Part 16 (1/2)

CHAPTER XV.

TOBY'S FRIENDS PRESENT HIM WITH A COSTUME.

During this time Toby's funds had acc.u.mulated rather slower than on the first few days he was in the business, but he had saved eleven dollars, and Mr. Lord had paid him five dollars of his salary, so that he had the to him enormous sum of sixteen dollars; and he had about made up his mind to make one effort for liberty, when the news came that he was to ride in public.

He had, in fact, been ready to run away any time within the past week; but, as if they had divined his intentions, both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord had kept a very strict watch over him, one or the other keeping him in sight from the time he got through with his labors at night until they saw him on the cart with Old Ben.

”I was just gettin' ready to run away,” said Toby to Ella, on the day Mr. Castle gave his decision as to their taking part in the performance, and while they were walking out of the tent, ”an' I shouldn't wonder now if I got away to-night.”

”Oh, Toby!” exclaimed the girl, as she looked reproachfully at him, ”after all the work we've had to get ready, you won't go off and leave me before we've had a chance to see what the folks will say when they see us together?”

It was impossible for Toby to feel any delight at the idea of riding in public, and he would have been willing to have taken one of Mr. Lord's most severe whippings if he could have escaped from it; but he and Ella had become such firm friends, and he had conceived such a boyish admiration for her, that he felt as if he were willing to bear almost anything for the sake of giving her pleasure. Therefore he said, after a few moments' reflection, ”Well, I won't go to-night, anyway, even if I have the best chance that ever was. I'll stay one day more, anyhow, an'

perhaps I'll have to stay a good many.”

”That's a nice boy,” said Ella, positively, as Toby thus gave his decision, ”and I'll kiss you for it.”

Before Toby fully realized what she was about, almost before he had understood what she said, she had put her arms around his neck and given him a good sound kiss right on his freckled face.

Toby was surprised, astonished, and just a little bit ashamed. He had never been kissed by a girl before--very seldom by any one, save the fat lady--and he hardly knew what to do or say. He blushed until his face was almost as red as his hair, and this color had the effect of making his freckles stand out with startling distinctness. Then he looked carefully around to see if any one had seen them.

”I never had a girl kiss me before,” said Toby, hesitatingly, ”an' you see it made me feel kinder queer to have you do it out here, where everybody could see.”

”Well, I kissed you because I like you very much, and because you are going to stay and ride with me to-morrow,” she said, positively; and then she added, slyly, ”I may kiss you again, if you don't get a chance to run away very soon.”

”I wish it wasn't for Uncle Dan'l an' the rest of the folks at home, an'

there wasn't any such men as Mr. Lord an' Mr. Castle, an' then I don't know but I might want to stay with the circus, 'cause I like you awful much.”

And as he spoke Toby's heart grew very tender toward the only girl-friend he had ever known.

By this time they had reached the door of the tent, and as they stepped outside one of the drivers told them that Mr. Treat and his wife were very anxious to see both of them in their tent.

”I don't believe I can go,” said Toby, doubtfully, as he glanced toward the booth, where Mr. Lord was busy in attending to customers, and evidently waiting for Toby to relieve him, so that he could go to his dinner; ”I don't believe Mr. Lord will let me.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ELLA AND TOBY.]

”Go and ask him,” said Ella, eagerly. ”We won't be gone but a minute.”

Toby approached his employer with fear and trembling. He had never before asked leave to be away from his work, even for a moment, and he had no doubt but that his request would be refused with blows.

”Mr. Treat wants me to come in his tent for a minute; can I go?” he asked, in a timid voice, and in such a low tone as to render it almost inaudible.

Mr. Lord looked at him for an instant, and Toby was sure that he was making up his mind whether to kick him, or catch him by the collar and use the rubber cane on him. But he had no such intention, evidently, for he said, in a voice unusually mild, ”Yes, an' you needn't come to work again until it's time to go into the tent.”

Toby was almost alarmed at this unusual kindness, and it puzzled him so much that he would have forgotten he had permission to go away if Ella had not pulled him gently by the coat.

If he had heard a conversation between Mr. Lord and Mr. Castle that very morning he would have understood why it was that Mr. Lord had so suddenly become kind. Mr. Castle had told Job that the boy had really shown himself to be a good rider, and that in order to make him more contented with his lot, and to keep him from running away, he must be used more kindly, and perhaps be taken from the candy business altogether, which latter advice Mr. Lord did not look upon with favor, because of the large sales which the boy made.

When they reached the skeleton's tent they found to their surprise that no exhibition was being given at that hour, and Ella said, with some concern, ”How queer it is that the doors are not open! I do hope that they are not sick.”