Letty and the Twins

at Mrs. Hartwell-Jones did not feel equal to the effort of going. She was afraid she might tire or injure her lame foot; and Jane was sorry, for she would have enjo

village hotel, by the invitation of the hotel proprietor, Mr. Grubbs. Afterward there was to be a picnic dinner and then-the circus! Grandmother really could not have stood the strain of remaining at home and wondering whether

d had all the farm-hands, for grandfather firmly believed in the old saying that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy") had vanished with the dawn. Mrs.

was lost in a wonderful dream of the delights to come. Huldah and the baskets had the back seat to themselves and there was only just room for Huldah t

ole mile length were packed with squirming, excited children and their no less excited if quieter elders. The reason that children

ilies. A good many had given their workmen, too, a holiday, as Grandf

er each a bag of roasted peanuts and another of sticky pop-corn. Then he placed them side by

think that even the sorts of things that happen in story-books

t to the circus anyhow. Grandfath

ved it, Kit, and I'd much rather be here with things the way they are now. It's comfortable t

s to save them for the tent, where it's nice and clean. Outdoors they'd fade

se! She can ride too well. Just think

her horse-right in the circus ring, too. It hurt her a

there," exclaimed Jane, who h

the people are yelling and clapping down by the post-office

is balance, of course, and nothing but Jane's sudden grasp at the loosest part of his trousers, and the special providence that protects small boys, saved him from tumbling down upon the crowd below. He los

t you catch the bags?"

ed looking men on tired looking horses, half a dozen others dressed up as Indians, also on horseback, several cages of wild animals and a brassy brass band in a gilded chariot drawn by four horses. This band headed the procession and was the

tights and does such wonders on horseback," sh

of having their cages opened on the sides so that people could see them. The spectators had to guess as to what kind of animals were shut up in these cages; the pictures painted on the outside were no guides, as e

Jane's turn almost to fall out

tty! It is, it is! And she's driving Punch a

rming, excited child firmly around the waist. "We'll arrange a

"And Letty drives 'em well, too, you bet. But why is she rigged up in that queer way?

ago. Don't you remember the picture of Ben Hur in the chariot race?

an't sit down," commented Christopher. "I like t

ery circus parade) brought up the rear of the procession. The calliope was playing "Wait till the Clouds Roll by, Jennie" in a loud squawk, and the people along the street whistled the tune as they shouted and exchanged jokes with the clown. It was not at all an appropriate tune, for there was not a cloud in the sky. Indeed, the light was almost too bright, for it revealed me

sfaction, "we shall see Letty again," and

, for the picnic dinner. While Josh and Huldah were unpacking the hampers Mr. and Mrs. Baker, with the twins, crossed to where the circus people were group

es which they drove into the ground and then stood in a circle around a broad sheet of canvas that lay spread on the ground. At a given word the men tugged at their ropes and slowly a mountain of dingy y

n arranged in a half circle and the horses removed. Then smaller tents

were while the percession was going on? The bearded woman,

were shut up inside of som

ane. "Making people think you were some kind of a wild an

. Mrs. Drake joined them, carrying her baby, who insisted upon Le

e dreadful bear?" said grandmother kindly, holding out her hand to Lett

I did that. It happened so long ago and so much else has happened since. I was

d at her i

drawing her aside. "You never use

, as she saw Mrs. Drake approaching, "they are very

murmured grandmoth

er to buy tickets for the performance and then to look at a group of

unch and Judy

e dinner?" Letty inquire

dly gave her consent, taking the heavy, unwilling baby again into her own

ch interested," said grandmother and she explained who she wa

er's death was very hard on her, poor little thing, and then when her

ery good to her, Mrs. Drake. She spoke

at's to become of her now," and the good woman sighed. "I promised her b

en now?" asked Mrs.

e circus breaks up to-night. Mr. Drake has sold the menagerie and most of the troupe have got other po

etland ponie

ldren to have as pets," replied Mrs.

smiled unde

th the address on it. In the autumn I think I should like to place her in some good school where she can study and be equipped for making her way in the world. I am sure my daughter-in

I had stood in Letty's way of getting settled in life. Indeed, Mrs. Baker, she would repay any kindness shown her, no matter for what reason," she continued

or Letty's good before the autumn, but this plan must be

e was a pink glow in her thin cheeks. She looked more like her old, bright, cheer

e, "Letty says the Shetland poni

-Jones might want to buy

ned her ankle that she wished she had a Bath chair and when Kit asked what that was she said it wa

ch and Judy," finished Christopher, taking advantage

aker s

the very same thing. We must talk it over wit

l us dinner is ready. Please, can't

e pie," added

have felt obliged to make those pies-with quantities of cinnam

ed at Letty's ea

don't you?" she s

can spare me, Mrs. Drake," replied Letty, try

tle speech and it helped to strengthen t

years before-which she and her mother had spent out in the country near Willow Grove. When everybody had eaten as much as he or

. Drake, so please

off very hastily at length, in order to be ready in time to take her place in the grand march at the opening of the circus performance. It was agreed before she left t

de the tent. Grandfather gave Joshua tickets for Huldah and himself, a

AT EVERYTHING

ctions of the side-shows, a band was playing and boys moved about through the cro

was not the first circus they had been to, by any means, but that does not make any difference; one always has that same

elephant bowed and waltzed; and shut their eyes tight-at least Jane did-when the "human fly

ar-whoop. But Jane was faithful to her love of the lady in pink tights and watched her with open eyes and open

" she whispered to Christophe

ndmother's attention. She watched Letty long and carefully, and said

Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Hartwell-Jones, had a long, long talk together. It was all about Le

t such a wakeful, unhappy night. She had passed three very hard, sad years, but better days w