Connecticut western news., 1909-04-22
Big Clown and Little Clown.
By TEMPLE BAILEY.
Copyrighted, 1909, by Associated
 Literary Press.

| lie WdS DlS anu DuIIy' d hSuiC III hAS i fantastic dress to make all the little 1 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 citizen he was simply fresh faced boy who could stroll along the village streets without attracting uni lal attention.
 He liked the little villages where the cirl us 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, 'Td just like to stay behind in one of these little towns and turn farmer and stop being funny for awhile''
 The little clown was q woman. When she was dressed for the ring she wore infantile clothes. with a blue sash, and carried big stick of rcd striped candy. and all the little girls and boys would almost go into convul- SiOns of laughter when she shook her rattle at them.
 q know,'' said the little clown, "how 1 4 be nice to have little house and make bread and put the weeks wash out on the green grass and have a cat and q fireplace"-
 Her voice trailed off dreamily
 The big clown looked down at her. i've been funny all my life," he said. When I wasn't anything but a baby my father used to take me in the ring with him. He was q clown, too, and I've just grown up to it."
 The little clown nodded sympathetic ally. "Mcst 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 it on. 'T am going to get away from it.'' he said. 'I want a home and neighbors. I'd like to be q sheriff in some town or mayor or on the school board"- He smiICd till the thick white paint on his face was folded into deep creaSeS 2
 Then he was off to the ring, and the little clown turned her attention to the
 
 descent green like a snake.
 T wish you wouldn't pay so much attention to the big clown" the contor- tionist told her. -'I 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 q sapphire sky. .s5
 Did you ever see anything so pret- tyT' she asked. and pointed to 1t.
 But the contortionist had no eyes for apple trees. -I 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. 'I have always wanted to do something like that" she said. l would make people do something be- sides giggIe. and ought to get pret- 1 ty good pay
 "Well, l should say" the contortion- ist bragged. II get bigger pay now than any enc in the show. and you'd just about double it after 1 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 a fireplace and 6 cat and husband that people looked up to, or would you rather be a head liner in the circus business?'
 Now, the bearded lady, in spite of her masculine appearance, was a wise woman and a sympathetic one. I'd rather be the wife of the man I loved j. she told the little clown, whether he was in a country village or the circus. It isn't tie 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- 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 thought. and when the performance ' was over she sent for the big clown.
 ''So you love the little clown" 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. land I want to take he: , away from all this and live in a little house in little town and have chick ems and a cow''-
 ''The little clown wants a fireplace