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30
Photoplay Magazine
"It's time to go — it's time to go — it's time to go."
He did not want to go. Something new had come into his life, something finer and sweeter even than the sound of children's laughter and the sight of their happy faces, and even as it had come, so it must be put aside. It was not for him. Three weeks ago the grateful father of the boy he had saved from death, had, with his own hands, helped carry the clown into this magnificent home. With the return of consciousness, Piffle found himself in such a bed as he had never dreamed of. He hardly felt the pain in his bruised body, so soothing was this quiet room. And then he felt a soft hand tenderly smoothing his brow, and looked up into the deep, liquid eyes of Millicent LeRoy, Jackie's sister. For days she hardly left his side, refusing even to permit the nurse to do anything for the injured clown that she could do herself. The expressions of gratitude from the other mem
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— "Is— the— little
fellow — safe?" the clown gasped, and sank back, unconscious.
bers of the family were embarrassing to him, but Millicent's unspoken thoughts, beaming upon him, were like a silent benediction. It was a new vision of womanhood to Piffle, a revelation of sweetness and grace.
HTHEN, as his strength returned, his manhood awakened to a new emotion. In the ministering angel he began to see the woman — young, beautiful, pulsing with life. Together they passed swift, merrv hours, entertaining little Jackie. Out of that treasure house of joy, his old and battered trunk. Piffle produced all sorts of wonderful things for the delectation of the happy cripple. Every day was circus day in the LeRoy home. But through all this play there ran. for the clown, an undertone of premonition. Little by little he knew that he had come to love where love could mean nothing but renunciation. And now, he began to understand that not only was it time for him to abandon this wonderful dream. but that it was best not only for himself but for the girl as well. Even supposing the unbelievable should happen, and Millicent should return his love — what then? Simply that two persons would be unhappy, instead of one. Between this magnificent home and the sawdust ring there was a great gulf fixed, and that gulf could never be bridged. Assuredly, it was time to go.
Piffle rose and went to the open window. The parklike grounds of the LeRoy home were bathed in moonlight. Within doors and without, everything was palatial, regal. "Well, anyhow." Piffle said to himself. "I've known what it is to live like a millionaire for once. And so — tomorrow— "
A figure loosely clad in flowing white, darted