ered whimperingly in his arms, looking up
into his face, and licking the boy's hands whenever he had the
opportunity.

It was some time before Toby's grief exhausted itself; and then, still
clasping the monkey, he hurried out of the woods toward the town and the
now thoroughly hated circus tents.

The clocks were just striking one as Toby entered the enclosure used by
the show as a place of performance, and, remembering his engagement with
the skeleton and his wife, he went directly to their tent. From the
odors which assailed him as he entered, it was very evident that a feast
of no mean proportions was in course of preparation, and Toby's keen
appetite returned in full vigor. Even the monkey seemed affected by the
odor, for he danced about on his master's shoulder, and chattered so
that Toby was obliged to choke him a little in order to make him
present a respectable appearance.

When Toby reached the interior of the tent he was astonished at the
extent of the preparations that were being made, and gazed around him in
surprise. The platform on which the lean man and fat woman were in the
habit of exhibiting themselves now bore a long table, loaded with
eatables; and, from the fact that eight or ten chairs were ranged around
it, Toby understood that he was not the only guest invited to the feast.
Some little attempt had also been made at decoration by festooning that
end of the tent where the platform was placed with two or three flags
and some streamers, and the tent-poles also were fringed with
tissue-paper of the brightest colors.

Toby had only time enough to notice this when the skeleton advanced
toward him, and, with the liveliest appearance of pleasure, said, as he
took him by the hands with a grip that made him wince,

"It gives me great joy, Mr. Tyler, to welcome you at one of our little
home reunions, if one can call a tent, that is moved every day in the
week, home."

Toby hardly knew whom Mr. Treat referred to when he said "Mr. Tyler;"
but by the time his hands were released from the bony grasp he
understood that it was himself who was spoken to.

[Illustration: TOBY IS INTRODUCED TO THE ALBINOS.]

The skeleton then formally introduced him to the other guests present,
who were sitting at one end of the tent, and evidently anxiously
awaiting the coming feast.

"These," said Mr. Treat, as he waved his hand toward two white-haired,
pink-eyed young ladies, who sat with their arms twined around each