The Press., 1909-08-11

bread ana put the week wash out on the green grass and have a cat and fireplace"-
 Her voice trailed off dreamiy.
 The big clown looked down at her. 'I've been funny all my life," he said "When I wasn't anything but baby my father used to take me in the ring with him. He was a clown, too, and I've just grown up to It."
 The little clown nodded sympathetic ally. Most of us grow up to it,' she said, "and then somehow we can't get away"
 The big clown stood up. It was time for him to go into the ring. He twirled his pointed hat in his hand and then put 1t on. ''I am going to get away from it," he said. q want home and neighbors. I'd like to be a sheriff in some town or mayor or on the school board"- He smiled till the thick white paint on his face was folded into deep creaSes.
 Then he was off to the ring, and the little clown turned her attention to the cOntortionist, who was in shining iri- descent green like a snake.
 "I wish you wouldn't pay so much attention to the big clown" the contor- tionist told her. q can't ever get a minute with you"
 The little clown looked at him with eyes that went beyond him through the door of the tent to where the ap- pie trees were flinging up pink branch es to sapphire sky.
 HDi6 UOn nVnP Snn 1nvfhiDU SO TOpof. typ she asked. and pointed to it.
 But the contOrtionist had no eyes for apple trees. II have never seen anything so pretty as you are," he said ''and if you will stop this clown business and marry me I will put you in an act that will give you a chance to show people how good looking you are. You could wear white and your hair in yellow ringlets down your back and gold crown. And I'd put on red with horns, and we'd give an angel and devil act"
 The little clown leaned forward eagerly. II have always wanted to do something like that" she said. i've wanted to have an act that would make people do something be- sides giggle, and ought to get pret- ty good pay" . ..
 Well, should say," the contortion- ist bragged. T get bigger pay now than any one in the show, and you'd just about double it after had taught you what to do. It would be swell business"
 "Yes," said the little clown, "it would"
 And when the contortionist had gone the little clown sought the bearded lady.
 (Which would you rather do,'' she demanded, have a little house in a country town, with fireplace and a cat and a husband that people looked up to, or would you rather be a head liner in the circus businessY
 Now, the bearded lady. in spite of her masculine appearance, was a wise woman and a sympathetic one. "Pd rather be the wife of the man l loved," she told the little clown, whether he was in a country village or the circus. It isn't the place that makes us happy; it's the man."
 The little clown nodded her head. But Pm not sure," she began, and then the bearded lady said, "Well, be sure before you decide"
 "How am 1 going to know" Ques- toned the little clown.
 You'll know when the time comes," said the bearded lady sensibly. And after the little clown had gone away the bearded lady sat and thought and
  was over she sent for the big clown.
 "So you love the little clownY' she said
 "How did you know?' he demanded.
 Everybody knows" the bearded lady told him. You can't hide it-''
 'Well, I do love her." the big clown confessed, "and I want to take her away from all this and live in little house in a little town and have chick ems and cow
 '"Che little clown wants a fireplace and cat" smiled the bearded lady, "but it all amounts to the same thing"
 "Did she tell you?'' the big clown asked eagerly.
 Yes" said the bearded lady, but she is not sure that she loves you, and it's up to you to make her. sure"
 "But how?' demanded the big clown.
 "Leave the show" was the sage ad- vice, Cat the next village and see how she takes it."
 So the next night when the lights were out in the big tent and the tired performers were packing their belong ings into trunks and bags the big clown came to the little clown and said, "Goodby."
 "But-but," the little clown stam- mered, Il don't want you to go?'
 'I am going to settle down." the big clown told her. "and have little. house with a fireplace and cat"
 The little clown caught her breath quickly. And who's going to keep house for you?" she asked wistfully.
 q shall live alone''-the big clowns voice had a note of pathos "There is only one woman that should care to have sit in front of that fireplace, and she values fame and fortune more than she values love-"
 What makes you think that?" cried the little clown, and just then the con- tortionist came in. He wore long fawn ulster and a high hat.
 "My automobile is outside" he said to the little clown, ''and have asked the bearded lady to ride with us to the next village. It is much more pleas ant than to go in the vans." Thank you very much" said the