Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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cn A PTE It II. 0HILE Tolly sat In I bo dressing tout listening indifferently (<? I bo chatter nboul t tic "leap of death" girl Jim waited In the lot outside, opening and shutting n small leuther bug whlob he luul bought for bor that day. Ho was as blind to the picturesque outdoor life us she to lior Indoor surroundings, for he, too. had been with the circus since his onrllest recollection. The grass luelosure where he waited wflH Hhiii lit by n clrelo of (< :?ts and wagOIIS. The Klent red property vans were waiting t<> bo leaded with the costumes and tackle which were con stantly being brought from the big top, whore the evening performance was m?w going on. Tho gay sniped curtains at tho rear of (he tent were looped back to give air to (he panting musicians, who sut Just inside. Through (ho opening a glimpse of the audience might bo had, tier upon tier, fanning and shilling uneasily. Near the main lent stood the long, low dressing top, with the women performers stowed away in ot.lid, (he ring horses in ihe center and the men performers in the other etui. A temporary curt it In was hung be tween the main ami the dressing tent In shut Otlt (he CtirloilS lltotl (hat tried in i.p lu at the back lot for a glimpse of things not to bo seen In I lie ring. Colored streamers fastened to the roofs of the tints waved and tloatod in the nlglll air and beckoned to the 1 townspeople mi tho other side to make haste io gel their places, forget their euros and bo children again. Over the tops <if the tents the lurid light of the di !:.ilt led lire shot Into the sky, accompanied by the cries of the peanut "butchers," (he popcorn boys, the lemonade venders nud tho exhortations of tho Bldosliow spieler, whose dying l.anne'rs bore the painted Reproductions of his. ?re.ajvs. Here and. there stood unhitched ^harlo^s. j*a|f I tided trunks' trflpcle Tactic," naffer ?duoops, Make pmHers, or other proper tics ueeeSAftTy to tV- show, Torches dume<j rt{ The ic'nl entrances, while oi^ lamps and lanterns gave light for the loading of tho wagons. There was n constant stream of lifo shooting In and out from the dressing tent to the big top as gayly decked men. women and animals came or went. Drowsy dogs were stretched under tin; wagons, waiting their (urn to lie dressed as lions or hears. The wise old goose, with his modest gray mate, necked at the green jjimss or turned j his head frmn side to side, watching the Kinging clown, who rolled up the I painted carcass and long neck of the Imitation giraffe from Which two prop erty men had lust slipped, their Ic^'s Mill Incased In stripes. Ambitious ennvasmen and grooms were exercising, feet in air. in the hope of some day getting into the per formers' rim;. Property men stole a minute's sleep in the soft warm grass while they waited for more tackle to load in tin- wagons. Children of the performers were swinging on the tent ropes, ('haltering monkeys sat astride (he Shetland ponies, awaiting their en trance lo the ring. The shrieks of the hyenas In the distant Hill mill tent, (he roaring of (he Hons and the initnpot Jng of the elephants mingled wich the Incessant clamor of the hand. And back of all this, pointing upward In mute protest, rose a solemn church nplre. white and majestic against n vast panorama of blue, moonlit hills lhat encircled the win.;,, lurid picture. .Ilms eyes I limed absently toward the church us he sat fumbling with (he lock of the little brown satchel. lie had gone from store to store In (he various (owns where (hey had played looking f.-r something to in spire wonder In the heart of a miss newly arrived at her sixteenth year. Only the desperation of a last moment, had forced him to deckle upon the imi tation alligator bag, which he how held In his hand. It |t oked small ami mean to him as the moment of presentation approach ed, and he was glad that the saleswo man In the little country store had Suggested the addition of ribbons and hoes, which he Mow dr-w from the pocket of his corduroys. ||o placed his red and blue treasures very care fully lit the bottom of the sali hid and remembered with regret the strand of (oral beads which he hud so marly bought to go with them. lie opened the law property trunk by