Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-06-12

him." said Mandy.
"IIasty, whcrc have you been al
day" demanded Douglas severely
Hasty fumbIod with his hat nt
SPARED for time "Did yo' say whar's
been, sah?"
bats what he done asst yo'." Mandy
prompted thrcateningly.
81 bin 'CCivcd, Mars John" declared
Hasty solcmnly. Mandy snortcd in
credulouSIy. Douglas waited
"A gemmcn in de circus done tolC
me dis mawnin' dat eff | carry water
TO- de ELEPHANTS he'll let me in de cir
Gus 70 muffin an | make n 'grccmcnt
wild him. Mars John. did yo' ebbcr
seed an ELEPHANT drink" he asked,
rolling his eyes. John shook his head.
"Wcll, sab. he jcs' put dat trunk a
his'n into de pail jcs' once an swish
water gone"
Douglas laughed, and Mandy NUT.
tered sulenly.
"Well, sah," continued TASTY, II tote
water TO dem ELEPHANTS all day long,
an when | cum roun' to see de circus
| Lt ENlllllltll Nbll l lNl llt III aNll W i'll
| try to crawl under de tent dcy pulls
me out by de aigs an beats me-" He
| looked from one to the other, expect.
ing sympathy
Scarves you right" was Mandy'S
unfccling reply "If yos so anxious to
be a-tOtln' water. jcs' yo' come along
outside and tote some fo' Mandy"
IL can't do no mo- carryin', Mandy"
protested TASTY. "I's hurted in nah
arm"
"What hurt yo'"
"Tigcr."
"a tiger" exclaimed the women in
unison.
"Done chawcd it mos of" he de-
clarcd solemnly. Deacon Elyerson, he
seed it. an he says rs hurt bad"
deacon Elverson!" cried the spin
ster. Was Deacon Elverson at the
circuS?"
lie was in de lot a-tryin' to look
in, same as me-" Hasty answered in
nOcCntIy.
You'd better take TASTY into the
Kitchen" said Douglas to Mandy, with
dry smile. Hes talking too much
for wounded man"
Mandy disappeared with the dis
Sraced TASTY, advising him, with lin"
scoTn "to 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 OK
preston. Miss Perkins turned to the
pastor as though he were somehow to
blame for tie 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
TASTY had prepared for him. He
glanced ncrvously from one set face
to the other then coughcd behind his
hat.
"We'rc all very much interested in
the circus" said Douglas. Cant you
tell us about it,"
Il just went into the lot to look for
my SON" Stammered the deacon. IL
feared Peter had Straycd."
"Why, deacon" said Mrs. Willough-
by. 81 just stopped by your house
and saw Mrs. Elvcrson putting Peter
to bed"
The deacon was saved from further
embarrassment by an exclamation
from Julia, who had stayed at the
window. "Oh, look: something has
happened" she cried There's a
crowd. They are coming this way"
Douglas crossed quickly to JuIias
side and saw an excited mob collect
ing before the entrance to the main
tent He had time to discover no
more before Mandy burst in at the
door, painting with excitement and roll !
Ing her large, white trimmed eyebslls.
MARS John. little circus girl done |
fall off her hoss! she cried. Or !
Hartley say can dey bring her in
heah?"
"Of course" said Douglas, hurryine
outside.
There were Mortified EXPLANATIONS |
from the women, who were aghast at .
the idea Of a circus rider in the par
sonage. In their helpless Indignation !
they turned upon the little deacon. feel. ,
ing intuitivcly that he was ENJOYING !
the drama. EMERSON was retreating
toward the door when he was sudden !
Iy thrust aside by Douglas.
In the young pastors arms was Il
white, SpangIcd burden Of humanity,
her slender arm hung lifeless over his |
shoulder. The silk stocking was torn
from one bruised ankle; her hair fell
across her face, yelling it from the I'M
friendly glanCcs Of the women. Doug
las passed out Of sight up the stair.
way without looking to the right or
left followed by the doctor.
Mandy reached the front door In
time to push lack n crowd Of intrud.
rrs, She had barely closed the door
when 1t was thrust open by Jim.
"Wherc IL Shc?" he demanded.
"Go way rum hcre!" cried Mandy
rs her eyes unconsciously sought the
stairs.
jim followed the direction Of her
glance and cleared the steps at
bound. Mandy pursued him, muttering
nngrlly. Deacon Elverson. too. was
lbOut to follow when grim reminder
from Miss Perkins brought him around.
md he made for the door instead He
started back on opening it, for stand
ing on the threshold was n clown in
his grOtcsque makeup. His white
'lothcs were partially concealed by
arge travelling ulster held together by
me hnttOn In one hand he cnrrind q