Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-01-22

1Vl the circus Autographs which
the bill-posters had plastered
up some two weeks before. She had
even forgot the dragging weight Of the
basket of eggs she carried to trade"
at the store.
1t was all there, Just as 1t used to
be, only, perhaps a trihe more ornate
tights and abbreviated skirts, polishing
daintly on one toe on the back Of
superb white horse; the acrobats,
swinging fearlessly from dizzy ira
pezes; the clowns with their heads
stuck through paper hoops; the
troupes of performing dogs, the jug
glers, the contortionists, the animals,
the calliope, the gaudy floats.
Mrs. Martin stood drinking 1t all in.
10 her it opened up another world 1t
gave her taste Of that distant, al
most forgotten youth, before life had
become narrow, and mean, and hard.
She could almost hear the circus
music, and smell the circus smells as
she plodded down the dusty road.
II should sorter like to go once
more" she told herself, with a little
reminiscent thrill at the thought Of 1t.
At the store she did her trading;
exchanged the eggs for tea and mus
tard, and a few yards Of calico to
make new aprons. But her mind, usual
ly so keen at these times, seemed far
away. She did not dlcker for an extra
half-yard of the calico, nor did she in
sist that few nutmegs be thrown in
for good measure.
I'm a-goin' to that circus" she
muttered to herself. And every little
while along the homeward way, as If
to prop her courage, she repeated: II
am a-goin'."
Just how she would manage II, by
what adroit stratagem she could cir
cumvent the objections her husband
would be sure to raise she had not as
yet fully decided. She only knew that
somehow, by some means, she was 60
ing to the circus Delightful tremors
Of anticipation had already taken pos
session Of her. She had not been so
pleasantly excited since she was a
girl.
She realized, with a thrill of thank
fulness, that the rest of the day was
hers to dream away without Interrupt
ton. Her husband and the hired man
were fencing recently purchased pas
ture some miles from the house, and
would not be home until evening
When she reached home, she went to
the attic, and from a cedar chest she
brought out bits Of lace and ribbon
that had long lain in lavender. With
these odds and ends Of f1nery she man.
aged to make the old black cashmere,
in which she had long since lost all in
terest, fairly presentable. She smiled
grimly when her somber Sunday bon
net Haunted brave array Of bright
ribbon
The shadows were lengthenlng when
her work was done. She put the sup
per on the table and, tenderly laying
the transformed dress and Sunday
bonnet In a bureau drawer, sat down
to await her husbands arrival.
She had not long to wait. Just be-
fore shutdown a wagon ratified into the
yard, and moment later, Bemis Mar
tin shuflled into the kitchen. He was
big, stOop- shouldered man, clean.
shaver and heavy of frame. His mouth
had that hard, unyielding expression
which years Of struggle with a none
too fertile soil are prone to give, and
his deep-set gray eyes were cold and
ilinty.
Supper ready?' he asked superfiu
ously, at the same time drawing 9
chair to the table.
His wife sat down opposite him, and
poured the tea from the earthen pot
| Then she sat back In her chair, watch
ing him narrowly, and eating but little
| Her fingers worked nervously beneath
the table; the spots Of color burned in
her cheeks
"They's a circus at Randall, tomor
rer," she said at length.
Martin grunted explosively between
mouthfuls: "Clrcus, hey?" he said
Eyes, circus" she repeated, hel
eyes widening and her courage rising
MS she scented battle. II amt been t.
circus not since went with Jim Al
len when | was a girl-long before W,
was married. | should sorter like I,
go once more"
Bemis Martin laid down his knit,
and fork He sat back in his chair
and his eyes narrowed. Their irat,
glance seemed to go through her fral
body mercilessly like steel shafts.
you crazy?" he demanded "Talkin
o. such carryln's-on at your age;
amt never been to circus In my life
an my young 'uns never went
neither"
IF our young 'uns had been Above,
to go to circuses an such places one,
In while, we might a had some O
EN- here at home with us now" sh,
said, sadly. Il amt been anywhere,
for years, an I'm a-goin' TO that circus
tomorrer."
you he?" he glared. How yo,
goln' to git down TO Randall2 Wher,
you goin' to git your fifty cents to gi
in WITH"
I'm a-goin' to that circus" she re
iterated, with the pathetic tenaclty o
helplessness
"Humph - he grunted pushing bacl
his chair 'you better git ready to {,
to Wednesday eyenin' meetin', an lp
circuseS take care o themselves"
In the hapi mess of her afternoon