The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-29
MRS. DOLBY's TALKS.
She Hears That the Deacon Went to a
Circus.

After supper Deacon Dolby had TO
go down to the grocery after a pack
age of yeast and two pounds OF sugar,
and as he had a feeling that some
thing might happen in his absence lie
hurried up a bit. At the postoffice he
received medical circular. and he had
that in one hand and the purchases in
the other as he reached home.
No Mrs. Dolby was there.
She hadn't even finished clearing of
the supper table.
Standing on the kitchen steps, the
deacon speered about him and thought
he made out her form standing on an
old chair and fastening a nOoSed rope
to the limb of an apple tree. He peer
ed until he was quite sure of 1t and
then entered the house and lighted the
lamp and sat down to the circular
"Does your head swim ~ 1t began
40 Won have blurred vision? Do you
have roaring in the head? Do You
have bad dreams? Does your back
ache? Do your knees wobble? DO
your ears witch? Have you thoughts
The deacon had just figured out that
he had all these things, and had 'en
bad when Mrs. Dolby entered the
room She was very pale Her ha-r
was loose and she had rope arouno
her neck. She came in very softly and
stood without speaking
Are YOU absentminded2" read the
deacon as he lowered his eyes to the
circular
81" 7ItT there a complete loss of appe-
tite?"
do you wake up at nights with a
He thought he did.
Samuel Dolby!"
Those words were not in the circu-
lar. but fell from the lips of mrs
Dolby. The deacon heard but gave no
sign. He knew there was more 10
come. go.
''Do you find yourself without amoi-
ton ?'' read the circular. Have you
lost your aims and given up your
plans? Do your friends notlce anu
sneak of the wonderful change in you :!
Is your former cheerful disposition
samuel I have just a. few words TO
saw to YOU before I go hence! Dutled
in Mrs. Dolby Had you been 10 min
utes later getting home I should have
heen hanging to a limb. I have put off
the hanging to say to you that your
vi1lainv is known While you we're
rome Mrs. Stanchfield came in ard told
me all about it. After what I've heard
there's nothing left for me but death!
The deacon did not intend to- he re
under the table at which he was sit
TING and tried to recall every incident
that had occurred in the last 10 years.
He could remember none that war
ranted his being sent to jail for over 20
days.
Samuel Dolby. three years ago this
month there was u circus over at L4iv-
erpool You didn't say one worc about
going On the contrary. you sad that
a person who would go showed a, de-
PRAYED character. Don't deny your
words, sir!"
'sThe deacon did not intend to. He re-
membered of saying something about
that cfrcus-something to its detriment
ssAnd that day you made an excuse
that you had got to go somewhere. and
you didn't get back until after dark
You said something about having been
away to look for a vinegar barrel l
didn't question you at all, but I saw
you grinning and smiling to yourself
several times
Mr.. Dolby turned back to the cir
cular and tried to read, but the letters
blurred. Whatever the ailmen. was he
surely caught it.
But where had you been. Samuel
where had you been2 To the circus!
Walked seven miles to the very circus
you had loaded with abuse and paid
your half-doIlar to go in And you got
a front seat and grinned and chuckied
and appla uded. and on your way nome
you told Sofas Comfort that if I was
dead you'd marry the woman VINO
walked the tight roper
That wasn't correct. and it ought to
have aroused the deacon to an indig-
nant denial but it DIDN'T. He was just
Mr. Comfort was that If Mrs. Dolby
was no more he'd follow that circus
FIR the next two weeks and try ID fin i
out whether the woman gripped the
wire with her toes or her heels.
Wei. I shall be dead in a few min