Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"Excuse me," llO said "I .lust brought Rome of her little tilings, she'd better put on her eont when bIic goes out. It's get tin' kinder chilly." lie looked again into the blnnk fnees. sun no one spoke, lie stepped forward, trembling with anxiety. A Kudden fear clutched at tils heart, the mUHClCS of Ids face worked pitifully, the red painted lips began to quiver. "it ain't- It ain't that, is it';" he fal tered, unable to utter the word that tilled him with horror. Even -Miss Perle lug was momentarily touched by the anguish 111 the old men's voice. "I guess you will Und the person you are looking for up The pointed clot/ n n(ood tilonc stairs." she answered tartly ntul flounced out of the house, catling to Julia and the others to follow her and declaring that she would soon let folks know how the parson Imil brought 0 "circus rldin' girl" into the parsonage. The painted clown stood alone, look big from one wall ti> the other, then crossed the room and placed the alli gator Blltchcl ami the little coat und hat on the study table, He was care ful not to wrinkle the coat, for this was Polly's birthday gift, .lim and he laid planned to have sandwiches nud soda pop on the top <'f the Idg WOgOll when they offered their treasures to night. Itut now the wagons would soon he leaving, and where was Pol ly? He turned to usU i his question as Mnndy came down the stairs. "Weil, if dar ain't nnudder one!" she cried. "Never mind. Mnndy." said Douglas, who was just behind her, carrying a small water pitcher ami searching for a Pottle of brandy which had been placed in the medicine ehest for emer gencies. "You can take these upstairs," he told her when he hail tilled the pitcher with water anil found the liquor. Man tly looked threateningly at Toby, then reluctantly went on her way. Douglas turned to the old man pleas antly. His was the first greeting that Toby bad received, and he at last found voice to ask whether Polly was badly hurt. "Tbc doctor hasn't told ns yet," Douglas kindly. "rm her Uncle Toby?not her uncle." the old uuiii explained. calls me. 1 couldn't away because I'm on Could 1 see her now. said real "but that's what she come out right in the concert, please V" ?'Here's (Ik1 doctor," said Douglas ftfl Hartley came down tho stairs, follow ed by Jim. "Wei!, doctor, not bad, I hope'.'" "Yes, rather bad." said the doctor, adding quickly as be saw the suffering In Toby's face, "but don't be alarmed. She's golllg to get well." "How long will It be before we can have her bach before she < an ride again':" asked ,11m grullly as tie stood apart, twisting his brown, worn hat In his hands. "1'robably several months." said the doctor. "No iMities are broken, but the ligaments of one ankle an? torn, hixI she received a bad blow on (he bead, It will lie some time before she recov ers consciousness." "What are we grrhi' to <k>. Jlrt>9w risked Toby helplessly. "You needn't worry. We'll take good care of her here," fwild DOMgUlO, ".eelug desperation written OU their faces. "Here?" They loofccil st him to credurously, And this wan a parson! "Whi-re are her purontfiV the doCtOT OBked. looking at Jim ami Toby. "She ain't got no parents 'cept Toby an* me." replied Jim "Wo'V* took care of her ever siiK^o she was a baby." "Oh. I see:" said the doctor. "Well, one of yon'q l etter stay here until she ran be moved." "Tlint'8 the trouble. Wo can't." said Toby, hanging hi* head. "You sec, sir. clrcug folks is like soldiers. No mat ter what happens, the show has to go on, an' we got to be In our places." "Well. well, she'll he safe enough here," said the doctor. "It Is a fortu nate thing that Mr. Douglas can man age this, our t>>w:i hospital burned down a few months ago, and we've been rather puzzled as to what to do with Blich cases." He took his leave, with a cheery "Good night" und n promise to look In upon the little pa tient later. .Tim shuffled awkwardly toward the pastor. "It's mighty good of you to do this." he mumbled, "but she ain't goln' to be no charity patient. Me an' Toby . goln' to look after her keep." "Her wants will be very few," Doug las answered kindly. "You needn't trouble much about that." "I mean It," said .Mm savagely. Tie met Douglas' glance of surprise with a determined look, for he feared that his chance of being useful to Polly might bo slipping out of his life. "You mustn't mind .Mm." the clown pleaded at the paster's elbow. "You see, pain gets seme folks different from others, an' It always kinder makes him savnire." "Oh. that's all right," Douglas an swered quickly. His own life had been so lonely that he could under stand the selfish yearning in the big man's heart. "You must do what you think best about these things. Mnndy and I will look after