The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-05-27

lie turned away. she chung 10 tns
rough brown sleeve. "Why, Jim, wher
/ lie In my little room up there a
night"-she glanced toward the win
dow above them-"and everything Il
peaceful and still think how II used
to be In the old days, the awful noise
and the rush of 1t ALL the cheerless
wagons, the mob In the tent the ring
with Its blazing lights, the whirlinl
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 the wheels
! in the plains Mt night, and the shrieks
/ of the animals, and then the parade,
the awful, awful parade, and ! riding
/ through the streets In tights, Jim
! tights" She covered her face to
I Shut out the memory. ~ couldn't go
back to It, Jiml just couldn't" She
turned away, her face still hidden In
her hands. He looked at her a long
while In silence.
81 didn't know how you'd come to
feel about It," he said doggedly.
"You aren't angry, JimT She
turned to him anxiously, her eyes
pleading for his forgiveness.
"AngryT he echoed, almost bitterly
II guess 1t couldn't ever come to that
atween you an me. III be all right"
He shrugged his great shoulders TITS
Just kinder sudden, that's all. You see
l never figured on givin' you up, an
when you said you wasn't comm back
1t kinder seemed as though | couldn't
see nothin' oil my life but long, dusty
roads an nobody In 'em. But It's all
right now, an III just be gettin' along
to the wagon"
"But, Jim, you haven't seen Mr..
Douglas" Polly protested, trying to
keep him with her until she could
think Of some way to comfort him.
"I'll look IN on him comm back"
said Jim, anxious to be alone with bis
disappointment. He was out Of the
gate before she could stop him.
Hurry back, won't you. Jiml III be
waiting for you" She watched him
going quickly down the road, his fists
thrust into his brown coat pockets and
his hat pulled over his eyes. L. did
not look back, as he used to do to wave
a parting farewell, and she turned to-
ward the house with troubled heart |
She had reached the lower step when
Strong and Elverson approached her |
from the direction Of the church
WAS that feller here to take you
back TO the circusT demanded Strong. |
She opened her lips to reply, but be.
fore she could speak Strong assured |
her that the. congregation wouldn't do
anything to stop her II she wished to
20. He saw the blank look on her
face I'VE amt tryiD' to pry into none
Of your private affairs" he explained,
"but my daughter saw you and that
there feller a-makin' up TO each other.
II you're calculatln' TO run away with
him you'll save heap Of trouble for
the parson by dom II quick"
''fhe parson"
you cant blame the congregation
for not wantin him TO keep you here
You got sense enough 10 see how II
looks. He'd see II, too, II he wasn't
Just plain bnllheaded Well he'd bet
ter get over his stubbornness right
now. II be don't wen get another min
lister. that's all"
another mlnisteri Youdont mean
II was clear enough now. She recalled
Douglas troubled look OF an hour ago
She remembered how be had asked II
she couldn't go away. IL was this that
he meant when be promised not 10
give her up. no matter what happened
In sn instant she was at the deaeon's
side pleading and terrified "You
wouldn't get another ministerl oh.
please. Deacon Strong, listen to me,
istenl You were right about jim He
did come 10 get me, and | am going
back TO the circus-only you won't
send Mr.. Douglas away, you WON'T
Say you WON'T" She was searching
bis eyes for mercy. 1T wasn't bis
'ault that kept staying on. lie didn't
fnow how TO get rid Of me. He did
ry. He tried only today
80 he's comm round sneered
Strong
Yes. yes and you won't blame him
my more, will your she buried on
InxIousiy "You1i lei him stay. 90
natter what be does. II ! promise 10
70 away and never. never come back
IgsinT'
u ain't holdln' no grudge agin him.
strong grumbled "iie talks pretty
ough sometimes. bu, hes been a good