his side nod took from It a laundry box which held a III tie tan coat that was lo be Toby's contribution to (he b'irthday surprise. He was big hearted CnOUgll to be glad thai Toby's gift KoeiniHl tine Hiid mine useful than his. It was only when the ' leap of death" net preceding Polly's turn was an nounced that the big fellow gflVO up feasting bin eyes on the satchel und COO! ?od hid them away in the big properly trunk. She would be out In ii minute, and these wonders were not to bo revealed to her until the close of tho nfcht'x performance. .Tim put down (ho lid of (he trunk and snt upon If, feeling like a criminal because he was hiding something I Froni Polly. ills consciousness <>f guilt was in creased as ho rivalled how often she had forbidden Toby and himself to rush Into reckless extravagances fol iar sake and how she bud been more nearly angry than he had ever seen her when they had put their month's salaries together to buy her the spatl ghd dress for her lir^t appearance, it ! had taken a great many apologies und j promises as to their future behavior to ??aim her, and now they had again disobeyed her. It would be a great re lief w hen tonight's ordeal was over. .Mm watched Polly uneasily as she came from the dressing tent anil stop ped to ga/.o at the nearby church stee ple. The Incongruity of the slang thai soon came from her delicately formed lips was lost upon him as she turned her eyes toward him. "Say. .Mm." she said, with a western drawl, "them's a funny lot of guys what goes to them church places, ain't they V "Most everybody has- got some kind of a bug," .Mm assented. "I guess they don't do much harm." "'Member the lime you took me Into one of I hem places t<> get me outn the rain, the Sunday our wagon broke dOWllV Well, that htlUCll WO butted Into wouldn't 'a' give Sells Urns, no cause for worry with that show- a' thclrn, would they, Jim)" she looked at him with withering disgust. "Say, wasn't that the punktest stunt that fellow In black was dolll' on the plat form'.' You said Joe was only ten min utes get tin' the lire on to our wheel; but, say, you take it from na-, .lim, if I bad to wait another ten minutes as long as that one I'd be too old to go on a rldin'." Jim " 'lowed" some church shows might be belter than "that mi," but Polly said he could have her end of the bet atal summed up by declaring It no wonder that "the yaps in these towns Is daffy about circuses if they don't have nothtn' netter 'all church ' shows to go to." umTT^f th$ gT?bmB was entering the lot with Polly's hoi-sp. She stooped to tighten, one of hid* sandals, and as she rose Jim saw her swny slightly and put one band to her head, He looked j at her sharply, remembering fur faint- , ness in the parade that morning. "You ain't reel ill' right," he suid un easily. "You just bet I am." Polly answered, with an Independent toss of her bead. "This is the night we're goln' to make (hom Itubes in there sit up, ain't it. BingoV" she adiled. placing one arm affectionately about tin- neck of the big white liorso that stood walling near the entrance. "Von hin rldlll' too reckless lately." saiil Jim Sternly as he followed her. "I don't like It. There ain't no need of your puttill' in all I hem extra stunts. Your m i is good enough Without 'em. Nobody else ever done 'em, an" me body 'd miss 'em If you left 'ein out." Polly turned with a triumphant ring In her voice. The music was swelling for her entrance. "Noii ain't my mother, Jim; you're my ;//<///?/inotlicr." she taunted, and "J/os( everybody Una (/ot sotno hind <if a but/," Jim utsentcd. with a crack of her whip she was nway on Blngo'fl buck. "It's the spirit of the dead one that's got into her." .Mm mumbled us he turn ed away, still Seeing the Hash In tb* departing girl's eyes. CHAPTER ill. OM<Y and Bingo always made the audience "sit up" when they swept into the ring. Sin was so young, so gnyly clad, so light ami Joyous in nil her poses. She seemed scarcely to touch the buck of the white horse us they dashed round the ling In the glare of the tent lights. I'I lie other performers went through ; their work mechanically whllo Polly rode. I As for Polly, her work had never lost Its first Interest. Jim may have been right when lie said that the spirit ' of the dead mother had pot Into her, but It must have boon an unsatisfied