Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1909-05-20

A. spring came on Douglas carried Polly
dotr,l to the sunlit garden.
make you come back. She's diHrunt
from u.s. he was allus a-sayin'. \
never spected to keep err"
Douglas stopped. Polly was waiting.
her face white and drawn. lie had
not told her Of Toby's letter because
with It had come request to SAY
nothin' ter the kid
He felt that Polly was controlling
herself with an effort until he should
reach the end Of Jim's letter, 20 he
hurried on.
The parsons promise didn't get to
him none too quick" he read. "That
seemed to be what he was waitin' for.
He give up the night It come. an l
got him little room In a hotel after
the show an let one of the other fei-
lers get the stun out o town, sos l
could stay with him up to the finish.
Il come round mornin'. There wasn't
much to it-he Just seemed tired an
peaceful-like. I'm glad he wrote what
b did, he said, meanin' the parson.
She knows. she allus knows he whis-
pered, meanin' you, Poll, an then he
was on his way. He'd already give
mo what was saved up for you. an
I'm sendin' 1t along with this A
blue money order for $3.50 had flut-
tered from the envelope when Douglas
opened It.
Il got everything ready afore 1 went
on the next day, an went up an
saw the little spot on the hill where
they was goln' to stow him. 1t looked
kinder nice. an the digger's wife said
she'd put some flowers on 1t now an
then. 1t was you what made me think
o that. Poll. cause 1t seemed to me
what you would a done. You was al
lus 30 dafIy about flowers. you an
him.
II guess this letters too long for me
to be a-sayin' much about the show,
but the 'leap-a death girl got her'n
last week. She wasn't strong enough
for the Job nohow. l done what !
could for her outside the show, cause
I knowed how you was allus a-feelin'
bout her. guess the 'leap-a- deaths
husband is goin' to jump his job soon.
if he gets enough saved up, cause him
an Barker can't hit 1t on no more.
We got good deal o. trouble among
the animals too. None o. the snakes
Il sheddin' like they ought to. an
Jumbo's a-carryin' sixteen foot band
age around that trunk o his'n cause
be got too fresh with Yrixy's grub tho
other night. an the new giraffe's got
the Group In that seven foot neck o
his'n. guess you'll think got the pip
Tor fair this time. so Ill just get on to
myself now an cut this short. Ill bs
writin' you ag'in when We hit Morgan
town.
"YOUR OLD MUvvER JIM"
Douglas laid the letter gently on tho
table, his hand still resting upon 1t. He
looked helplessly at the little. shrunk-
en- figure in the opposite chair. Polly
had made no sound. but her head had
slipped lower and lower, and she now
sat very quietly with her face In her
hands. She had been taught by Toby
and Jim never to whimper.
what a plucky lot they are"
thought Douglas as he considered these
three lonely souls, each accepting
whatever fate brought with no rebel
lion or even surprise. 1t was strange
world Of stoics In which these chill
dren Of the amusement arena fought
and lost. They came and went like
phantoms, with us little consciousness
Of their own best interests as OF the
great, moving powers Of the world
about them. They felt no throes OF
envy, no bitterness. They loved and
worked and went their way"
For once the pastor was powerless
IN the presence Of grief. Both he and
Mandy left the room quietly. feeling
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