as good. an den
everybody look disappointed like, an
den out comes de udder gal on a boss
an do tricks. an amt heard no more
bout Miss Polly"
"She's sick. OATS what says" Man
dy declared excitedly, "an' somebody's
got to do somethln'!'
81 done, all l knowed." drawled Has
ty. fearing that Mandy was regretting
her twenty-five cent investment.
go long out an fix up dat ERE
kitchen fire." was Mandy's impatient
reply. Il got to keep dem vittels
warm for Massa John"
She wished to be alone, so that she
could think of some way to get hold
of Polly. Dat baby faced mornln'
glory done got Mandy all wobbly bout
de heart" she declared to herself as
she crossed to the window for a sight
of the pastor.
1t was nearly dark when she saw
him coming slowly down the path
from the hill. She lighted the study