Part 6 (1/2)
Teddy was not disturbed by the warning. He turned and started for the women's dressing tent, where he saw several of the other performers pa.s.sing through the entrance. Phil, who had stepped to the door of his own dressing tent, observed the same thing.
”I guess there must be something going on over there. I shall have to find out what it means,” he thought.
”May I come in, Mrs. Waite?” called Phil from the entrance.
”Sure. Come in Phil,” smiled the wardrobe woman.
Teddy had not wasted the breath to ask permission to enter, but the moment he stepped inside something caught his eyes, causing them to open a little wider.
Two trunks had been drawn up in the center; over them was thrown an American flag. At one end a flag on a standard had been planted, and on the trunks, flowers and wreaths had been placed.
”What's that thing?” asked Teddy.
”That is my grave, Master Teddy,” answered Mrs. Waite in a low tone.
”Your grave?”
”Yes.”
”Pshaw! That's a funny kind of grave. What's buried there--your pet poodle?”
”Teddy! Teddy!” whispered Phil reprovingly.
”Go 'way. This is some kind of a joke,” growled Teddy.
”It is not a joke, though I do not understand the meaning of it just yet. You say this is your grave, Mrs. Waite?” asked Phil.
”Yes, Phil. You know my husband was a soldier?”
”No, I did not know that, Mrs. Waite. Will you tell me all about it?”
Phil was deeply interested now.
”My husband was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. He lies in Woodlawn Cemetery. I am never at home on Decoration Day. I am always on the road with the circus, so I cannot decorate the real grave.”
”I understand,” breathed the Circus Boy.
”Being unable to decorate my husband's real grave, I carry my grave with me. Each Memorial Day morning I prepare my grave here in the dressing tent, and decorate it as you see here, and all my friends of the circus are very good and thoughtful on that occasion.”
”How long have you been with the show--how many years have you been decorating this little property grave, Mrs. Waite?”
asked Phil.
”Thirty years, Phil.”
”Is it possible?”
”Yes, and it seems no more than two.”
”Do you intend remaining with the show much longer--aren't you ever going to retire?”