The Washington herald., 1913-04-06

really liked it because what | wanted
was a-home-to belong to somebody
living that way in a travelling car
going to sleep in the rattle of pulling
| down tent seats and the roar of wild
animals, and waking Up with the hot
sun glaring into your eyes, and the
smell of weeds coming in through your
berth window + it made me want
| to be fastened to the ground, like a
tree Then | got to hating the bold
, stare of peoples eyes, and their fool
ish gaping mouths, | hated being al
ways on exhibition with every gesture
watched, as if I'd been one of the
trained dogs. | hated the public.
wanted to get away from the world
clear away from everybody like
| am now - with you. Isn't il
great! ~
Mammoth - Abbott declared, water
ing her words with liberal magma
! ton.
Il must talk fast, or the Gregory
house will be looming up at us
Mother didn't want ME to like that
life, maybe that was another reason
she was always talking about how
we'd settle down some day in a place
, of our own, where we'd know the peo-
pie on the other side of the fence-and
quit being wonders. But looks like !
can't manage IT.
Some people are born wonders" re-
marked Abbott
Yes" Fran acquiesced, Il guess ]
| was Mother taught me all she knew,
though she hated books she made her
self think she was only in the show
life till she could make a little more
always just little more-she really
! loved it, you see. But | loved the
books-study-anything that wasn't the
show 1t was kind of friendly when ]
began feeding Samson"
Abbott wistfully.
And often when the show was be-
ing unloaded, I'd be stretched out in
our sleeper, with a school book pressed
close to the cinder-specked window
catching the first light. When the
mauls were pounding away at the tent
pins. maybe I'd hunt seat on some
cage, if it had been drawn lip under a
tree. or maybe it'd be the ticket wagon
or even the stake pile-there you'd see
me studying away for dear life, dressed
in a plain little dress, trying to look
like ordinary folks. Such a queer little
chap, | was-and always trying to pre-
tend that | wasn't! You'd have laugh
ed to see me-"
Laughed at YOU" cried Abbott in
dignantly. Indeed | shouldn't"
No" exclaimed Fran, patting his
arm impulsively.
Dear little wonder!' he returned
conclusively.
Il must tell you about one time,
she continued gayly. 1--WE were in New
Orleans al the Mardi Gras, and | wa;
expected to come into the ring riding
! Samson-not the vicious old lion, but
cub-that was long after my days OF
/ the drum and the red coat, bless you.
| was a lion-tamer, now, nearly thir-
teen years old, if you'll believe me
Well! And what was | saying-yor
keep looking SO friendly, you make me-
forget myself. Goodness, Abbott, its
so much fun talking to you y I've
never mentioned all this to one SOU
in this town Well-oh, yes;
was to have come into the ring, riding
! Samson. Everybody was waiting fol
me. The band nearly blew itself black
in the face. And what do you think
was the matter?"
Did Samson balk?"
mo, it wasn't that | was lying or
the cage floor, with my head on Sam
son-Samson the second made such q
gorgeous and animated pillow-and
| was learning geology. I'd just found
%Ia 10 a.,
seven United States days, and it was
such surprising news that I'd forgot
ten all about cages and lions and tent:
If you could have seen me lying
there-if you just could"
But | CAM Abbott declared. "Youl
long black hair is mingled with hi:
tawny name, and your cheeks are
blooming"
And my feet are crossed" cried
Fran.
And your feet are crossed; anc
those little hands hold up the book,
Abbott swiftly sketched in the details
land your bosom is rising and falling
and your lips are parted-like now
| showing perfect teeth"
Dressed in my tights and fluffy lace
and jewels" Fran helped, with bare
arms anu stars all in my hair
But the end came to everything When
when mother died Her last word:
were about my father-how she hoped
some day I'd meet him, and tell hin
she had forgiven. Mother sent ME tc
her half-uncle N.Y.! but that wa:
mighty unpleasant" Fran shook hel
head vigorously. "He began telling m,
about how mother had done wrong il
marrying secretly, and he threw it III
to me and just told him. y y Blu
he's dead now. l had to go back tt
the show-there wasn't any other place
But few months ago I was of age
and | came into Uncle Ephraim
property, because | was the only liv
ing relation he had, so he couldn'
help my getting it. I'll bet he's mad
now, that he didn't make a will
| When he said that mother-it dom
matter what he said-I just walked on
of his door, that time, with my heat
up high like this. = Oh, goodness
we're here"
They stood before Hamilton Greg
ory's silent house
Good night" Fran said hastily
| ITS mistake to begin long stor,
on a short road. My! But wasn't tina
a short road, thought"
| Some time, you shall finish tina
story, Fran. | know of road mucl
longer than the one we've taken-w,
might try it some day, if you say so.
Il do say so. What road is ~it?"
q Il