Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-11

And then, the wonder of wonders for
Eva. into the ring bounded the clown.
Oh, but he was funny! and oh, the
rapturous delight Of Eva and the out
side audience, as Napoleon Bonaparte
came upon the scene. the gifted, trick
mule who chased his master I'm n cir
Gle. toppled him over the ropes, threw
him off his bac': and danced about
him on his own hind feet
Never was so much del hit crowded
into the space OF single hour. and
the child wonder Of the white ponies
came into the room where Eva was,
and kissed her, and presented her
with great overlooking bag Of pea
nuts. pop corn and candy. and the
clown made speech 10 Eva's "actOr"
friends. and the air rang with the ac-
carnations Of the Juvenile group.
$50 you're back from your grand
philanthropic excursion. are your"
hailed the ringmaster, as the clown
reappeared on the circus grounds.
"Yes. what's your interest, Espey?"
challenged the clown keenly. "Say.
you're not by any means the gruff old
bear you pretend To be- and If you had
seen all the good little attention 10
the poor and lowly has worked out.
you'd come out of that close shell Of
yours. Look here, I've given pass
TO that odd dozen amateur actors for
tomorrow night. See that it's hon
ored. viii your
"What about the six dollars and fifty
cents? OF course YOU got that"
"Sure did" acknowledged the open
hearted clown frankly. "and added rs
much more To IL. and donated the
whole of II 10 buy an invalid chair for
the little miss" and then he was quite
amazed nj the persstency of the ring
master in betraying an interest in de-
tails Of the incident Of the afternoon.
even to the location of the Widows
home.
At dusk that evening Gurdon Espey
left the circus grounds after carefully
placing bank note in an envelope. He
sought out the scene of the amateur
circus OF the afternoon and the home
Of Mrs. Daniels adjoining. He was
almost stealthy rs he advanced up the
garden path. The front door was
closed. hut light streamed broadly
across the middle of the porch, al
though II was in shadow.
Espey crept up the steps on tip toe.
He stopped down. drew out the en-
velope and attempted 10 push it under
the door, but this set so closely shut
that the interstices would not admit
the envelope.
"What is it, please?" spoke voice
at the Swallowed end Of the porch.
startling Espey quite. and straining
his vision. he made out feminine
form rising from a chair.
II fancy am detected - and he half
laughed in an embarrassed way. 81
am one Of the circus men. madam, and
we are all so interested in that little
tot of yours. that we want TO make it
easier for her. and I was leaving
trifie-"
There Gurdon Espey paused. There.
directly in front of the window, both
had come 10 halt. The full radiance
from the lamplight within flooded their
faces. They were stunned ut the un-
expected confrontment - man and
wife,
"Gurdon," died upon the lips of the
woman, and she wavercd and was
forced to steady herself by grasping
the porch rail.
alice =" uttered the man, and the
habitual cynical expression left his
face, and the glowing eyes told of
new soul aroused.
She shrank back. II was under the
memory Of five years previous when
She had fled from this man as from a
peStilence. for soul and body were
given over To drink until she had
feared for her life. She had hidden
away from him and now-he had found
her.
Alice" he said, his tones tremu-
lous. but not uncertain. "since the day
of your absence and that of your dear
little one awakened me To rcaliZa-
ton of my utter unworthness. no drop
Of liquor has passed my lips"
"Our little one" she corrected him.
for she recognized in him the regen-
Grated man.
MAY | come backf" he added. with
longing glance through the window
at little white-robed form lying on
trundle cot.
Her hands clasped. her eyes were
suffused, her care-worn, but still beau
tiful face looked up TO him trustingly,
hopeful. longingly.
"Oh, Gurdon :" she sobbed. will you
come back TO us?"