Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-01-30

Koing to me circus. Abigails bitter
ness increased. She yearned to so to
the circus herself.
At last, when darkness settled over
Green lane and the cricket orchestra
was in full swing, Abigail arose with
n 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
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 1t 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. horse had
nibbled the trunk when the tree had
been a mere sepling.
Then. to the Inusic of the circus band
playing down on the green, Abigail
Hodson smote the mulberry tree blow
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, breaking the fence in its fall.
As If suddenly impressed by the grav-
ity of the deed she had committed, Abb
gail Hcdson stood for several moments
as II 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 Ratchet 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 q circus.
Hannah Payne saw her and nearly
tumbled of 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 men,
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-sufacient TO
sustain her during such trying ordeal.
Such was her excitement concerning
the mulberry tree that she did not en-
10y 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 1t was over she crowded for
ward to make her escape from friends
and acquaintances who might have
seen her there and asked embarrassing
one to leave the tent. and she sped
away down the street with feet that
barely touched the ground. She made
up her mind that Hannah would guess
who had committed the deed, and she.
Abigail. would not deny it She would
stoutly maintain that the tree was a
nuisance-a public nuisance-and if
Hannah Payne wanted to begin suit
against her she could have the papers
served at any instant.
BY this time Abigail had reached
Green lane and was toiling up its
steep luC1luc- auSsiU VI AcI III Tue
darkness she could see the darker bulk
of the fallen tree. and as she reached it
she hesitated Behind her there came
hurried footsteps-those of Hannah
but Abigail was rooted TO the spot She
could not move an inch, no matter what
happened.
Hannah Payne's voice came In sd-
vance of her spare figure That you.
Abigail HodsonY' she queried sharply.
"Yes," she said duly.
What's the matter? I know some
thing awful has happened; II there
hadn't you wouldn't have been at the
circus. What's the matter?' painted
Hannah, approaching.
"You can get the sheriff" moaned
Abigail.
whats the matter? What's that?"
almost screamed Hannah Payne, point
ing TO the fallen tree.
Il cut down your mulberry tree. You
better so get the sheriff." persisted
Abigail family.