The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-27
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
a Circus for Two.
IN YlMcEM1 9. nERRY.
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
! Nnr,rnar,nr SvndicataA


a WAY at the south end OF the
"a small city Of fifteen thousand
g = population the huge tents OF the
Mammoth Three-Rtng Circus were
pitched. A strike that had tied up
transportation somewhere along the
line was responsible for tho NAM
moths sotou-n there, for it was big
city circus. The circus would be
there for a week, too. Surely this city
OF Windsyiue was getting to be won
derful place, tie astonished natives
thought,
Bur that was no. all. In lhe Glamor
and Confusion that had arisen with the
arrival Of The Mammoth, the citizens OF
WlndsYiile had forgotten that the
Puritan Bros Ono-Ring Circus had
been billed for u one-day stop in their
midst that very week.
Even when the Puritan did arrive
apd pitched its ore small tent on a
northern lot at the outskirts Of the
city, the residents in the north end
were the only ones to show any in
terest; very weak interest 1t was. at
that.
The Mammoth people were not go
ing to get out of practice Just because
they were marooned in a small town.
!; With all their splendor they launched
out for their grand street parade on
the day that the Puritan thought IL
was the center of attraction. So en-
crossed and enraptured were the
Z Windsyilleites with the wonderful pa
rade that they failed to notice the chain
of,poorly painted wagons that met the
big parade in the center Of the city
I and had to turn down side street to
. avoid collision.
A few Of the meek stretchers" on
the side street took their eyes from
the main attraction long enough to
identity the rumbling wagons as gypsy
( caravans, and one or two did recog-
! pize. it as the Puritan Bros. elegant"
street parade.
The Puritan Bros, circus was as dead
as the brothers it was named after, and
they had been dead for fifty years. 1t
was hard for Mona Millson, star per-
former aud owner OF the Puritan, to
make up her mind to this fact, but the
clash at Windsville decided it for her.
Her venture was failure. AS cir
Gus owner she was good clown.
OF course, they wouldn't have all
afternoon performance. Even the
north end residents deserted the
neighborhood in favor of the NAM
moth as the matinee hour approached.
/; Mona's disappointment knew no
= bounds. She had hoped against hope
: that this. stop would net receipts suf-
ficient to keep the creditors off until
the show could get on better foot
ing, but now all would go. Right in
the town where she had started out
she would end-her circus career a
5tsjmal ruin.
Il Neyer had the atmosphere of tent
siS(e been so boresome as that after
noon. 1t was glorious day outside
and (from over the fields Mona could
.atch\ Whit Of aromas that brought
pack fSleasant memories-green grass,
running stream, wild flowers and a
shady n&ok, were all just few miles
away. Why not go back to the scenes
that had tmeant so much to her, the
scenes she had never hoped to see
again?
Joan, Mona's snow-white mount,
ihe only attraction of the Puritan cir
sus that remained In first class form,
seemed to know just the gait Mona
wanted him to travel along those
eouhtry roads. The handsome mare,
I{waY from the sawdust and canvas
! Tor the first time in many months.
seemed fifed with new life. AS the
wind caught Mona's raven locks and
pulled them down over her shoulders,
len years seemed to roll of her age.
The color returned to her cheeks,
shamtng the traces Of rouge into the
oblivion, the wrinkles left her fore
head, her eyes sparkled once more.
The old scenes had not changed.
There was the same path through the
same opening in the fence, just where
loan came to stop in the road and
allowed her mistress to alight. The
fence was an easy vault for the white
horse, and 1t whinnied with pleasure
1t tho feeling OF soft turf and green
grass under Its hoofs, Mona cried out
With pleasure, too. The same old
brook, the same old wild flower
patches, the same old shady nook!
There she stopped, and gathering up
HE reins of her mount rested her
head on the side of the handsome
loan.
You heard It all, little flowers and
fitle brook" she whispered. you
we're all here when we Quarrelod. 1t
VAS just; such day as this, wasn't 1t?
You remember how angry he became.
now persistent was. am gong to
Be- circus rider-I am going 10 be
Ike my mother / told him while he
tetted and fumed. He said what a
horrible life it was; he said 1t would
mean the end Of everything between
asthat If j loved him l would not
over myself to go into such work
hat is inst what he said, wasn't 1t?
And told him didn't love him,
aated him II he talked like that, and
thought ! did. But ! didn't, littlo
Towers, ] didn't, little brook, / loved
MIN, oh so much!"
gAnd he loved you oh so much!"
Mona became rigid. Had the brook
answered in his voice? We're her ears
ieceiving her? Had her nerves got the
6est OF her or could it be-could 1t be-
VAS Roger there, standing right be-
hind her? Roger was-but such
changed Roger, taller, mora hand
some by far, but with the same old
smile, the same twinkle In his eye.
rkn nYn1ad afl him fnp mona than a