spirit, unable to fulfill Its ambition in the body that once held it, for it some times played Btrange pranks with Fol ly. Tonight her eyes shone uud tier lips were parted in anticipation as she leaped lightly over the many colored streamers of the wheel of silken rib bons held by Barker In thi' (enter of the ring and hy Toby and tho tum- | biers on the edge of the bank. with each change of her act the an- | iltcnco cheered and frantically applaud ed. The band played faster; Btngo'8 pace Increased; the end of her turn was coming. Tho tumblers arranged themselves around the ring with pa per hoops. BlngO was fairly racing. She went through the first hoop with u crash of tearing paper. "Itelgll, Bingo!" she shouted as she bent her knees to make ready for the dual leap. Bingo's neck w.:s stretched. Ho had \ never cone s<> fast before. Barker looked uneasy. Toby forgot to ;,'<> on with his accustomed tricks. Jim : watched anxiously from the entrance.! The paper of one hoop was still left unbroken. The attendant turned his eyes to glance at the oncoming girl, j The hoop shifted Slightly In his clum sy hand as Polly leaped straight up from Bingo's buck, trusting to her first Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but tho unwashed sup per dishes did not trouble tier as she watched the lurabcrlug elephants, tho restless Hons, the long necked giraffes and the striped zebras that cainc ond weid in the nearby circus lot. And yet. In spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant "worse half," Hasty, who had been lured from duty early In the day. She had once dtlbbed him Hasty In a spirit of deri sion, and the name had clung to him. The sarcasm seemed doubly appropri ate tonight, for he had been away since 10 that morning, and it was now past 0. The young pastor for a time had en joyed Mnndy'8 tirades against her h.us band, hut when she began calling shrilly out of the window t<> chance acquaintances for news of hint he slip pod quietly Into the next room to fin ish tomorrow's sermon. Mnndy renew ed her operations at tho window with Increased vigor when the pastor had gone. She was barely saved from pitching headforemost into tho lot by the timely nrriv.il of Deacon Strong's daughter, who managed with difficulty to connect the excited woman's feet with the flour. "Fob do Lor' sake!" Mnndy gasped as she stood panting for breath and blinking at the pretty, young, apple Iii Son GALLOPED O.V, AND SHE FELL TO THE QIXOUSD. calculation. Her forehead struck the edge of the hoop, sin- clutched wildly at the air. Bingo galloped on. nnd she fell to the ground, striking her head against the IronbOUIld stake nt the edge of the ring. Everything stopped. There was n gasp of horror. The musicinns drop ped their Instruments. Bingo halted and looked hack uneasily. She lay unconscious and seemingly lifeless. A great cry went up in the tent. Panic stricken men. women and chil dren began to clamber down from their seats, while others nearest the ground attempted to Jump Into the ring. Bar ker, Still grasping his long whip, rushed to the girl's side and shouted wildly to Toby: "Say something, you. Get 'em back!" Old Toby turned his white fnco to the crowd. His features worked con vulsively, but he could not speak. His grief was so grotesque that the few who saw him laughed hysterically. He could not even go to Polly. His feet seemed pinned to the earth. Jim rushed Into the tcnl at the first cry of the audience. Ho lifted the limp form tenderly and. kneeling in the ring, held her bruised head In his hands. "Can't you get a doctor?" be shouted desperately to Marker. "Here's the doctor!" some one called, and a stranger came toward them. He bent over the Seemingly lifeless form, his (Ingers on the tiny wrist, his ear to the heart. "Well, sir?" Jim fallen d, for he had caught the puzzled look in the doctor's eyes as his deft hand pressed the cru elly wounded head, "I can't tell just yet." said the doe tor. "She must be taken away." "Where call we take her'.'" asked Jim, a look of terror In his great, trou ble.! eyes. "TltO parsonage Is- the nearest house," said the doctor. "I sin sure the pastor Will be glad to have her there until we can find out how badly she lk> hurt." In an instant Barker was back In the center of the ring. Hv announced thnt Polly's Injuries