the rest." Jim hung his head, feeling somehow that the pastor had seen straight into his heart ami discovered his petty weakness. Ho v\as about to turn to ward the door when it was thrown open by Barker. "Where Is she'" shouted the mana ger, looking from one to the other. "She can't come." said Jim In a low. steady voice, for lie knew the storm of opposition with which Rnrker would meet the announcement. "Cnn't come?" shrieked Barker. "Of course she'll come. I can't get along without her. She's got to come." lie looked at Jim. who remained silent and firm. "Why ain't she eomin'?" he asked, feeding himself already defeat* ed. "She's hurt bad." was Jim's laconic reply. "The devil she Is"' said Barker, looking at Douglas for confirmation. "Is that right;" "She won't be able to travel for some time." said Douglas. "Mr. Barker Is our manager." Toby explained as he edged his way to the pastor's side. "Some time!" Barker looked at. Douglas as though he were to Ida me for their misfortune. "Well, you .lust bet she will." he declared menacingly. "See here. Darker, don't you talk to him like that." said Jim. facing the manager. "lie's darned square, even If he is a parson." Barker turned away. lie was not a bad hearted man, but he was Irritated and upset at los ing the star feature of his bill. "Ain't this my dodgasted luck?" ho muttered to himself ns his eye again traveled to the boss ennvasman. "You get out of here. Jim," he shouted, "an" start them wagons. The show's got to go on. Doll or no Poll!" lie turned with his hand on the doorknob and Jerked out a grudging thanks to the pastor. "It's all llred good of you to take her In." lie said, "but It's tough to lose her. Good night!" lie banged the door and clat tered down the steps. Jim waited. He was trying to find WOrdfl In which to tell his gratitude. None came, and he turned to go. with a short "< loodby." "Good night, Jim." said the pastor. ITe crossed the room and took the big fellow's hand. "Much < bilged," Jim answered gruff ly. It Was his only polite phrase, and he had taught Dolly to say It. Doug las waited until Jim had passed down the steps, then turned to Toby, who still lingered near the table. "You'll tell her how It was me an' .Tim had to leave l.er Without sayln' goodby, won't you. sir'.'" Toby pleaded, "Yes. Indeed." Douglas promised. "I'll J08" pUt this little bit of money Into her satchel." lie picked up the little brown bag that was to have been Polly'fl birthday gift. "Me an' Jim will be Send 111' her more sum." "You're going to miss her. I'm afraid." Douglas said, feeling an ir resistible desire to gain the old man's confidence. "Lord blow J'OH, yes. sir!" Toby an swered, turning Upon him eagerly. "Mo an' Jim has been father an' moth er un' Je*?' ftbont overything to that little one, Hts* wttMift much biggor'u ti tuiixlful of p^otiHitx when wo begun u-worrylu' nhout her." "Well, Mondy will do the worrying now." I KMlglaa htogltod. "Sou's 1hm?o dying for a clmnco to mot bor sour body all along. Why, oven triml U Oll IIH-." "I noticed as Ixnr swim* Of flx>so church people Boomed to look kinder queer st me." said Toby, "an' 1 Ix?en (i-wondorin' if mebbo they might feel the same about her." J "<?!??. the:'rj ;'U jVjht!" Douche.; a* Mired film. "They'll be her friends in Ho time." "She's fit for 'em, sir.'* Toby plead* od. "She's good, clean Into the mid dle of her heart." "I'm sure of it." Douglas answered. "A'o matter what tutppens, the show lias to go on." "I've beard how some church folks feels towards us circus people, sir, an' I jes' wj^'eil you to know that then- ain't i.uer families or better :notbers or fathers or'grandfathers or grandmothers anywhere than among us. Why, that girl's mother rode the horses afore her. an" her mother afore that, an' her grandmother an" grand father afore that, an' there ain't no body what's eared more for their good name an' their children's good name 'an her people has. You see, sir, cir cus folks 1< all like that. Thoy's Jes' like one big family. They tends to their business an' lakes good care of t licit-selves. They ha-- to or they couldn't (b? their work. It's "cause I'm leavln' her with you thai I'm savin' all this." the old man apologized, "I'm glad you fold me, Toby." Hong- | las answered kindly. "I've never known much about circus folks." "I guess I'd better l e g- in ." Toby faltend as bis eyes toved hungrily to ward the stairway. "i ll send von our route, nT mebbe you'll be lettln' us know In w she is." "Indeed, 1 will," Douglas assured him heartily. "You might tell her we'll write ever' day or so." he added. "I'll tell her," Douglas promised enr Dcstly, "Good night!" The old man hesitat ed, unwilling to go. hut tin? bio ?