The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-04-15

SpungLed burden OF humanity.
ment in the youngsters face, but he
frightened again when the parson con
fessed that he "peeped.'
"a parson peepingr' cried the thin
::::pped Miss Perkins.
II was not a parson then" corrected
Douglas good naturally.
"You were going TO be-" persisted
the spinster.
It had to be boy first in spite OF
that fact"
proved a diversion. He was looking
very sheepish.
"Hyar he is, Mars John; look at
him. said Mandy.
''Hasty, where have you been all
day." demanded Douglas severely.
Hasty fumbled with his hat and
spared for time. did yo' say whar's
I been, sah:'
Oats what he done asst yo'," Mandy
prompted threateningly.
Il bin 'ceived, Mars john" declared
Hasty solemnly. Mandy snorted in.
"a gemmen in de circus done tola
me dis mawnin' dat eff I carry water
To- de ELEPHANTS he'll let me in de cir.
Gus fo' muffin, an l make 'greement
wild him. Mars John, did yo' ebbe1
seed an ELEPHANT drink?' he asked,
rolling his eyes. John shook his head.
"Well, sab, he jes' put dat trunk a
h se., int Il feI,
water gone"
Douglas laughed, and Mandy nut.
tered sullenly.
"We]l, sah," continued Hasty, 81 tote
water fo' dem ELEPHANTS all day long,
an when cum roun' to see de circus
de gemmen won't let me in. An when
I try to crawl under de tent dey pulls
me out by de laigs an beats me-" He
looked from one to the other, expect.
ing sympathy.
'Sarves you right" was Mandy's
unfeeling reply. eff yo's so anxious to
be a-totin' water, jes' yo' come along
outside and tote some fo' Mandy"
Il can't do no mo- carryin', Mandy, 81
protested Hasty. ''I's hurted in NAB
arm"
What hurt yo':"
Tiger"
"a tiger:'' exclaimed the women in
unison.
Done chawed it mos off," he de.
clared solemnly. deacon Elverson, he
seed it, an he says rs hurt bad"
Deacon Elverson.' cried the spin.
ster WAS Deacon Elverson at the
circus?"
He was in de lot, a-tryin' to look
in, same as me-" Hasty answered in
nocently.
You'd better take Hasty into the
Kitchen said Douglas to Mandy, with
dry smile. He's talking too much
for wounded man."
Mandy disappeared with the dis
sraced Hasty, advising him, with fine
scorn. ito get de tiger to chaw off his
laigs. SOS he wouldn't have to walk
no mo-"
The women gaZed at each other with
lips closed tightly. Elverson's be-
havior was beyond their power of ex-
preston. Miss Perkins turned to the
pastor as though he were somehow to
blame for the deacon's backsliding,
but before she could find words to ar.
que the point the timid little deacon
appeared in the doorway. utterly I'm.
conscious of the hostile reception that
Hasty had prepared for him. he
glanced nervously from one set face
to the other. then couched behind his
hat.
''We'reeall very much interested In
the circus" said Douglas. Cant YOU
tell us about it:''
Il just went into the lot to look fol
my SON. stammered the deacon. 50
feared Peter had strayed."
why. deacon said Mrs. willouch
by. Il just stopped by your house
and saw Mrs. EMERSON putting Pete,
TO bed"
The deacon was saved from furthe]
embarrassment by an exclamation
from Julia. who had stayed at tn,
window. "oh, look: something ha.
happenedr' she cried. There's
crowd. They are coming this way
Douglas crossed quickly to julia
side and saw an excited mob collect
ing before the entrance to the mai,
| tent He had time to discover n,
more before Mandy burst in at tn
door. painting with excitement and roll
ing her large. white trimmed eyebars.
Mars John. a LITTLE circus girl don
fall off her hosS.'' she cried ~,
Hartley say can dey bring her i
heah:"
"Of course" said Douglas. hurrxfn
outside
There were Mortified exclamation
: from the women, who were aghast q