were slight, called the attention of (he audience to the wonderful Concert (0 tuke place und bade them make ready for the thi Ill ing chariot race. Jim, blind with despair. Uftvd the light burden and staggered ont of the tout, while the band played furiously and the people fell bnek Into their sent*. The Roman chariots thundered nud clattered ?round the outside of the ring, the audience cheered the win ner of the rOCO, and for the i.n*u( roily was forgotten, CHAPTER IV. mFIE blare of the circus band had been n aore temptation to Man dy Jones all afternoon and >,'"*. * evening. Again and again It had dragged her from her work to the Study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantall/lngly near. faced .Tulln. "I wns sunk most gone dnt time" Then followed another out burst against the delinquent Hasty. But the deacon's daughter did not hear. Her eyes won- already wander ing anxiously to the lights and the tin sel of the little world beyond the win dow. This was not the first time today that Mnildy had found herself talking to space. There bad been a steady stream of callers at the parsonage since 11 that morning, but she had long ago confided to the pastor that she suspected their reasons. "Doy comes in here a-trackln' up my floors," she said, ? an' a askin' why you don't stop de circus from a-show in" nox" tu de church an' den a cruultl' dar necks otll tie winder till I can't get no housework done." "That's only human nature." l><nr_' his had answered, with a laugh, but Mainly bad declared that she knew an other name for It and had mumbled something about "hypocrltiers" as she seised her broom and began to sweep imaginary tracks from in front of the door. Many times she had made up her mind to let 'be next caller know Just what she thought of "hyporritters." but her determination was usually weakened by her still greater desire to excite Increased wonder In the faces of her visitors. Divided between these two Inclina tions, she gazed at Julia now. The shining eyes of the deacon's daughter completed, and she launched forth Into an eager description of bow she bad just seen a "wotide'ful striped ana mule" with a "pow'ful long neck walk right out of the tent" and bow be hail "come apart afore her very eyes" and two men had slipped "rlghl out of his insides," Mainly was so curried away by hor own eloquence ami so busy showing Julia (he sights beyond the Window that she did Hot hear Miss PcrkttiS, the thin lipped spinster, who entered, followed by the Widow Wll loughby, drugging her sovon-year-old fton Willie by 'he bund. The women were protesting because their choir practice of "What Shall (be Harvest Bo?" had been interrupted by the unrequested accompaniment of tin* "hOOChce COOChee" from the nearby cir cum band. "It's scandalous!" Miss Perkins snap ped. "Scandalous! Ami somebody ought to stop It." She glanced about with iin unmlstukuhlc air of grievance at the Closed doors, feeling that the pattor wim undoubtedly behind one of them when be ought to be out biking Action ngnlnst the things that her soul abominated. "Well. I'm sura I've done nil that I could." pip.-.I the widow, with a meek, martyred olr. She was nlwuys mar tyred. H>k? considered it an appropri ate ahtltHde for n widow. "He can't blame me If the choir Is out of key to morrow." "Mercy me!" Inferrnpled tb* spinster. "If (here Isn't Julia Strong a leaning rlKlit out of Hint window a-lOOktng at tbe circus, nod hor pa a deacon of the church, and this the house of the pas tor! It's shocking! 1 must go to her." "Ma. let me see, too," Pegged Willie as he tugged at his mother's skirts. Mrs. Willoughby hesitated. Miss Perkins was certainly taklug a long while for her argument with Julia. The glow from the red powder outside the window was positively alarming. "Dear me!" she said. "1 wonder If there can he a tire." And with this pretext for Investigation she, too, joined the little group at the window. A few moments later, when Douglas entered for a fresh supply of paper, the hacks of the company were to ward him. He crossed to the study table without dlsturblug his visitors and smiled to himself at the eager way In which they were hanging out of the window. Douglas was a sturdy young man of eight and twenty, frank and boyish in manner, confident and ligld hearted in spirit. He had