A quick alarm seized
him. He slunk back into the shadows, his hunger forgotten. For many
minutes he stood in the grisly darkness, staring at the white patch on
the fence. Curses rose to his lips--lips that had never known an oath
before; prayers and pleadings were forgotten in that bitter
arraignment of fate.
Then came the sudden revival of youthful spirits, carrying with them
the reckless bravado that all boys possess to the verge of folly. The
band was playing, the show had begun. In his mind's eye he could see
the "_grand entree._" A fierce desire to brave detection and boldly
enter the charmed pavilion took possession of him. First, he would buy
of the pieman's wares; then he would calmly present himself before the
ticket wagon window, after which--But he got no farther in his dream of
audacity. The placard on the fence seemed to smite him in the face. He
drew farther back into the darkness, shuddering. With his arms clasped
tightly across his chest, shivering in the chill that had returned
triumphant, he dragged himself wearily away from the place of
temptation.
Circling the dressing-tent, he came upon men at work.
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