Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-07-17

back?"
scious. A year ago she would have
said "You bet" He looked at her
awkwardly. She hurried on: "Hasty
told me you were showing in Wake
field I knew you'd come to see me
How's Barker and all the boysT She
stopped with catch in her throat and
added more slowly, 81 suppose every
things different now that Toby is
/. gone" s8 E s thssN
"Hed "a liked to seen you afore he
cashed in" Jim answered. but maybe
, 1t was just as well he didn't. You'd
hardly "a knowed him toward the last.
he got so thin an peeked like. Tie.
wasn't the same after we lost you
nobody was. not even Bingo."
"Have you still got Bingo?" she ask
ed, through her tears.
yep, we got him." drawled Jim.
"but he amt much good no more
None of the other riders can get used
to his gait like you was. There amt
nobody with the show what can touch
you ridin; there never will be. Say,
mebbe you think Barker won't let out
a yell when he sees you comm back"
Jim, was jubilant now, and he let out
a little yell Of his own at the mere
thought Of her return. He was toe
excited to notice the look on Polly's
face. "roby had a notion before he
died that you was never a-comin'
back, but I told him I'd change all
that once I seen you, an when Bar
ker sent me over here today to look
arter the advertisin he said he guess
ed you'd had all you wanted o. church
folks. .Jes' you bring her along to
Wakefield he said. AN tell her that
her place Is waitin' for her. an will
too" He turned upon Polly with sud
den decision. why. feel Jes' like
pickin' you up in my arms an carryn
you right Off now"
"Wait, Jim"' She put one tiny hand
ON his arm to restrain him. t
~ don't ''rneanAnot-today-
he stammered uncertainty, but Wen
be back here a-showin' next month"
Don't look at ME now," Polly an
swered as the doglike eyes searched
her face, because | have to SHY some
thing that is going to hurt you. Jim"
you're comm, amt you. Pon?'
The big face was wrinkled and care,
worn with trouble.
mo, JIM" she replied In a tone so
low that he could scarcely hear her.
You mean that you amt never
comm back?' He tried to realize
what such decision might mean to
him.
'No, JIM" she answered tenderly
for she dreaded the pain that she must
cause the great, good hearted fellow
"You mustn't care like that,' she
pleaded, seeing the blank desolation
that had come into his face. at isn't
because don't love you just the same
and it was good of Barker to keep my
place for me, but 1 cant go back
He turned away. She chung to tn,
rough brown sleeve. "W;hy, Jim, when
l lie In my little room up there at
night"-she glanced toward the win.
dow above them-"and everything l.
peaceful and still thiuk how it used
to be in the old days, the awful noise
and the rush of 1t all, the cherries
wagons, the mob in the tent. the ring
with its blazing lights, the whirline
round and round on Bingo and the
hoops, always the hoops. till my head
got dizzy and my eyes all dim, and
then the hurry after the show, and the
heat and the dust or the mud and the
rain, and the rumble of tho wheels
in the plains at night. and the shrleks
of the animals, and then the parade,
the awful, awful parade, and l riding
through the streets In tights, jim
tightsr, She covered her face to
shut out the memory. 81 couldn't go
back to 1t, Jim! just couldn't" She
turned away, her face still hidden in !
her hands. He looked at her long
while In silence.
~ didn't know how you'd come to |
feel about It," he said doggedly.
you aren't angry, Jim?" She
turned to him anxiously. her eyes
pleading for his forgiveness.
.Angryr he echoed. almost bitterly.