Andy the Acrobat eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 181 pages of information about Andy the Acrobat.

Andy the Acrobat eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 181 pages of information about Andy the Acrobat.

Andy looked for Dobbin.  It was some time before he discovered the innocent partner of his recent disastrous escapade.

The old horse was half-a-mile distant, placidly making along the roadway for home.

Andy rubbed his head in distress and uncertainty.  He had a hard problem to figure out.  Suddenly his eyes snapped and he straightened up briskly.

“I won’t crawl,” he declared. “‘Toe the mark’ is Aunt Lavinia’s great motto.  ‘Face the music’ is mine.  I won’t turn tail and play the sneak.  I’ve destroyed some property.  Well, the first honest thing to do is to try and make good.  Here goes.”

Andy started for the road.  He reached the spot where he had left his coat and shoes.  Donning these he went to a little pool in the brush, washed his face and hands, and made a short cut for Farmer Dale’s house.

Andy’s heart was beating pretty fast as he entered the farm yard, but he marched straight up to the front door.

Andy knocked, first timidly, then louder.

There was no response.

CHAPTER IV

A BUSINESS PROPOSITION

“Nobody at home,” said Andy to himself.

He walked around the house to find all the windows closed and locked.

“That’s the reason no one came to the fire,” he resumed.  “There’s somebody, though.”

Andy started in the direction of the barn.  He had caught the sound of some one chopping or hammering there.

He came upon a hired hand splitting some sawed hickory slabs to whittle down into skewers.

“Mr. Dale’s folks all away?” inquired Andy.

“Reckon they are, youngster,” answered the man.

“Will they be gone long, do you think?”

“Mr. Dale won’t.  He drove the family over to Centreville.  The circus is there, you know.”

“Yes,” said Andy—­longingly.

“Took them early, so they could look around town.  They’re going to stay all night with some relations, Mr. Dale isn’t, though.  He ought to be back by this time.  He’s due now.  Was talking of carting a couple of loads of hay over to Gregson’s this morning.”

Andy’s heart sank at this.  He did not tell the man about the fire. 
Backing away gloomily, he went out into the road again.

Every point in the landscape suggested some section of his morning’s misfortunes.  Andy craned his neck as he took in a distant view of the old school-house.

He made out a female figure approaching it.  Andy recognized the green bombazine dress of Miss Lavinia Talcott.  She carried a baggy umbrella in her hand.  Andy from experience knew that its possession by the old maid was generally a sign that she was on the war-path.

“She’s hunting for me,” thought Andy.  “I suppose I’ve got to face the music some time, but I’ll not do it just now, I’ve got some business to attend to, first.”

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Andy the Acrobat from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.