He could show the children where the tent
and wagon stood, and it was bare ground now. He had also discovered
the time-honored circus-ring, where every summer the tinseled host
rode and tumbled. But under the circumstances, a circus-ring had no
charms.
"Then they've got her," said Bobaday. "We'll never see the pretty
little thing again. If I'd been a man I wouldn't let that woman have
her, like Grandma Padgett did. Grown folks are so funny. I did wish
some grand people would come in the night and say she was their
child, and make the show give her up."
Aunt Corinne arose to fly to her mother and Mrs. Sebastian with the
news. But the central door opening on the instant and Mrs. Sebastian,
her husband and guest coming out, aunt Corinne had not far to fly.
"The woman is a stealer," she added to her breathless recital. "She
didn't even send my things back."
"She's welcome to them," said Grandma Padgett, shaking her head,
"but I feel for that child, whether the rightful owners has her or
not."
"This is Lord's Day," said William Sebastian to the children, "along
the whole length of the pike, and across the whole breadth of the
country. Thy little friend will get her First Day blessing.
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