The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-10-02
"a Circus
Romance
gA<D
By EVELYN LEE
BY EVELYN LEE
Copyright, 1919. by the Western News
paper Union.)

Gus"
"What purpose? challenged his
equally homespun wife, although she
had dropped the backwoods vernacu-
lar long ago. "A circus? And you
a deacon of the church Oh, Hiram
have you forgotten that all our woes
and misery date from the day our lit
tie Leslie went to clrcus?'
Thereupon Mary broke down utter
ly, her face fell into her hands and
she sobbed and wept as though her
heart would break. Hiram WINGED.
Then he stole over TO her side and
placed a loving, gentle hand upon the
silyered head.
II haven't forgot, poor old dear"
he said tenderly. "It's because of Les
lie that I'm goln'. There isn't an hour
since my temper and cruelty drove
him away from us that / haven't re-
preached myself. There hasn't been
month in all the weary, waiting five
years that I haven't tried to find out
what became of him"
Yes, Hiram Pearce remembered well
the day when Leslie, a lad of fifteen,
had run away from school and had
gone to the interdlcted tented show.
II was the truancy and dsobedlence,
more than the fact that he had visited
the sawdust arena that stirred up his
father, who had used the whipping
strap as he never used 1t before and
as he resolved later he would never
use Is again. That night Lester
Pearce disappeared and his stubborn
father had delivered the stolid die
tum:
Let him go--I sha'n't hunt for him,
or Stop him AS he makes his bed, so
must he lie. When he is tired of
husks he'll come back like the prodi-
gal, the wiser and, hope, the better
for his little journey in the world"
But as the weeks went on, and then
the months, and the years, there was
an aching void in the heart of the grim
old farmer, and the discriminating face
and bent form of Mary told him of her
secret sufferlngs.
Mary" he said, "look up and keep
calm. have something to tell you.
Only today through a correspondent
have received an intimation that Les
lie has been with Morton's Big Show,
and Morton's Big Show exhibits on the
town common here tomorrow"
"Oh. Hiram it can't be true!" qua
vered Mary, all a-tremble, and clinging
to his arm, white and durried. "Oh,
yes, yes-I can hardly wait. You must
go to the circus, indeed, and l must go
with your
All the next morning Hiram Pearce
hung around the various groups OF
workmen erecting the tents and get
ting ready for the arrival of the per-
forming troupe due about noon. Half
dozen times Hiram inquired about
"a young fellow named Peace" but
those Intercepted shook their heads
negatively, and his spirits sank as the
hours wore on. Then he was lost,
confused amid the hustle and the
crowds. Marys face was twitching,
her eyes anXlously roaming all over
the great tent as they sat beneath the
white, glaring canvas. If Leslie was
with the show Of course he must be an
actor She shuddered as the tumblers
trapezists and bareback riders came
into the ring and their daring feats
showed the risks of their calling. But
no Leslie appeared and Mrs. Pearce
drew down her veil TO conceal her
tears as they left the show. Hiram
could not leave the scene. He went
around among the wagons and small
tents, and, coming across a man whose
brlskness Indicated that he had some
thing to do with the show, told him of
his quest.
"PearceW repeated the latter; "we
have no one with us of that name"
"IIe is my dear lost Lesllel" sobbed
Mrs Pearce.
"You couldn't mean one Leslie War
burton?" spoke the man quickly. "You
see, circus folks use fancy names.
About twenty, light hair, slightly cur
" always joking and smling?"
"Yesl Yes !" cried Mrs Pearce.
"Thafs our boyl Oh, Hiram have
we found him at laSt?"
"You come with me-" spoke their in
formant, and he led the way to huge
wagon. so large that 1t had doors ana
windows like n house, and resembled
one as to its interior. II was filled
with cots and invalid chairs, Sand
half a dozen men, women and children
occupied these
A pretty, dainty girlish woman was
tanning fevered child In this circus
hospital young man, who limped as
he walked about, smlIingly conyersed
with this and that recumbent patient.
Toward him Mary ran with the fer
vent words:
"Oh, Lesllel Lesllel don't you
know me?"
When the circus left town that night
It departed without Leslie Pearee and
his wife, Elolse, daughter Of the ring
master. once more the truant boy
was back under the home roof, with
wonderful story TO relate-ot a Grip
ping fall from trapeze, of becoming
the doctor" who took charge Of those
Injured like himself, and the sick chill
dren Of performers. And he would
have gone home unsolicited that same
day had not father and mother come
after him, for he had saved enough