Graham guardian., 1920-05-14

allowed her mistress 10 alight. Tbs
fence was an easy vault for the whit,
horse. and It whinnied with pleasure
at the feeling of soft turf and greer
grass under its hoofs. Mona crie,l ,dI
with pleasure, too. The snlne oic
brook, the same old Wild flower
patche the same old shady nook'
There she stopped, and gathering NJ
the reins of her mount rested her head
on the side Of the handsome Joan.
"You heard 1t ALL little flowers and
little brook" she whispered. "You were
all here when We quarreled. II was
lust such day as this. wasn't II? You
remember how angry he became. how
persistent was. 1 am going TO be n
circus rlder--I am going TO be like ~!
mother | told him while he frelted
and fumed. He said what horr'h!
life II was: he said II would mean tts
end Of everything between us--tha, Ii
I loved him would not lower myself
to go Into such Work--that Ii Just
what he said, wasn't Il? And | told
him didn't love him. hated hiia II
he talked Ike that. and ! thought
did. But I didn't, little how'r' !;
didn't. little brooS. loved hhl oh. SO
much" !"
and hc loved you, oh, so much J
Mona became rigid. Had the brook
answered in his voice? We're her ears
dcceiylng her? Had her nerves got the
best Of her or could II be--could II be
WAS Roger there, standing right he
hind her? Roger wns-but such u
changed Roger taller, more handsome
by far. but with the same old sail'e.
the same twinkle IN his eye. Sls gazed
at him for more than a minute her
heart throbbed violently. As in a
dream his arms opened for her; she
found her way Into them and soi'icti
on. her feelings on his shoulder.
"There. there, little Mona he whis
peret, lust for her to Lear, don't feel
so bad. Tell me MI about IT,
She gained control Of her tears, III
she did not leave the shelter Of MS
arms. 1T was just as you snid,' slla
told him, quietly. MY career has
ended in failure--lt was so bright a
first. but after the big successes f;'''
ure started In. and now we have ended
up at Wlnisville, where started. The
Puritan circus, that has stood fol re-
fined entertainment In the sawtusi
ring, is bankrupt and Its owner, Mona
Mlllson, is pauper."
But hasn't Ii all been worth whlieT
There was new note OF sympathy In
Rogers voice.
Mona's spirit came back in force.
"Worth while, yesr she declared, her
eyes shining new light. Every sue
cess has been paradise, every failure
has just made resolve for greater
effort. II has been great life. can
never leave II. will fight on, on
until l have achieved Whit | started
out TO achieve-reHned entertainment
In circus.
II am not beaten. I won't be beaten,
even though I know that my real hap
piness lies here, In this peaceful val
ley country with you and among those
that love me. II hasn't been a fair
fight. 1t has been u woman against
the big trusts--a woman against or
ganlzations like the Mammoth"
"Join forces with the Mammoth; II
is your chance 10 make good your an-
bltionsp Roger was excited. too.
"What cbunce have IT. she laughed.
"The Puritan to them Is joke
",rhe owner of the Puritan circus to
the owner of the Mammoth circus Is
the most wonderful woman In the
world. He wants 10 marry her. I am
the owner OF the Mammoth. | started
out to find you. joined a circus In
the hope that that would bring ine
nearer to you, and look what II has
led to, after all these years know
now why you left the narrow, bigoted
country llfe---the fever OF circus life Is
In my blood too. Won't you join
forces with the Mammoth, won't you
marry the owner Of abe Mammoth?
Mona, need you, whit you so."
II need you, want you, too" Mona
drew closer in iifs. embrace. Here
where we quarreled, where we parted,
we have come together again. The Iii.
tie flowers and the brook know all. II
only we could take them to our circus
for twof ~