Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-11-21
a Circus
Romance
~
BY EVELYN LEE
Copyright. 1912 by the Western N.w,.
paper Un!on)

nave puppuS." said Hiram
i';'rce-"a purrns in going to the sue
Gus
what rurrosc?' challenged his
equally homeSpun wife, although she
HI" cropped the bnckwoods vernacu-
'ar long ago. "A circus? And YOU
IL deacon of the church! Oh. Hiram,
nave You forgotten that all our woes
ana misery date from the day our lit
tie Leslie went 10 Il circus:"
1hereupon Mary broke down utter
~ her face fell into her hands and
she sohbed ana wept as though her
heart would break. Hiram WINGED.
linen he stole over to- her side and
placed loving, gentle hand uron the
slivered head.
Il haven't forgot. poor old dear"
ne said tenderly. It's because of Les
ne, mat I'm g0ln. There isn't an hour
since my temper aud cruelty drove
MN away from us that l haven't re-
preached myself. There hasn't been
month In all the weary, waiting five
years that haven't tried to find ont
what became Of him"
les. Hiram Pearce remembered we'll
the day when Leslie lad of fifteen.
MO- run away from school and had
gone to the interdictrd tented show.
IL was the truancy and ,liSohe,lience
more than the fact thar he had visited
'ne sawduSt arena that stirred up his
'"'ner' WHO had used the Whipping
strap as he never used it before and
aS he resolved later he would never
use ~ again. That night Lester
fenrce 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. I hope, the better
for his little journey in the world"
but rs 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
ana bent form Of Mury told him of her
secret sufferings.
NARY he said. "look up and keen
calm. l have something to tell Won.
only today through q correspondent I
nave 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 clineins
10 his ARM white and Hurried. ooh,
yes, Ees-l can hardly wait. You must
go to, the circus. indeed, and must 90
| with you!"
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
Il 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. Mary's face was twitching,
her eyes anxiOuSly roaming all over
the great tent as they sat beneath the
whltp. glaring canvas. If Leslie was
! win the show of course he must be an
actor. She Shuddrrcd as the tumblers
| trhpeziSts and bareback riders came
into the ring and their daring feats
! showed the risks of their calling But
no Leslie appeared, and Mrs. Pcarce
drew down her veil to conceal her
tears ms they left the show. Hiram
could not leave the scene. He went
around among the wagons and small
tents, and, coming across man whose
hriSkneSS indicated that he had some
thing to do with the show, told him of
! his quest.
"Pcnrce?" repeated the latter: eve
have no one with us Of that name"
| He is my dear lost Leslic!" sobbcd
| Mrs. Pearcc.
you couldn't mean one Leslie War
hurton?' spoke the man quickly. "Yo,t
see circus folks use fancy names.
| About twenty. light hair, slightly cur
~, always joking and smiling?"
Yes! Yes!' cried Mrs. pcarcc.
"Thats our boy! Oh. Hiram. have
we found him at last?'
You come with me-" spoke their in
formnnt, and he led the way to n huge
wagon, so large That it had doors ana
windows like a house. and rcsembled
one as to Its interior. 1t was filled
! with cots and invalid chairs, and
half dozen men, women and children
occupied these
pretty, dainty girlish woman Was
tanning fevered child I'm this circus
hospital. young man, who limped AZ
he walked about, smillngly conversed
with this and that recumbent patient.
Toward him Mary ran with the fer
vent words:
"Oh, Leslie LeSliei don't YOU