The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-04-23

his head from side to side, WATCHING
the singing clown, who rolled up the
painted carcass and long neck of the
imitation giraffe from which two prop
erty men had just slipped. their legs
sui lncased in stripes.
Ambitious canvasmen and grooms
Were exercising, feet in air, in the
nope or some day getting into the nor.
FORMERS ring. Property men stoIa q
minutes sleep IN the soft warm ORC GO
while they waited for more taclrIa 80
load In the wagons. Children OF tho
performers wers swinging ON the tent
ropes Chattering monkeys sat astride
the Shetland ponies, awaiting their en-
trance to the ring. The shrieks of the
hyenas in the distant animal tent, the
roaring Of the lions and the trumpet
ing Of the elephants mingled with the
incessant clamor Of the band. And
back Of all this, pointing upward In
mute protest, rose a solemn church
spire. white and majestic against a
vast panorama Of blue, moonlit hills
that encircled the whole lurid picture.
Jim's eyes turned absently toward the
church as he sat fumbling with the
lock of the little brown satchel.
He had gone from store to store in
the various towns where they had
played looking for something to in
spire wonder in the heart of miss
newly arrived at her sixteenth year.
Only the desperation Of a last moment
had forced him to decide upon the imi-
tation alligator bag, which he now
held in his hand.
1t looked small and mean to him as
the moment Of presentation approach
ed. and he was glad that the saIeswo-
man in the little country store had
suggested the addition Of ribbons and
laces, which be now drew from the
pocket Of bis corduroys He placed
his red and blue treasures very care
fully in the bottom Of the satchel and
remembered with regret the strand OF
coral beads which ho had 30 nearly
bought to go with them.
he opened the large property TRUNK
by his side and took from It a laundry
box which held a little tan coat that
was to be roby's contribution to the
birthday surprise. He was big hearted
enough to be glad that Toby's gift
seemed fine and more useful than his.
1t was only when the leap Of death"
act preceding Polly's turn was an
nounced that the big fellow gave up
feasting his eyes on the satchel and
coat and bid them away in the big .
property trunk. She would be out In
a minute. and these wonders were not .
to be revealed to her until the close
Of the nights performance.
Jim put down the lid of the trunk .
and sat upon H. feeling like a criminal
because be was hiding something
from POlly.
His consciousness of guilt was In
creased as he recalled how often aba
had forbidden Toby and himself to
rush into reckless extravagapces for
her sake and how she had been more
nearly angry than he had ever seen
her when they had put their months
together to buy her the span
gled dress for her first appearance. II
lau LaAtA EItdA many alohokANo an
promises as 90 their future behavior
to calm Der. and now they had again
her It would be a great re-
lief when tonight's ordeal was over.
Jim watched Polly uneasily as she
came fror the dressing tent and stop
ped TO gaze at the nearby church stee-
pie. The ncongruity OF the slang that
soon came from her delicately formed
lips was bst upon him as she turned
her eyes Inward him.
say. In" she said. with a western
drawl. Items n funny lot Of guys
what goe to them church places. amt
theyT'
Most tTerybody has got some kind
Df a bug Jim assented. II guess they
ion't o.auch harm"
"'Meuiler the time you took me into
Dne Of than places to get me Outa the ,
-sin. the Sunday our wagon broke
Town? Veil. that bunch we butted
INTO wouhn't "a give Sells Bros. 10
,ause feI worry with that chow a