Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-06-25

lrbNuE was, NOT even lblnSO.
"IIave You still got Bingo?" she ask
cd. through her tears
Yep. we got him." drawled Jim.
but he amt much good no more.
None Of the other riders can get used
t. his gait Ike you was. There amt
nobody with the show what can touch
YOU rldin': there never will be. Say.
mcbbc you think Barker won't let out
yell when he sees you comm back"
jim was iub!lant now, and he let out
thought Of her return. He was too
excited to notice the lOol, on Polly's
face. Toby had a notion before he
died that you was never n-comin'
back. but | told him I'd change all
that once seen you. an when Bar
kcr sent me over here today to look
AFTER 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 I Will
too" He turned upon Polly with sud
t4f4i wv iSI'ii W ny Avn JCo iAht
Iickin' you up III my arms an carryin'
YOU right of now"
Wait, jim" she put one tiny hand
on his arm 10 restrain him.
Il don't mean not-today- mebbe."
he staInmcred uncertainty, but We'll
be back here a-Showin' next month"
Don't look ut me now," Polly an
sWcrcd 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, PollY
The big face was wrinkled and care
worn with trouble.
NO. Jim" she replied In tone so
low that he could scarcely hear her.
You mean That you amt never
comm back:" He tried to realize
what such decision might mean to
him.
NO. 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
bc-aGSc don't love you just the same.
! AID it vas good of Barker to keep my
place for me. but | can't go back"
lie turned away. She clung to the
rough brown sleeve. why, Jim, when
| lie in my little room up there mt
niEht"-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
ana 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 Binco and the
hoops. always the hoops, till my head
got dizzy ard 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 ut night. and the shrieks
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
shut out the memory. Il couldn't 20
back to it. Jim, just couldn't" She
turned away. her face still hidden in
her hands. He looked ut her Il long
while in silence
Il didn't know how you'd come to
feel about IT," he said doggedly.
You aren't angry. JIM" She
turned to him anXiously. her eyes
pleading for his forgiveness.
Angry" he echoed, almost bitterly.
Il guess 1t couldn't ever come to that
htween you an me. I'll be all right"
lie shrugged his great shoulders. Its
!1St 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 rs though | couldn't
see nothin' all my life but long, dusty
roads an nobody in EN- But IT'S all
right now, an I'll just be gettin' along
to the wagon"
"Rut. 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.
I'll 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
Il 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 Won
pack 10 the circus?' demanded Strong.
She opened her lips to reply, but be.
fore she could speak Strong assured
her that the congregation wouldn't do
anything To stop her If she wished to
go. lie saw the blank look on her
lace. I'VE amt tryin' to pry into none
or your private affairs" he explained
but my daughter saw you and that
there Teller a-makin' up to each other
II you're calculatin' to run away with
MN you'll save n heap Of trouble for
the parson by doin' it quick"
The parsonw
You cant blame the congregation
for not wantin' him to keep you here.
lou got sense enough to see how n
looks. He'd see IT. too, II he wasn't
just plain bullheaded Well, he'd bet
ter get over his stubbornness right
now. If he don't we'll get another min.
lister; that's ALL"
Another minister? on'tmean"-
1t was clear enough now. She recalled
Douglas troubled look Of IN hour AGO
She remembered how he had asked n
she couldn't go away. 1t was this that
he meant when he promised not TO
give her up. no matter what happened
In an instant she was at the deacon's
side pleading and terrified. "You
wouldn't get another minister. Oh
please. Deacon Strong. listen to me.
ilsteh! You were right about Jim. He