<? find further [tretest for staying. "c.oid night, Toby." Douglas ex tended his band toward the bent figure that was about to shuffle fast hill). The withered hand of the white faced clown rested In the strong grasp of the pastor, ami his pale little eyes sought the face of the stalwart man before him, A u 11 tub desolation was growing In bis hear:. The object for which he had gone on day by day was being left behind, and he must stumble forth Into the night alone. "it's bird to leave her." ho mum bled, "but the show has got to go on." The door shut out the bent, old tig uro. Douglas stood for some lime whore Toby had left him. still think ing of his prophetic words. Ills rev erie was broken by the sounds of the departing wagons, the low muttered curses of the drivers, the shrieking and roaring of the animals, as the ' Ir ons train moved Up the distant hill. "The show has got to go on." he re peated US be crossed to his study table am', seated himself for work In the dim light of the old fashioned lamp. He put out one hand to draw the sheets of his Interrupted sermon to ward him. but Ins-tend it fell upon a Small sailor hat. He twisted the hat absently In his lingers, not yet realiz ing the new order of things that was coming Into his life. Mnndy tiptoed softly down the stairs. She placed one pudgy forefinger on her lips and rolled her large eyes skyward. "Hat sure am an angel chile straight from heb beil," she whispered, "She done got a face Jes- like a little flower." "Straight from heaven." Douglas re pented as she crossed softly to the ta ble and picked tip the satchel and coat. ??You can leave the lamp, Mnndy, I must finish tomorrow's sermon." She turned at the threshold ami shook her head rather sadly as she saw the Imprint of the day's cares on the young pastor's face. "Yo' IlltlS' be pOW'ful tired," she said. "So, no; not at all. Hood night, Mnndy." She closed the door behind her. and Douglas was alone, lb- gazed absent ly at the pages of his llllfllshcd ser mon as he tai>pcd his idle pell on the desk. "The show has got to go on," he repeated, and far up the hillside with the ?slow moving wagons ,11m ami Toby io.?ked with unseeing eyos Into the dim. starlit distance and echoed the thought, "Tin- show has got to go on." To lie Continued. Ol Interest to l'nrmi rv hiiiI Mechanics. Farmers and mechanics frequently meet with slight accidents ami inju ries which cause them much annoy ance and loss of time. A cut or bruise may be cured In about one third the time usually required by applying Chamberlain's Liniment as soon as the injury Is recelv. d. This liniment Is also valuable for sprains, soreness of the muscles and rhoii'un tle p; ins. There Is no danger of blood poisoning resulting from an in jury when Chamberlain's Liniment Ifl applied 1" "ore the parts become In flnmod and swollen. For lutle by i. iv.k ns Drug Co. s W\ W 9 ^BfcTvikTirtT Uttx^ 1 he best thin*s that I you can put on your ^ Office, Hail, Dining ^ IlNOLEUM Room, Bath Room Q and Kitchen Floors, w ^ as it is made of material thatwill last longer and give better 5 j^j satisfaction than any other floor covering: that you can ?et. 5j Enorcc Bridge Contract Let. County Supervisor Humbert met the supervisor of Spartanburg at Enoree last Thursday when the two olliclals awarded the contract for rebuilding Enoree bridge to Messrs. D. E. Balen tine of Laurens and Calvin Yarhor ough of Cross Anchor, for $5,300, the bridge to he a sixteen foot steel st rueture. The .Latest .Form, of . Auto-intox ication. A physician In Oklahoma bought an automobile, .and became so excited over running it that he lost his head, steered into a ditch, and was killed. The jury brought in a verdict of "death from auto-intoxication."?The Medical Visitor. NOTICE. The County Commissioners of Car rens County, S. C. will receive p 'opt sals, to be tiled with the County s ipei visor, until June 12, 1909, I- o'clocl m., for building a dining room an kitchen at the county jail. Contrat to be awaided to the lowest re3pons< hie bidder. The right is reserved t reject any or all bids. H. B. HUMBERT, 43-3t. dupervisoi Women's Shoes The Best Mak ers' Best THHRK are many new beauty points in our Spring here for Shoes learn of the superiority of our Shoes?tie to t of going elsewhere. They tell their friends about the goodness of our Slu ts, and so oi trade has grown to r Women's Shoe innENSE PROPORTIONS! Shoes for the House or Street. Hand turned, dainty creations, or more solid Shoes for Walking. $2.00, $2.50, $3.00 to #3 00 Patent Kid, Colt, Gun Metal Calf, Tans, Blttton, I.ace or Blueher. Per forated tips and short vamps. Medium or narrow toes. Cuban or French heels. $ The perfect fitting of a Shoe is as important as the style. We are experts at fitting feet exactly as they should be fitted. 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