West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-03-08

dream, he would cling u it with an in.
! vincible obstinacy.
"les, Boum- Bouml BOum Boumi
want Boum- Boum -
The mother had seized i'm her nervous,
ness JacqCcs's hand, and said in low
voice, as though she were out of her
/ wits: "What does that mean, jacques
1 oh, II is all over W tn him ="
I But the father had on his rough face
smile that was almost happy. And a
/ bewildcred smile also-thc smile of a
/ condemned man who detects = possible
chance for liberty. Boum- Boum lie
/ well remembered the Easter morning
when he had taken Francois to the cir
Gus. He had still in his ears the child's
great burst of joy, his hearty laugh-the
iaugh OF an amused youngster when
the clown, the splendid clown, all spot
ted with gold, with sparkling, many
colored dress, on the back Of which was
set bg brown butterfly. performed his
antics IN tho ring, played tricks on the
riding master, or held himself motionlcss
on the ground, his head down and his
I ieet IN the air, or threw up TO the chan
/ delier his soft felt hat and caught il
adroltly on his head, and where the men
formed pyramid; and at each trick,
ilEe The refrain of song, lighting up
ms big, droll, bright face, the clown ut
tered the same cry, repeated the same
word, accompan ed sometimes bv n roll
Oi drums-Boum- Boum
Boum Bouml and every time that it
came round. Boum- Boum, the whole cir
Gus burst out in bravos. and the little
one laughed his heartiest Boum- Boum
/ II was this Boum- Boum, the clown of the
circus, the man who entertained good
part OF the city, that he wanted TO see,
the little Francois, and that he might
not have and might not see, because nc
was there, sick and weak, in his white
/ bed
Ihat evening Jacques Legrand brought
to the child II jOinted clown with span
giles scwed on all over, that he had
bought at high price the price, in fact,
oi four days work. But he would ha e
given twenty, thirty days, years labor
TO onng back smile to the pale lips of
the sick boy. The child looked for "a
minute at the toy as it shone on the white
bedclothes, then. sIdly:
1t Is not Boum- Bouml / want TO see
Boum- Boumw
An! If Jacques could have wrapped
him in his quilt. carried h IN Off, taken
him to the circus, shown him the clown
dancing under the lighted chandelier
aud said 20 him: "There is Boum-
Bouml
lie did better than that, this good
Jacques. lie went to the circus, lac
asked for the clowns address, and tim
idly, with limbs weakened by emotion.
he mounted step by step the staircase
that led to the home of the artist at
Montmartre. 1t was very bold what he
had come to do there, this man Jacques
But after all actors are willing to 90 and
play, to recite monologues in the drawing
rooms OF fire people. Perhaps the clown
oh, If he only would may be willing
to como and say good morning to Fran.
co.'s. What mattered it how they re-
celyed him, Jacques Legrand, at Boum-
Boum's home?
1t was no longer Boum -Boum 1t was
VI. Moraine, who, in the rooms Of an
artist, among books, engrayinos, an
artistic elegance making n choice back
ground TO a charming man, who received
jacques in his office like that OF a physi-
cian. Jacques stared did not recognize
the clown, and turned his soft hat over
an over in his hands. The other waited
Then the father excused himself. It was
surprising what he had just skcd-it
could not be done-pardon, excuse me
but IN fact it related to the little boy.
~ fine little boy, monsieurl and so IN
telhgentl Always the first in his class,
excepting in arithmetic, which ne did
not understand. A dreamer, this little
fellow, do you sect Yes, dreamer
And the prOOf--therc. the proof" and
Jaques hesitated. stammercd, and then
plucked up courage and abruptly said
ttInn nrpof 10 fhaf hf 90,
that he thinks only Of you, and If YOU
were there before him, like a star that he
would like 10 have and If he looked
and the father. whose face was wan and
ssilow with his great care. stopped, and
great drops OF sweat stood on his brow.
lie did not dare TO look at the clown.
who stood there with his eyes fixed on
the workman.
And what would Boum -Boum say 10
himl Would hc send him away take
him for q fool. put him out Of the houscs
"Iou live" asked Boum Boum
ooh, very near. Rue des Abbcssc "
every we'll" said the othe. 'Ile
wants 90 sec Boum- Boum, YOU say? An
right, he shall sec Boum Boum I"
Ill
when the door opened before the
clOWns JNUuCS LCgFand CrlCu out cheer
iugiy 20 his boy: "Now, francois, be
sltrfed, you roguel See there is
Boum- BOumw
And into the child's face there came n
happy light lie raised himself in his
mothers arms and turned his head
toward the two men, looked for mo
ment TO sec who was this gentleman i'm
The frock coat at his father side. the
gentleman whose good, jolly face was
then smiling on him, and whom Doe did
not know aud when they said to him
THAT is Boum BOum =" he fell back
slowly, sadly. with his head turned to
the pillow and lay there with. his eyes
fixed his big blue eyes that saw beyond
the walls Of the little bedroom and that
looked for, that were always looking for
Poum- Boum's spangles and butterfly as
lover pursucs his dreams
mo, replied the child, with n voice
no longer dry, but distressed "nO
That is not B)um Boum ("
The clown. standing near tho little
bod, bent q profound gaze on the face OF
the sick little man. q grave look. but OF
an infinite sweetness lie shook b.e
head, looked ut the anxious father and
broken down mother and said, SIN linz
"Ilo is right; it is not Boum Boumv
and he went ont