The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-04-05

mistaking those lines OF cheek. and
brow, and chin, almost cherubic in
their softrSss, nor the delicate. scarce
iy perceptible upward curve of the
tiny nose that made Babinette a pict-
ure or childish innocence. yet Picotin
gazed stupidity al her. doubtful whether
TO believe his own senses. What was
she doing here with her hand in
that of another when she was his af-
fianced wife?
He did not have to wait long for an
explanation.
Vows and protestations fell upon his
ears mingled with entreaties and con-
temptous expressions regarding him
self, to which the girl listened in silence.
while one by one tears crept from be-
tween her curled lashes and fell into
her lap.
Poor Picotin! He Is so good" she
murmured once or twice. 'and he loves
me. 1t will break his heart"
NO clown ever had a heart" cried
the young man, with conviction. do
you think he could pass his life making
jokes II he suffered as do?
1t makes me tremble and turn sick
every time I see you on that dreadful
rope. my darling. 1t is abominable.
horrible, to see all those eyes too, fixed
upon you. What is your promise to
that fool, Picotin, compared to my
love?"
And so this youth wooed her with
soft voice and ardent words, while the
girl listened with head bent, like a
blush-rose tremulous on Its stalk be-
meath the warm breath OF a summer
wind. Little by little the haunting face
Of the Jester faded from her mind al
she nestled closer and closer to her
lover. She was happy-oh. so happy
with his warm arm clasped about her.
and meanwhile the man. whose heart
would have been torn out bleeding
sacrifice to save her pain. stood there
behind them both. unheeded. with
drawn face and dull eyes gazing blank
ly into the future.
That night Picotin failed In several
of his tricks. and the peopi. roarri
with laughter.
They thought II funnier % see him
fail than to see him succeed. for he
looked at them So mournfully and
shook his head In such a dismal man
ner, as though II was all up with him.
they took It for granted he did II on
purpose.
what Is the matter with Picotln"
asked one. who knew him well. of Ba-
binette, behind the scenes: but she
only shrugged her shoulders with indif-
ference as she tried to get another peep
at a fair-haired young man. conspicu-
Gus in one OF the boxes.
At the end of the performance. a
pompous. ed-faced individual. who had
the look of a successful attorney. and
who had watched Picotin with unfail-
ing interest throughout the evening.
came round to the back and asked
whether he could see him on a matter
of importance.
The manager smiled rather com.
temptuously. but at last gave orders
to admit the stranger. who was At
liberty to interview the famous clown
in his dressing-room, where he was at
that moment changing his suit Of mot
ley for more ordinary wear.
Picotin was sitting dejectedly on a
wooden box that served TO hold his
thea trical wardrobe. He had not taken
Off his clowns dress, and his hands
were still thrust into the pockets OF
the baggy trousers. just as one was
accustomed to see them when he strut.
ted about with turned-in toes inside the
ring. His chin was dropped down into
the immense rum that stood out all
round his neck, and this. with the
vacant expression OF his eyes. gazing
upwards, gave him sufficiently lu-
dicrous appearance to excuse the slight
c!ruckle with which his visitor ap-
preached him.
"I think, Monsieur PlcotIn. you win
forgive my intrusion when you are
made acquainted with Its cause" said
this bland parsonage. holding out his
hand.
Picotin had the instincts of a gentle
man. He rose. bowed as only an aero.
bat, who has not an unframed muscle
in his body, can bow, and offered the
gentleman ricketty chair. the sole ar.
ticle of furniture of that description In
the small apartment. Then he stood
with legs wide apart and hands still In
the baggy pockets. waiting to hear to
what he owed this strange Interrupt
tion OF his medftations.
"You have always passed under the
name of Picotin. I believe. and been
known as a clown OF some repute?"
Picotin nodded gloomily. He thought
of his unsuccessful tricks. the only ones
he had ever bungled at. and which the
audience had taken so good-humor-
edly.
"well, Monsieur. II you are tired OF
your profession, there is an opportunity
Of relinquishing 1t. You are heir 10
fortune of forty thousand francs
year.
The red-faced man seemed to swell
with the magnitude of his own import
ance in announcing this piece OF stu
pendous intelligence. and the ricketty
chair creaked beneath his weight. bur
neither the attitude nor the expression
Of the clown changed.
"If monsieur will be pleased to look
over rnese papers ne win be convinced
that what / tell him is correct"
Picotin put out his hand and took