Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-07-06
lCoNTINUED.1

Nothing was said about the pastors
plans for the future or about his con-
tlnued connection with the church, and
the 1nquisitive sisterhood was on the
point Of exploding from an overac-
emulation Of unanswered questions.
He delivered his ssrmons conscicn-
tiously, called upon his poor, listened
to the sorrows, real and fancicd, of his
par1shioners and shut himself up with
his books or walked alone on the hill
behind the church.
He had been absent all day when
Mandy looked out on the circus lot
for the doZenth time and saw that the
AFTERNOON performance was closing. 1:
mad driven her to desperation to learn
that Miss Folly was not in the parade
that morning and to know that the
pastor had made no effort to find out
about her. For weeks both she and
Hasty had hoped that the return OF
the circus might bring Polly back to
them. but now it was nearly night
and there had been no word from her.
Why didn't she come running in to see
them. rs Mandy had felt so sure sho
would? Why had the pastor stayed
away on the hills Ill day?
Unanswered questions We're always
an Accumulation to Mandy, so finally
she drew quarter from the knotted
gtngham rag that held her small wad
Of savings and told IIasty to ''go long
to de show an find out bout Miss
Polly"
She was anXiously waiting for him
when Deacon Strong knocked ut the
door for the second time that after
noon.
us Mr. Douglas back yct?" he asked.
mo, sab, he amt" said Mandy very
shortly. She felt that Strong and Ell
version had been "a-tryin' to spy on de
parson all day." and she resented their
visits more than she usually did.
what time are you cxpectin' him."
II don't nebber spec Massa Doug
las till l sees him."
Strong grunted uncivilly and went
down the steps. She saw from the
window that he met Elverson in front
Of the church.
she mumbled.
The band had stopped playing; tina
last Of the audience had struggled
down the street. She opened the door
and stood on the porch; the house
seemed to suffocate her. What was
keeping IIasty?
He. came at last, but Mandy could
tell from his gait that he brought un-
welcome knews.
"Ain't she dar?"
"She's a-tra bbclin' wild 'em. Mandy,
but she didn't done ride"
''See heah, Hasty Jones, is dat ere
chile sick?'
II dom rightly know" said TASTY
"A great big man. what worcd clothes
like a gemmen, coined out wild whip
in his hand an says as how he's
obliged to 'nouncc anudder gal in Miss
Polly's place. An den he says as how
de udt@r cal was jes' as good, an den
everybody look disappointed like, an
den out comes de udder gal on a boss
an do tricks, an amt heard no more
bout Miss Polly"
"She's sick, OATS what says" Man
dy declared eXcitedly, IAN somebody's
got to do somethin'!"
II done all knowed," drawled Has
ty, fearing that Mandy was regretting
her twenty-five cent investment.
'Go long out an fix up dat ere
kitchen fire." was NIandy's impatient
reply. Il got to keep dem vittels
warm for Massa John.'
She wished to be alone, so that she
could think of some way to get hold
of Polly. dat baby faced mornin'
glory done got Mandy all wobbly bout
de heart" she declared to herself as
she crossed to the window for sight
of the pastor.
1t was nearly dark when she saw
him coming slowly down the path
from the hill. She lighted the study