The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-01-28

going to the circus. Abigail's bitter
ness increased. She yearned to go to
the circus herself.
At last, when darkness settled over
Green lane and the cricket orchestra
was in full swing, Abigail arose with
determined air and walked around
her house to the woodshed. There
were no other houses In Green lane,
and she had the quiet little place to
herself. Deliberately she chose a
hatchet from the several that were
ranged along the wall and in the dark
ness tried its edge with her thumb.
Satisfied, she went out into the lane
and gained Hannah Payne's front yard.
Under the mulberry tree it was very
dark, and Abigail knelt down and ran
her fingers around the trunk until she
found place where she knew the bark
was rough and Scared. a horse had
nibbled the trunk when the tree had
been mere sapling.
Then, to the music of the circus band
playing down on the green, Abigail
after blow on the rough Scared place.
The hatchet was sharp, and her thin,
wiry arms were strong, and the blade
bit deep into the tree. A brisk north
west wind was blowing, and Abigail
had barely reached the heart Of the
tree when a hard gust came. There
was a splitting, cracking sound, and
she had scarcely reached a place of
safety before the mulberry tree crash
ed down, Aeaking the fence in its fall
As If suddenly impressed by the grav-
ity of the deed she had committed, Abb
gail Hodson stood for several moments
as if stunned. Then with frightened
glance around her she picked up her
skirts and scudded home again. No
guilty murderer could have cleaned the
telltale instrument more carefully than
did Abigail her hatchet after the fall
of the tree.
Then she hastily changed her dress,
locked her house and ran down Green
lane. Five minutes afterward she en-
tered the circus tent. Yes, for the first
time in her life Abigail Hodson went
to a circus.
Hannah Payne saw her and nearly
tumbed off her narrow seat. She
crushed the bag of peanuts she had
been consuming into her pocket and
craned her neck to see where her erst-
while friend would sit. Abigail took
seat directly opposite Hannah Payne.
All the people stared very hard when
Abigail came into the tent, because
they knew that her father and her
grandfather had disapproved of cir
cuses, and when the Hodsons disap'
proved Of anything their stubbornness
was quite as remarkable as that of the
Paynes.
Abigail Hodson broke all precedents
by entering the tent, and there was lit
tie doubt that her fellow church mem
bers would require an explanation. In
the meantime she must enjoy it if she
| could. for never again would she have
| the inspiration, provocation, despera'
tion-call it what you will-sufficient to
sustain her during such trying ordeal
Such was her excitement concerning
the mulberry tree that she did not en-
Joy the circus at all. The clowns ap
peared silly, the horses old and decrepit
compared to the graceful animals de
picted on the billboards; the lonely ele
phant looked muddy and ancient be
yond all belief; the performing dogs
were foolishly self conceited. This was
Abigail's estimate of her first circus.
When it was over she crowded for
ward to make her escape from friends
and acQuaintances who might have
seen her there and asked embarrassing
questions She was almost the frs
away down the street with feet tha
barely touched the ground. She made
up her mind that Hannah would CUES!
who had committed the deed, and she
Abigail, would not deny it. She would
stoutly maintain that the tree was {
Hannah Payne wanted to begin a sui
against her she could have the papers
served at any instant.
By this time Abigail had reached
Green lane and was toiling up it
steep incline. Ahead of her in thu
darkness she could see the darker bull
of the fallen tree, and as she reached i
she hesitated. Behind her there cam
hurried footsteps-thOse of Hannah
but Abigail was rooted to the spot. Sh
could not move an inch, no matter wha
happened.
Hannah Payne's voice came in ad
vance Of her spare figure. 'That you
Abigail HodsonT she queried sharply
yes" she said DULY.
"What's the matter? I know some
thing awful has happened; if ther
hadn't you wouldn't have been at tn
circus! What's the matter| pante
Hannah, approaching.
'You can get the sheriff. moane
Abigail
whats the matter? What's that?
almost screamed Hannah Payne, point
l. L r