"
Strong grunted uncivilly, and went down the steps. She saw from
the window that he met Elverson in front of the church.
"Dey sure am a-meanin' trouble," she mumbled.
The band had stopped playing; the last of the audience had
straggled down the street. She opened the door and stood on the
porch; the house seemed to suffocate her. What was keeping
Hasty?
He came at last, but Mandy could tell from his gait that he
brought unwelcome news.
"Ain't she dar?"
"She's wid 'em, all right," said Hasty.
"Yuh seed her?"
"Naw, I didn't done SEED her."
"What?"
"She want in de show."
"What you jes' tell me?"
"She's a-trabbelin' wid 'em, Mandy, but she didn't done ride."
"See heah, Hasty Jones, is dat ere chile sick?"
"I don' rightly know," said Hasty. "A great big man, what wored
clothes like a gemmen, comed out wid a whip in his hand and says
as how he's 'bliged to 'nounce anudder gal in Miss Polly's place.
An' den he says as how de udder gal was jes' as good, an' den
everybody look disappinted like, an' den out comes de udder gal
on a hoss an' do tricks, an' I ain't heard no more 'bout Miss
Polly."
"Why didn't you done ask somebody?"
"Warn't nobody ter ask but de man what wuz hurryin' ever'body to
get out of de tent.
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