The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-20

be a.totin' water, tes' 20 come along
outside and tote some fo' Mandy"
81 can't do no mo- carryin'. Mandy.
protested Hasty. ''I's hurried in NAL
arm"
What hurt yo'r
"Tiger."
"a tigerT exclaimed the women III
unison.
Done chawed 1t mos on" he de
clared solemnly. "Dearon Elverson, h.
seed it, an he says rs hurt bad"
Deacon Elverson% cried the spin
ster. "was Deacon Elverson at til,
circusT"
"He was in de lot. a.tryln' to looS
in, same as me-" Hasty answered in
nocently.
You'd better take Hasty into the
Kitchen" said Douglas to Mandy, witt
dry smile. Hes talking too muc'
for a wounded man,"
Mandy disappeared with the dis
grnced Hasty. advising him. with fnr
scorn. ito get de tiger to chaw OF b!
laigs, SOS he wouldn't have to walk
no mo-"
The women gazed at each other with
lips closed tightly. Elverson's bc
havlor was beyond their power of e.
preston. Miss Perkins turned to the
pastor as though he were somehow tc
blame for the deacon's backslldlng
but before she could find words to mr..
que the point the tlmid little deacon
appeared in the doorway. utterly un-
conscious of the hostile reception tina:
Hnsty had prepared for him. He
glanced nervously from one set face
to the other. then coughed behind his
hat.
We're all very much Interested in
the circus" said Douglas. Cant you
tell US about itT'
II Just went into the lot to look for
my son." stammered the deacon. ~
feared Peter had strayed."
"Why. deacOnT said Mrs. Wilouch.
by. 81 just stopped by your house
and saw Mrs. Elverson 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 Julla's
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 eyebaTs.
Mars John, little circus girl done
fall of her hoss" she cried. "Dr
Hartley say can dey bring her in
heah?"
"of course" said Douglas, hurryinr
outside.
There were Mortified EXPLANATIONS
from the women, who were aghast nj
the idea Of circus rider in the par.
sonage. In their helpless Indignation
they turned upon the little deacon feel.
ing intuitivGly that he was ENJOYING
the drama. ElVerson was retreatinc
toward the door when he was sudden.
" thrust aside by Douglas.
In the young pastors arms was a
white. spangled 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 1t from the un.
friendly glances 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 back n crowd Of intrud.
ers. She had barely closed the door
when 1t was thrust open by Jim.
Where is shG?" he demanded.
Go way FUN here!" cried Mandy
as her eyes unconsciously sought the
stairs.
Jim followed the direction of her
glance and cleared the steps at a
bound. Mandy pursued him. mutterine
angrily. Deacon Elverson, too, was
about to follow when n grim reminder
from Miss Perkins brought him around,
and he made for the door instead. He
started back on opening It, for stand.
Ing on the threshold was n clown In
his groteSQue makeup. His white
clothes were partially concealed by n
large travelling ulster Yield together by
one button. In one hand he carried n
small leather satchel, in the other n
girls sailor hot. A little tan coat was
thrown across his arm. The giggles Of
the boy hiding behind his mothers
skirt were the only greetings received
by the trembling old man In the door.
way.
He glanced uncertainty from one nm.
friendly face 10 the other, waiting for
a word Of invitation to enter, but none
came.
Excuse me-" he said. ~ just
brought some Of her little things. She'd
better put on her coat when she goes
out. It's gcttIn' kinder chilly"
He looked again into the blank
faces. Still no one spoke. He stepped
forward, trembling with anxiety. A
sudden fear clutched at his heart, the
muscles of his face worked pitlfully,
the red painted lips began to CULVER.
at ain't-it amt that, is it?" he fal-
tered, unable to utter the word that
filled him with horror.
Even Miss parEins uroc rnopoanko ri,