Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-08-06

had bought In a passageway and
which was very expensive. 1t was
the price of four of working days
But he wonl1 have given twenty,
thirty he would have given the price
of years labor to bring back a
smile 10 inc pale lips of the sick child.
The chilL looked at the plaything a
monent as il glistened on the white
cover of the bed, thcl s.id sadly:
1T is not Boum- -Boum want to
see Boum Bcumr'
All if Jacques could have wrapped
him up in his blankets. could have
carried him 70 the circus, could have
shown him the clown dancing under
the lighted chandelier and have said
| to. him. Look He did better, Jacques,
he went to the circus, demanded the
address of the clown, and timidly,
his legs shaking with fear, he
climbed. ono by one, the steps which
led to the apartment of the artist at
Montmartre. 1t was very bold this
that Jacques was going to do. But
after all the comedians go to sing
and recite their monologues in draw
ing rooms, at the houses of the great
lords Perhaps the clown-oh, if he
only would would consent to come
and say goodby to Francois. No
matter, how would they receive him,
Jacques Leg1and here at Boum-
Boum's housel
He was no longer Boum-Boum !
He was NJ Moreno, and, in the ar
tistic dwelling. tho books, the en-
cravings. the elegance was like a
choice decoration around the charm
ing man who received Jacques in his
Office like that of q doctor.
Jacques looked, but did not recog-
nize the clown, and tulne and twist
ed his felt hat between his fingers.
The other waited. Then the father
excused himself 1T 1as astonish
ing what he came there to ask; it
could not be pardon, cXc Use. But, in
short, it vas concerning the little
one. A nice little one, monsieur.
And 50 intelligent Always the first
at school except in arirhmn+in. Al1icil
he did not understand A dreamer,
this little one, do you seer Yes, a
dreamer And the proof. wait. the
proof"
Jacques now Eesitated, stammered
but he gathered up his courage and
said bi'usquely:
"The proof is that he wishes to see
you, that he thinks only of you, and
that you are there before him like a
star which he would Ike to have and
that he looks -
When he had finished, the father
was deadly pale, and he had great
drops on his forehead. He dared
not look at the clown Who remained
with his eyes fixed on the workman.
And what was he going to say, this
Boum- Boum3 Was he going to dis
miss him, take him for a fool and
put him out the door2
''You liveF"
"Oh, very nearl Street of the
Abessess.
Gomez said the other. Your boy
wants to see Boum-Bouns All, well,
he is going to see Boum- Boun." !"
When the door opened and showed
the clown, Jacques Lesrand cried
out joyfully to his son
Francois, be happy, child See,
here he is, Boum Boumw
A look of great JOY came over the
child's face. He raised himself on
his mothers arm and turned his
head toward the two men who ap
preached, questioning, for a mo-
ment, who it was by the side of his
father-this gentleman in an over
coat whose good, pleasant face he
did not know
When they said to him, ''it is
Boum- m-Boum /" he slowly fell back on
the pillow and remained there, his
eyes fixed, his beautiful large, blue
eyes which looked beyond the walls
of the little room and were always
seeking the spangles and the butter
fly of Boum Boum, like lover who
pursues his dream.
mo, replied the child with voice
which was no longer dry, but full of
despair, mo, it is not Boum Boum. v
The clown, standing near the little
bed, threw upon the child an earnest
look, very grave, but of an inexpress
ible sweetness
He shook his head, looked at the
anxious father, the grief stricken
mother, and said, smiling, "He is
right, this is not Boum- -Boum y and
then he went out.
Il cannot see him, ! will never see
Boum- Boum any more repeated the
child whose little voice spoke to the
angels. "Boum Boum is perhaps
there, there, whore little Francois
will soon go"
And suddenly it was only half an
hour since the clown had disappeared
J the door opened OUjcklv and in his