Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-04-21
POLLY
Of the
CIRCUS
By MARGARFy MAYO
Copyright. 1905. by Ssdd- Mead and
Company

tuEueu 10 snap MS whip at the small
boys who had stolen into the back lot
to peek under the rear edge Of the
big top. She's been about as much
good rs sick cat since she come back
You saw her act last night"
Yes" answered Jim doggedly.
Wasn't 1t punk? She didn't show at
all this afternoon: said she was sick.
And me with all them people inside
what knowed her waitin' to see her.
"Give her little time" Jim pleaded.
.'She amt rode for year"
Time shouted Barker. How much
does she want? She's been back a
month, and instead Of braciu' up she's
a-gettin' worse. There's only one thing
for me to do"
whats that" asked Jim uneasily.
I'm goin' to call her. and call her
hard"
look here, Barker" and Jim squared
his shoulders as he looked steadily at
the other man, you're boss here, and
! takes orders from you, but IL |
catches you abusin' Poll your bein'
boss won't make no difference"
you can't bluff me-" shouted Barker.
Il amt bluftin'. I'm only tellin' you, -
said Jim very quietly.
"Well, you tell her TO get on to her
job. If she don't, she quits; that's ALL
He hurried into the ring.
Jim took one step TO follow him.
then stopped and gazed at the ground
with thoughtful eyes. He, too, had
seen the change in Polly. He had tried
to rouse her 1t was no use. She had
looked at him blankly. IF she would
only complain" he said to himself
IF she would only get mad, anything
anything to wake her." But she did
not complain. She went through her
daily routine very humbly and quietly
She sometimes wondered how jim
could talk so much about her work
but before she could answer the ques
ton her mind drifted back TO other
days, TO a garden and flowers. and jim
stole away unmissed and left her with
folded hand and wide. staring eyes
gazing into the distance.
The memory Of these times made
Jim helpless tonight lie had gone on
hoping from day to day that Barker
might not notice the "let down" in hel
work, and now the blow had fallen
How could he tell her?
One Of the acts came tumbling out
OF the main tent. There was mo
ment's confusion as clowns, acroba Is
and animals passed each other on their
way TO and from the ring; then the lot
cleared again, and Polly came slowly
from the dressing tent. She looked
very different from the little cir
whom Jim had led away from the par
sons garden In a simple white frocl
one month before. Her thin. pensivs
face contrasted oddly with her glitter
ing attire. Her hair was knotted higl
on her head and intertwined wifi
flowers and jewels. Her slender neck
seemed scarcely able to support it.
burden. Her short. full skirt and low
cut bodice were ablaze with whit,
and coIored stones.
whats on. JimY' she asked.
THE leap o death You got plent.
Of time"
Polly's mind went back to the cir
who answered that call a year ago
Her spirit seemed very near tonight
The band stopped playing. Barker
made his grandiloquent announcement
about the wonderful act about to bs
seen, and her eyes wandered to the
distant church steeple. The moonlight
seemed to shun 1t tonight. 1t looked
cold and grim and dark. She won
dered whether the solemn bell thai
once called It's flock to worship had
become as mute as her own dead heart
She did not hear the whir Of the great
machine inside the tent as II plunged
through space with Its girl occupant
These things were part Of the daily
routine, part OF the strange. vague
dream through which she must stun
BILE for the rest OF her life.
Jim watched her in silence. Her
face was turned from him. She had
forgotten his presence.
"star gain, Poll?" he asked a,
length, dreading to disturb her reverie
Il guess l was. jim" She turned to
him with little, forced smile. He
longed to save her from Barker's
threatened rebuke.
How you feelin' tonight?'
I'm all right" she answered cheer,
fully.
Anything you wantr'
want? She turned upon him with
startled eyes. There was SO much
that she wanted that the mere men.
ton OF the word had opened a well OF
pain In her heart.
II mean can L do anything for your
"Oh, Of course not" She remem-
bered how little any one could do.
what Is It, Poll?" he begged. but
she only turned away and shook her
head with q sigh. He followed her
with anxious eyes. what made you
cut out the show today? Was 1t be
cause you didn't want to ride afore
folks what knowed you-ride afOre
him mebbey"
"RimT Her face was white. Jim
feared she might swoon. "You don't
mean that he was