Photoplay (Feb-Sep 1917)

62 Photoplay Magazine "Because she's been here long enough, that's why," Strong ahnost shouted. "I don't agree with you there. Deacon Strong." "It don't make no difference wliether you agree or not. We say she's got to go." "Whom do you mean by ive/" asked Douglas. "The members of this congregation. How much longer do you intend a keepin' her here?" "Will you tell the congregation, for me, that that is my affair?" "Your affair." demanded the deacon. "When that girl is living under the church'^ roof? Eating the church's bread?" "Just a moment, Mr. Strong," said the minister calmly. "Let's understand this. I am minister of this church and for that position I receive — or am supposed to receive— a salary to live on ; and this parsonage, rent free, to live in. Any guests that I may have here are my guests and not the guests of the church. Remember that please. There are other reasons. Two friends of the little girl came to me the night she was injured, the circus had to go on, and they were obliged to leave her behind. I promised them that I'd take care of her. A short time later, one of them, an old clown, died, with my promise in his heart." "Well, we don't think she's the right sort of girl to associate with our young folks," returned Strong. "She's nothing but a circus rider — you know that." "I shall do what seems best for Miss Polly," said the rector with finality. "And now you will excuse me. please." Strong, mad with anger, turned away. A second later he came face to face with Polly, entering the rectory garden. Pollv had just heard that Barker's Circus was showing in a nearby town. Indeed. Big Jim himself had called to see her. He had begged her to return to the circus but Pollv had told him her whole view of life had changed. "Why, Jim," she had said, "when I lie in my little room up there at night and everything is peaceful and still. I think how it used to be. The cheerless cars, the fearful noise and the rush of it all — the mob in the tent, the ring with the blazing lights and the awful whirl around and round through the hoops — and Jim, the tights — I couldn't." Polly was still sad when she faced the frowning deacon. "Look here, young woman, do you know that your stay in this trouble?" Strong IS making parsonage began. Polly started back surprised. "It don't look good." continued the deacon, "and the wliole town's a talking about it — and if Mr. Douglas keeps on being so bull-headed and refusin' to have you go, we'll get another minister and git him quick." "Oh, no. no. Deacon Strong." exclaimed Polly. "Vou wouldn't do tliat. I'll go away — I'll go now — today — the circus is in Wakefield — only you won't send Mr. John away, will you? Vou see, it wasn't his fault. He was sorry for me, that's all. I'll go away and never, never see him again." "He can stay for all me." responded Strong mollified. "He talked pretty rougli but I ain't holdin' that agin him. He's been a good minister enough — I ain't forgettin' that." "Oh, thank you. Mr. Strong, thank you. I'll go right away." That night she packed lier few belongings and slipped away from the parsonage. Barker's (Ircater Shows welcomed her back with open arms. The circus came to Mapleville months later and once more pitched its tents close to the village church. The afternoon performance had passed uneventfully and it was about time for tlie night show to start. Polly sat on a little trunk just outside the dressing tent. She was gazing at the church steeple, silhouetted against the starstudded sky, and repressed a flood of tears with an eft'ort. Big Jim came around the tent. "Star gazin'. Poll?" he asked. "Do you feel better?" "I'm all right." said Polly listlessly. "I was a fool ever to liave brung you back," said Jim bitterly. "Vou don't belong with us no more." "Oh, don't. Jim, please don't. Don't make me feel I'm onlv in tlie wav here, too." "In the way?" demanded Jim. "'Here, too'. You wasn't in his wav, was vou. Poll?" "Yes, Jim." "You couldn't a credulouslv. "I tried not to be been," said Jim in -I tried so hard — he (Continued on page i66)