The Springdale news., 1909-07-30

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. .Iim?' she asked.
 ."The leap O death You got plenty of time" "
 Pollys mind went back to the girl who answered that call q 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 it tonight. II looked cold and grim and dark. She won dered whether the solemn bell that once called it's flock t0 worship had become aS mute as her own dead heart. She did not hear the whir of the great machine inside the tent as il plunged through space with its girl occupant. These things were part If the daily routine. part of the strange. vague  hle fer the rest of her fife.
 Jim watched her in silence. Her face was turned from him. She had forgotten his presence.
 Star gain. PolIF" he asked at length. dreading to disturb her reverie. .I guess I was Jim. She turned to him with a little. forced smile. He
 Do. rf.- threatened rebuke.
 How you feelin' tonightf'
 "Im all right" she answered cheer fully,
 Anything you want Y
 "WantY" She turned upon him with startled eyes. There was so much that she wanted that the mere men tiop of the word had opened a well of pain in her heart.
 "I mean can l do anything for your "Oh. of course not She remem- bered how little any one could do.
 What Is 1t. Pollg' he begged, but she only turned away and shook her head with sigh. He followed her with anxious eyes. What made you cut out the show todayi Was 1t be cause you didn't want to ride afore folks what knowed yon-ride afore him mebbef''
 "Him?" Her face was white. Jim feared she might swoon. You don't mean that he was "0h. no," he answered quickly. 'ot
 
 places like this one l was only figur- In that you didn't want other folks to see an to tell him how you was rid in'''' She did not answer
 "Was that 1t. Poll:" he urged
 .'I don't know" She stared into space Was II ??
 T guess 1t was she said after long time.
 T knowed it.' he cried. "I was a fool to a brung you back, You don't belong with us no mere.''
 "Oh. don't. Jim. Don't Don't make me feel I'm in the way here too,''
 Here tooE" He looked at her in as tonishment You wasn't in his way was you, Pollf"
 les dllll. SHe SdN HIS iooh O1 un= belief and continued hurriedly. oh. l tried not to be. tried so hard He used to read me verses out of Bible about my way being his way and my people his people, but 1t isn't so, Jim Your way Is the way you are born, and your people are the people you are born with, and you can't change it. Jim. no matter how hard you try
 You was changin' it." he answered savagely You was gettin' jes' like them people It was me what took you away an spoiled it all You oughtn't to "a come. What made you after you said you weuldn't?'
 She did not answer. Strange things were going through the mind of the slow witted Jim. He braced himself for a difficult question.
 "Wil you answer me somethin' straight" he asked.
 Why, of course" she said as she met his gaze.
 Do you love the parson, PoIlY
 She started
 ''ls that it?"
 Her lids nuttered and closed; she caught her breath quickly, her lips apart, then looked far into the dis tance.
 "Yes, Him. I'm afraid that's it The i little figure dropped. and she stood be i fore him with lowered eyes, unarmed. Jim looked Ut her helplessly, then 1 shook his big, stupid head.
 Amt that h-l?'
 It seemed such a short time to Jim since be had picked her up, cooing babe. at her dead mothers side. He watched the tender, averted face. Things had turned out so differently from what he had planned.
 An he don't care about you-like thatfs he asked after a pause.
 No not in that way" She was anx- ious to defend the pastor from even the thought of such a thing. He was good and kind always, but he didn't care that way. He's not like that.
 q toll l.f