The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-12
THE EVENING STORY
Big Clown and Little Clown.
(By Temple Bailey.)


(By Temple Bailey.)
He was big and burly-a figure in
his fantastic dress to make all the lit
tie boys giggle and the little girls
stare. half frightened.
That was when he was in the ring.
But when he was clothed in the ordi-
nary garb of a citizen he was simply
fresh-faced boy. who could stroll
aIong the village streets without at
| tractlng unusual attention
He liked the little villages where the
| circus stayed for a day or two and
then moved on, languidly. down dusty
roads to the next stopping place.
some time" he said to the Little
clown, I'D just like to stay behind in
one OF these little towns and turn far
mer and stop being funny for a WHILE"
Ine Little Clown was a woman.
| When she was dressed for the ring
sne wore infantile clothes with a blue
| sash, and carried a big stick of red
| striped candy. and all the little girls
and boys would almost go into convul-
slons of laughter when she shook her
| rattle at them.
II know" said the Little Clown,
how you feel. Sometimes 1 think it
would be nice to have a little house
| ana make bread, and put the weeks
wash out on the green grass and
nave cat and fireplace"
Her voice trailed off, dreamily
The Big Clown looked down on her.
| i've been funny all my life," he said
| "When 1 wasn't anything but a baby,
my father used to take me in the ring
| I've Just grown up to it,
| The Little Clown nodded sympa-
| MEDICALLY. Most of us grow up to it."
| she said, land then somehow we can't
| get away"
| The Big Clown stood up. 1t was
time for him to go into the ring. He
| twirled his pointed hat in his hand
| and then put 1T on. ct am going to get
away from it," he said. at want a
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
| 1rr1descent green like a snake
| II wish you wouldn't pay so much
| attention to the Big Clown" the Con-
| tortionist told her. ST can't get
minute with you.''
The Little Clown looked at him
with eyes that went beyond him
through the door of the tent to where
the apple trees were flinging up pink
| branches to a sapphire sky.
| Did you ever see anything so pret-
ty?" she asked, and pointed to it.
But the Contortionist had no eyes
for apple trees. 81 have never seen
anything so pretty as you are" he
said. land if you will stop this clown
| business and marry me, 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 a 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. "I have always wanted to
do something like that" she said "I've
wanted to have an act that would
make people do something besides gig
| gle---and I ought to get pretty good
pay" :.
| now than any one in the show, and
you'd just about double it, after had
| taught you what to dot would be
| swell business
Eyes" 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 a fireplace and
cat and a husband that people look
ed up to, or would you rather be a
headliner in the circus business?''
| Now the Bearded Lady, in spite of
/ IeT masculine appearance, was q wise
| woman and sympathetic one. I'D
rather be the wife of the man loved"
she told the Little Clown, whether
he was in country village or the cir
Gus. 1t isn't the place that makes us
| happy, it's the man."
The Little Clown nodded her head.
But I'm not sure" she began, and
then the Bearded Lady said. well.
| be sure before you decide"
How am 1 going to know" ques-
4 f1n
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.
$50 you love the Little Clown?'' she
said.
"How did you know" he demanded.
Everybody knows" the Bearded
'Well, 1 do love her," the Big Clown
confessed, "and want to take her
| away from all this, and live in lit
| tie house in little town and have
| chickens and a COW"
and cat smiled the Bearded Lady.
''but it all amounts to the same
| thing
| "Did she tell you - the Big Clown
asked eagerly.
yves" 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 adj
vice, "at 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 be-
| longings into trunks and bags, the Big
| Clown came to the Little Clown and
said "good-by.''
"But-but," the Little Clown STAN
mered, at don't want you to 60
ST am going to settle down." the
| Big Clown told her, land have a lit
! tie house with fireplace and cat''
The Little Clown caught her breath
quickly "And who's going to keep
| house for you?" she asked, wistfu1ly.