And I want to see them, and to hear the music and the
laughter and the clown songs-- Oh, the clown songs!" She waltzed
about, humming the snatch of melody that Mandy had heard the
morning that Polly first woke in the parsonage.
"Ting, ling. That's how the bells ring,
Ting, ling, pretty young thing
She paused, her hands clasped behind her head, and gazed at them
with a brave, little smile. "Oh, it's going to be fine! Fine!"
"You don't know what you're doing," said Douglas. He seized her
roughly by the arm. Pain was making him brutal. "I won't LET
you go! Do you hear me? I won't--not until you've thought it
over."
"I have thought it over," Polly answered, meeting his eyes and
trying to speak lightly. Her lips trembled. She could not bear
for him to think her so ungrateful. She remembered his great
kindness; the many thoughtful acts that had made the past year so
precious to her.
"You've been awfully good to me, Mr. John." She tried to choke
back a sob. "I'll never forget it--never! I'll always feel the
same toward you. But you mustn't ask me to stay. I want to get
back to them that knew me first--to my OWN! Circus folks aren't
cut out for parsons' homes, and I was born in the circus. I love
it--I love it! She felt her strength going, and cried out wildly:
"I want Bingo! I want to go round and round the ring! I want the
lights and the music and the hoops! I want the shrieks of the
animals, and the rumble of the wheels in the plains at night! I
want to ride in the big parade! I want to live and die--just
die--as circus folks die! I want to go back! I want to go back!"
She put out one trembling hand to Jim and rushed quickly through
the gate laughing and sobbing hysterically and calling to him to
follow.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123