Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-09-04
A Double
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but II was only q harmless little
tin said Ksffy Willis. Il was petu-
liant, he was impatient. and We parted
- IL we were utter strzngersr and the.
fnal tones quayered and broke.
mo .tfff.' as You cali Il, - harmless.
my DEAR replied the soofhing woke
Of Mrs. Mayhem. the housekeeper. to
whom Kitty always carried her little
troubles Once / had q husband and
q horne. Both are gone now. And all
through my unjust suspicion and WILL
fnl ways. Ny husband was a man Of
easy ways. and often his persistent
silence when scolded and his refusal
TO quarrel with me led my maynard
tongue to utter bitter things. He had
been q musician. and whenever COM
pany OF sfroIlinE players came to town
by delighted in hobnobblngSwi them.
One night with some old actor friends
be was gone half the night. / re-
preached Aim cruelty. and In the morn
ing when he announced 20 me that
somehow he bad lost his pockefbook
containing his monthly salary ac-
eused him Of squandering It in- gain
bling and drove him from the house.
He did not come back that day nor
the next. but after that from another
town received letter. II inclosed
the salary which friend had found.
He wrote q very brief note. He said
that evidently we could not get ON to-
gether and that maybe all he was good
for was to blow a cornet, and I've
never seen him since, and to the end Of
my life shall regret the bad temper
that has lost me q husband / really
loved.
Perhaps Norman Is really quite
angry with me and viii not come to
help me entertain the little ones at the
children's party this evening" mourned
Kitty contriteiy.
-oh, yes he will" soothed Mrs. May
hew, fondly ceressIng the sobbing
penitent.
Norman Blair at that very hour
brought his automobile TO a halt be-
side lonely country road. his usually
pleasant face wearing q dissatisfied
expression. or Kitty he was thinking
and OF their petty TIL. He longed to
see her and make up, but pride and
stubbornness led him TO draw back.
II he could only find some plausible
excuse for visiting the Willis homei
It was presented. strangely, amazingly,
at that momenti The echo OF pro-
digious groan drew his glance to q
little thicket. There stood an aston
fishing fgure-that of a man with big
staring eyes and bulging cheeks and
launch. rotund grotesque, and wearing
the costume OF the conventional circus
clown. Such a presentment in that
quiet spot completely mystifed Nor
man. He had to smile. AS IL all ready
made up for The sawdust ring, the
strangers face was powdered and
tinted; he wore the fools cap, his face
was newly painted. Suddenly he mo-
ticed Norman and came toward him.
Don't stare so, don't laugh ~ he ut
tered .complainingly. ''but tell me what
20 do"
why, what Is the matterT In
CURED Norman. lost in wonderment.
Ruined homeless doomed TO face
q cold, cheerless world III this outland-
ish garbi I'm the clown of Humpty
Dumpty company. We had to steal
away from WATERFOWL with our prop
critics. all but busted. We halted In
the woods here TO rehearse our enter
tainment at Mayville. I.stroIled on to
take n sno0ze. When woke up my
comrades and the property wagon
were gone. The landlord OF the hotel
at WATERFOWL had pursued as and had
seized our wagon and wardrobes, and
my poor friends were visible half
mile up ON yonder hill, In hook and
without money and prospects. That
had TO come eventually"
A quick light came to the eyes Of
Norman Blair. Il say, my friend" he
spoke rapidly, "if agree to provide
you with good sumzoE money TO re-
place your wardrobe go You sell me
your professional services for two
hours late this aftern6ohT'
you're a life-saverI" almost sh0ut-i
ed the other.
Then get into my auto. A friend Of
mine In to give chlldren's lawn party.
When it's over you shall have liberal
compensation.
And driving later to the Willis home
with his odd companion. the grand ex-
cuse Norman had for showing up there
was readily approved by Kitty. and
the tiff Of the preceding even forgiven
and forgotten with a loving kiss.
What roilicking, registering time
the little ones had What q rare, jolly,
funRy. engaging clown held them spell
bound with his comic anticsl Then at
last as he produced q trick mouse and
feigned desperate fear. he pressed the
air vent of his false front and col
lapsed into fiat, ordinary human be-
ing amid the deiirious shouts of his
appreciative audience.
Norman escorted his new friend into
the house where he could wash the
paint and powder fren his face. pur-
suant TO taking him to town 20 be re-
habilitated In everyday attire. As the
clown came outside again there was
q shrek.
"Abneri my husbandi" shrieked
Mrs. Mayhem. and few to his side and
threw her arms about his neck. and
tainted there, while her husband. gag
Ing tenderly into her eolorless face.
leaned over and kissed hsr. while Kit
". In happy tears. pleased her loyal
lover for having brought about this
double reunion.