The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-04-23
POLLY.
Of the
CIRCUS
BY MARGARET MAYO
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead and
Company

Inc sudden appearance or Hasty
proved diversion. He was looking
very sheepish.
~Hyar he is, Mars John; look at
hint" said Mandy.
"Hasty, where have you been all
day. demanded Douglas severely.
Hasty fumbled with his hat and
SPARED for time. did 70 say whar's
l been. sah?"
"Dat's what he done asst yo'." Mandy
prompted threateningly.
II bin 'ceived. Mars John" declared
Hasty solemnly. Mandy snorted In
credulously. Douglas waited.
"A gemmen in de circus done tole
me dis mawnin' dat ef carry water
To- de ELEPHANTS he'll let me in de cir
Gus, To- muffin. an l make a 'greemeni
wild him. Mars John, did yo' ebber
seed an ELEPHANT drink" he asked
rolling his eyes. John shook his head.
"Well, sab. he jes' put dat trunk q
his'n into de pail jes' once an'-swish-
water gone"
Douglas laughed, and Mandy NUT
tered sullenly.
"well, sah," continued Hasty, II tot,
water To- dem ELEPHANTS all day long
an when cum roun' to see de circus
de gemmen won't let me In. An wheI
try to crawl under de tent dey pull
me out by de laigs an beats me-" HI
A -nIs fn a
ing sympathy.
"Sarves you right" was Mandy
unfeeling reply. IF yo's so anxious 4
be a-totin' water. jes' 20 come alon'
outside and tote some TO- Mandy
Il can't do no mo- carryin'. Mandy.
protested Hasty. as hurried In NAL
arm
"what hurt yo'g"
| Tiger"
| "a tigerY' exclaimed the women 4
unison.
Done chawed II mos on" he d.
clared solemnly. Deacon Elyerson, b
seed IT. an he says Is hurt bad"
Deacon Elverson" cried the spin
ster. WAS Deacon Elverson at tb
circusT
| "He was in de lot. a-tryin' TO lool
In, same as me-" Hasty answered In
nocently.
You'd better take Hasty into tn
Kitchen said Douglas to Mandy. wit
dry smile. Hes talking too muc
for a wounded man."
Mandy disappeared with the dis
graced Hasty, advising him. with fin
scorn. ito get de tiger to chaw on hi
laIgs. SOS he wouldn't have 70 wal
no mo-"
The women gazed at each other wit
lips closed tightly. Elverson's b
havior was beyond their power Of e,
preston Miss Perkins turned to th
pastor as though he were somehow
blame for the deacon's backslldinI
but before she could find words to al
que the point the timid little deaco
appeared in the doorway. utterly NJ
conscious OF the hostile reception tbs
Hasty had prepared for him. II
glanced nervously from one set fac
TO the other. then coughed behind b
hat.
Were all very much interested
the circus" said Douglas. "Can't 20
: tell Us about itY'
Il just went into the lot to look Il
my son." stammered the deacon.
| feared Peter had gtrayedr
"why. deaconw said Mrs. wlllougl
by. Il Just stopped by your hou,
and saw Mrs. Emerson putting Pet
to bed"
The deacon was saved from turtle
o. embarrassment by an exclamatio
? from julia. who had stayed ut n
r window. "Oh. look: something hI
happenedw she cried. There's
q crowd. They are coming this way"
Douglas crossed quickly to julia
side and saw an excited mob collec
Ing before the entrance to the ma
tent. He had time TO discover Z
more before Mandy burst 10 at Il
door. painting with excitement and 70
ing her large. white trimmed eyeballs.
"Mars John. little circus girl do
fall on her hossr' she cried. II
!. Hartley say can dey bring her
beahT-
Il "of course" said Douglas, hurryiI
outside.
~ There were horrined erclamatlo
, from the women. who were aghast
Z the Idea Of a circus rider In the ~
\ sonage. In their helpless indignati
Z they turned upon the little deacon. Re
\ Ing intuitively that he was enjoyi
Z the drama. EMERSON was retrcati
! toward the door when he was sudds
z ly thrust aside by Douglas.
\ In the young pastors arms was
& white. spaDgled burden OF humani
, her slender arm hung lifeIess over
Z shoulder. The silk stocking was "a
= from one bruised ankle: her hair I
4 across her face, yelling Il from the ,
, friendly glances Of the women. DO,
4 las passed out Of sight up the sta
, way without looking to the right
& left, followed by the doctor.
\ Mandy reached the front door
& time 70 push back a crowd Of intr'
= ers. She bad barely cIosed the d
a