The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-11-14
was always hoping to run across o clue

DOlI, you can Imagine uo" lit'ie
was! We had about a dozen small
shows in our company, fortune-tellers,
minstrels, magic wonders, and all that
and the band had to march from one
tent to the next, and stand out in front
and play, to get the crowd in bunch,
so the free exhibition could work on
their nerves And I'd beat away, in
my red coat and there were
always the strange faces, staring, star
ing-but l was so little! Sometimes
they would smile at me, but mother
had taught me never to speak to any
one, but to wear a glazed look like
this"
How frightfully cold!" Abbott
shivered. Then he laughed, and SO did
Fran. They had entered Littleburg.
He added wickedly: "And how dread
fully near we are getting to your
home"
Fran gurgled. Wouldn't Grace Noir
lust die if she could see us!"
That sobered Abbott; considering
his official position, 1t seemed high
time for reflection.
Fran resumed abruptly. But new
; er really liked it because what want
ed was a home-to belong to some
body. 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. l hated the public. ]
4 wanted to get away from the world
clear away from everybody
like am now with you. ism
it great!"
( MAMMOTH" Abbott declared, wa
T tering her words with liberal magma
ton.
II 81 must talk fast. or the Gregory
l. house will be looming up at US
g Mother taught me all she knew, though
v she hated books; she made herself
g think she was only in the show life
a. till she could make little more-al
u WAYS lust little more-she reall!
u loved it, you see. But loved tn
y books-study-anything that WASH
~ the show. 1t was kind Of friendl.
Il when began feeding Samson"
le "Poor little Nonpareil!" murmuret
~ Abbott wistfully.
&c "And often when the show was be
ing unloaded. I'd be stretched out i
=, our sleeper, with school book presse
" close to the cinder-specked window
p, catching the first light. When tn
mauls were pounding away at the ten
pins. maybe I'd hunt seat on som
~ cage, if it had been drawn up under
tree. OF maybe it'd be the ticket wal
ng IN or even the stake pile-there you
Oh see me studying away for dear LII
er dressed IN a plain little dress, tryin
as IN look like ordinary folks. Such
queer little chap, ] was-and AWAY
b trying to pretend that | wasn'
4 You'd have laughed to see me-"
4 "Laughed at you!" cried Abbott
4 dignantly. Indeed shouldn't"
"A "No?" exclaimed Fran, patting n
"a arm impulsiyely.
4 Dear little wonderl' he return'
9 conclusively.
@ az must tell you about one time" 81
a continued gaily. I'VE were IN NE
IA Orleans at the Mardi Gras, and ! W
81 axnected to come into the ring ridll
d comson-not the vicious old lion, D
!, cub-that was long after my days
the drum and the red coat, bless 20
was a lion-tamer, now, nearly ID
teen years old, If you'll believe n
Well And what was | saying-y
keen looking so friendly, you make
forget myself. Goodness, Abbott,
so much fun talking to you
I've never mentioned all this to Q
soul in this town we'll
YES. / was to have come into the RI
riding Samson. Everybody was WI
ing for me. The band nearly blew
self black In the face. And what
ireo YOU think was the matter"
did Samson balk?"
, 90 "No It wasn't that. | was lying
,ean the cage floor, with my head on 81
La son-samson the Second made sue
Their gorgeous and animated pillow!---an
man was learning geology. I'd just fo'
ora. ont that the world wasn't made In
II en- United States days, and 1t
had such surprising news that I'd for
more ten all about cages and lions and te
she III you could have seen me y
e to there-if you just could"
the "But / can!" Abbott decla
lion. "Your long black hair is mingled y
med. his tawny name. and your cheeks
who blooming"
The "And my feet are crossed" G
ot to Fran.
Q us, "And your feet are crossed;