seemed too young to the deacons when he was appointed to their church, and his keen enjoyment of outdoor games and other healthful sports robbed him of a certain dignity In their eyes. Some of the women of the congregation had been Inclined to side with the deacons, for It hurt their vanity that the pastor found so many other interests when he might have been sitting In dark. slutTy rooms ?Iis- , cussing theology with them, but Doug las had been either unconscious of or Indifferent lo their resentment and | had gone on his way with a cheery nod and nu unconquerable conrlctlon of right that had only left them flounder ing, lie Intended to <;uit the room now unnoticed, but was unfortunate enough to upset a chair as he turned from the table. This brought a chorus of exclamations from the women, who. chattering, rushed quickly toward him. "What do you think of my naughty boy, Willie?" simpered the widow, "lie dragged mo quite to the window." Douglas glanced amusedly first a! the live foot six widow and (hell at the helpless red haired urchin by her Bide, but he made no comment beyond ?Hering a < hair to each of the women. "Our choir practice had to be entire ly discontinued," declared Miss Per kins sourly as she accepted the prof fered chair, adjusted her skirts for a stay and glanced defiantly at the par son, who had dutifully seated himself near the table. "I am sure I have as true an ear as anybody," whimpered the widow, with on Injured air. "But I defy any one to lead 'What Shall the Harvest Be?' to an accompaniment like that." She Jerked her hand In the direction of the window. The band was again playing the "hoochee eoochee." "Never mind about the choir prac tice." said Douglas, with a smile. "It Is soul, not skill, that our congregation needs in Its music. As for that music out there, it Is not without Us compen sations. Why the small boys would rather hear that band than the finest church organ In the world." "And the small boys would rather see the circus than to hear you preach, most likely," snapped Miss Perkins. It was adding Insult to Injury for him \ to try t<> console her. "Of course they would, and so would some of the grownups If they'd only tell the truth about it," said Douglas, j laughing. "What!" exclaimed Miss Perkins. "Why not'/'* asked Douglas. "1 am sure I don't know what they do inside tin' tents, but the parade looked very . promising." "The parade!" I ho two women ech oed in one breath. "Did you see the parade':" "Yes, Indeed," said Douglas enthusi astically. "But it didn't compare with til one I saw at the age of eight." He turned his head to one side and looked Into space with a reminiscent smile. The widow's red haired boy crept (dose to him. "The Shetland ponies seemed ns small as mice." he continued dreamily, "the elephants huge as mountains, tlie great calliope wafted my soul to the very skies, and I followed that parade right Into lhe circus lot." "Did you seed inside de tent?" Wil lie asked eagerly. "I didn't have enough money for that," Douglas answered frankly, He turned to the small boy and pinched his ear. There was sad disappoint In tin; ytntnfi pattor't attM unua white, Bpunglcd butdcH 6/ humanity, incut in the youngster's face, but be brightened again When the parson con fessed that he "pooped." "A parson peeping!" cried the thin lipped Miss Perkins. "1 was not a parson then," corrected Douglas good naturodly. "You were going to be." persisted the spinster. "I hild to lie a boy first In spite of that fact." The sudden appearance of Hasty proved a diversion. He was looking very sheepish. "ilyar he Is, Mars John; look at him:" said Mandy. "Ilnsty, where have you been all day?" demanded Douglas severely. Ilnsty fumbled with his bat and spnrred for time. "Did yo' say whnr's I been, sab?" "Dat's what he done nst yo'," Mandy prompted threateningly. "I bin 'celved, Mars .lohn," declared Hasty solemnly. Mandy snorted in credulously. Douglas waited. ".V geouneu In do circus done tolc me dls mnwnln' dnt ef I carry water fo' do erphants he'll let me In de clr ens fo' nuffin', an' 1 make n "groemenl wld him. Mars John, did yo' ebber seed an el'pbant drinkV" be asked, rolling his eyes. John shook his head. "Well. sab. he Jos' put dat trunk a hl8*n into de pall Jos' once 0U*?sw ish water gone." Douglas laughed, nnd Mandy mut tered