Under the Lilacs Read Online Free PDF

asked Mrs. Moss, rather confused by the sudden introduction of new names and people.
    “Why she was ‘Melia — Mrs. Smithers, the ringmaster’s wife. His name wasn’t Montgomery anymore ‘n hers was St. John. They
     all change ’em to something fine on the bills, you know. Father used to be Señor Jose Montebello; and Iwas Master Adolphus Bloomsbury, after I stopped bein’ a flyin’ Coopid and a Infant Progidy.”
    Mrs. Moss leaned back in her chair to laugh at that, greatly to the surprise of the little girls, who were much impressed
     with the elegance of these high-sounding names.
    “Go on with your story, Ben, and tell why you ran away and what became of your Pa,” she said, composing herself to listen,
     really interested in the child.
    “Well, you see, father had a quarrel with old Smithers, and went off sudden last fall, just before the tenting season was
     over. He told me he was goin’ to a great ridin’ school in New York, and when he was fixed he’d send for me. I was to stay
     in the museum and help Pedro with the trick business. He was a nice man and I liked him, and ‘Melia was goin’ to see to me,
     and I didn’t mind for a while. But father didn’t send for me, and I began to have horrid times. If it hadn’t been for ‘Melia
     and Sancho I would have cut away long before I did.”
    “What did you have to do?”
    “Lots of things, for times was dull and I was smart. Smithers said so, anyway, and I had to tumble up lively when he gave
     the word. I didn’t mind doin’ tricks or showin’ off Sancho, for father trained him, and he always did well with me. But they
     wanted me to drink gin to keep me small, and I wouldn’t, ‘cause father didn’t like that kind of thing. I used to ride tip-top,
     and that just suited me till I got a fall and hurt my back; but I had to go on all the same, though I ached dreadful, and
     used to tumble off, I was so dizzy and weak.”
    “What a brute that man must have been! Why didn’t ‘Melia put a stop to it?” asked Mrs. Moss, indignantly.
    “She died, ma’am, and then there was no one left but Sanch; so I run away.”
    Then Ben fell to patting his dog again, to hide the tears he could not keep from coming at the thought of the kind friend
     he had lost.
    “What did you mean to do?”
    “Find father; but I couldn’t, for he wasn’t at the ridin’ school, and they told me he had gone out West to buy mustangs for
     a man who wanted a lot. So then I was in a fix, for I couldn’t go to father, didn’t know jest where he was, and I wouldn’t
     sneak back to Smithers to be abused. Tried to make ’em take me at the ridin’ school, but they didn’t want a boy, and I traveled
     along and tried to get work. But I’d have starved if it hadn’t been for Sanch. I left him tied up when I ran off, for fear
     they’d say I stole him. He’s a very valuable dog, ma’am, the best trick dog I ever see, and they’d want him back more than
     they would me. He belongs to father, and I hated to leave him; but I did. I hooked it one dark night, and never thought I’d
     see him ag’in. Next mornin’ I was eatin’ breakfast in a barn miles away, and dreadful lonesome, when he came tearin’ in, all
     mud and wet, with a great piece of rope draggin’. He’d gnawed it and come after me, and wouldn’t go back or be lost; and I’ll
     never leave him again, will I, dear old feller?”
    Sancho had listened to this portion of the tale with intense interest, and when Ben spoke to him he stood straight up, put
     both paws on the boy’s shoulders, licked his face with a world of dumb affection in his yellow eyes, and gave a little whine
     which said as plainly as words—
    “Cheer up, little master; fathers may vanish and friends die, but
I
never will desert you.”
    Ben hugged him close and smiled over his curly white head at the little girls, who clapped their hands at the pleasing tableau,
     and then went to pat and fondle the good creature, assuring him