The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-02-29
CAPRICE OF A CLOWN.

of the large and magnificent Cirque
Imperial, was always crowded and
more especially by the elite Of the
fashionable young men in Paris,
while their side boxes were occupi-
ed only by country pumpkins, rich
bourgeoise and young collegians.
The cause of this migration from
the Imperial Circus to the circus
on which the Imperial Circus look
cd down as being mere booth, was
the beauty and attraction, youth
and wild grace Of Mile. Moranita
and her horse "Diavolo."
Moranito was wonder, for all
the bills said she was. and a little
more than the bills knew any
thing about, for she was a girl Of
immaculate conduct, and actually
knew how to read and write.
Moranita Was French ia poor lit
tie orphan, whom the clown of the
establishment had picked up half
starved in a garret from which the
public authorities had just taken
the body of her mother, u begsar,
in q coarse deal box.
The clown was an extremely fun
ny fellow, because nature had
twisted his form and given him a
hump, which was of course, exceed
ing funny, and a cause Of great
mlrth to the multitude. He had a
fine face, which was a pity for it
had effects-one that it gave him
great trouble to paint himself,
and becauso the handsome lace
had inspired him with a bitter
hatred for his distorted person, and
for the mocking world that laughed
at it.
He had never known home OF
family, he had sometimes been
near starvation, and had endured
it with defiant spirit. He had
lived among the depraved and the
dissipated, and had despised their
vices even while enjoying with the
public the reputation of shar-
ing them. He had been court
ed by managers and applauded by
crowds, but as soon as the conven-
tional grin had faded from his face
tho habitual expression of morose
bitterness was sutfused over his
handsome features.
He was almost ashamed Of the
feeling Of compassion that stirred
his breast when the poor, thin, cold
dark-eyed, frightened creature held
up its thin arms to him and asked
for its mother, and bread.
The feeling was strange one,
coming like glow over his frozen
nature, and he buried his head in
the child's tangled locks and wept-
wept until the unusual emotion
shook his frame, making him weak
and helpless as the child who c!ung
to him.
The sight of those appealing
black eyes, the clutch Of those little
fingers, the helpless cry had reused
from the depth of his heart feelings
which he did not know existed-a
new state of existence seemed to
have dawned on him-visions of calm
happiness, Of devotion, of affection,
Aoated before him; the bitterness
o. his life seemed suddenly to pass
away. Such u sensation was the
only one of happiness he had ever
known. He felt as if it had emana-
ted from the magnetic touch of the
child, and clasping her to him he
vowed never again to leave her.
Marie, now Moranita, carried
down in his arms into warmth and
light, looked on him as a god. To
her he was beautiful-he was divine
and from that hour he was the idol
of her soul.
He took her TO the circus. To
him there was no degradation i'll the
profession, and he was as proud of
seeing the little creature dash round
on her pony as any duke mightbe to
see his daughter dancing a court
minuet. She grew into strength
and beauty-bright, loving, full of
skill and courage--she was the joy
of his heart. They lived together,
this young girl and the deformed
clown, whose hair was getting gray,
and in all Paris there was net a
happier pair.
At seventeen Moranita, with her
father, as she called the clown, had
come to Paris.
She was in the height of her beau
ty, her youth and her talent. The
admiration and applause which she
received intoxicated her, and As the
martial trumpet incites the soldier,
led her to deeds of daring. One ev.
ening, by strange chance, out OF
which destinies are made, the young
Due de Croisy's coachman made a
mistake, and instead of stopping his
horses at the door of the circus,
stopped at the door Of the booth into
which the crowd was going.
The Due began by getting into a
rage, but all at once he bethought
himself Of a paragraph he had read
that morning in the paper about
some extraordinary young eques-
trienne, and turning to the Vicomte
de Villiers he proposed they should
have q lark and turn into the circus
instead Of turning into the Cirque
Imperial.
The Vicomte consented with some
zest for o new sensation, and no with
the Due walked into the booth with
the enthusiastic and not over per-
fumed crowd that was pressing for