sullenly. "Well, sab." continued Hasty. "I tote water fo" dem el'phants all day long, an' when I cum roun' to see de circus do gennnen won't let me In. An' when 1 try to crawl under de tent dcy pulls me out by de InlgS an' heats me." lit looked from i ne to the other, expect Ing sympnthy. "Sarves you right." was Mandy's unfeeling reply. "If yo's so anxious to be n-totln' water. Jes' yo' come along outside nnd tote some fo' Mandy." "I can't do no mo' carryln", Mandy." protested Hasty. "1's burled In mah arm." . "What hurt yo"r" ? \ "Tiger." "A tiger?" exclaimed the wor.ien in unison. "Hone (hawed it mos' off." he de dared solemnly. "Deacon Elverson, 1)0 seed It. an' he says l's hurt had." "Deacon Elverson:' cried the spin ster. "Was Deacon Elverson at tin" circus V , "lie was In de lot. a-tryin' to look In, same a- me," Hasty answered in noceutly. ? You'd better tnko Hasty into the kitchen." said Douglas to Mainly. With a dry smile. "He's talking too much for a wounded man." Mamly disappeared with he dis graced Hasty, advising him. with line scorn, "to get de tiger to ( haw oil" his laigs. so's he wouldn't have to walk no mo*," The women gazed at each other with lips closed tightly. Kherson's be havlor was beyond their power of ex pression. Miss Perkins turned to the pastor ns though he were somehow to blame for the deacon's backsliding, but before she could find words to nr gue the point the timid little deacon appeared in the doorway, utterly on conscious of tlie hostile reception that Hasty had prepured for him. He glanced nervously from one set face to the other, then coughed behind hit* hat. "We're all very much Interested In the circus," said Douglas. "Can't you tell us about It V" "I Just went Into the lot to look for my son," stammered the deacon. "I feared Peter had strayed." "Why, deacon!" said Mrs. YVIIlnugh by. "I Just stopped by your house and saw Mrs. Elverson put*' l'eter to bed " The deacon was saved fi 1 further embarrassment by an ? .clnmatiotl from Julia, w ho had sta; od at the window. "Ob, look; something has happened!" she cried. "There's a crowd. They are coining this way." Douglas crossed quickly to Julia's side and saw nn excited mob collect Ing before the entrance lO the main tent. He had lime to discover no more before Mandy burst In at I In door, panting with excitement and roll Ing her large, white rimmed eyeballs. "Mars John, a little circus girl done fall ofT her boss!" she cried. "Dr. Hartley say cat) dcy bring her In henh?" "Of course," said Douglas, hurrying outside. There were horrified exclamations from the women, who were aghast at. the Idea of n circus rider In ?re par sonnge. in their helpless Indignation they turned upon the little deacon, feel ing Intuitively (hat he was enjoying tho drama. Klverson wiih retreating Inward the door w hen he was sudden ly tin list asulo by Douglas. In the young pastor's arms was a white, spangled burden of humanity, her slender arm hung lifeless over his shoulder. The silk stocking was torn from one bruised ankle; her hair fell across her face, veiling it from (no un friendly glances of the women. Doug las passed out of sight up the stair way Without looking to the right or left, followed by the doctor, Mandy I'eivcllcd the front door In Mine to push back a crowd of intrud ers. She had barely closed tho door when It was IhrtlSt open by Jim. "Whei'O Is she?" he demanded. "Co way f'uni here!'' cried Mandy as her eyes unconsciously sought the stairs. Jim followed (he direction of her glance mid cleared the uteps at a bound. Mandy pursued bin), muttering angrily. Deacon Klverson, too. was about to follow when n grbn reminder from Mtss Perkins brought him around, and he made for the door Instead. He started back on opening It, for stand Ing on the threshold was a clown In his grotesque makeup. His while clothes were partially concealed by a large traveling ulster hold together by one button. In one hand ho carried a small leather satchel. In the other n girl's sailor hat. A Utile tnti cont was thrown across his arm. The giggles of the boy hiding behind bis mother's skirl were the only greetings received by the tre nbllng old man In the door way. He glanced Uncertainly from one un friendly face lo the oilier, walling for a word of invitation to cuter, but none came. To lie Continued.