We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
The Clown
31
out of the shadow of the house, ran unsteadilj across the lawn, into the shadow of a big tree, leaned against the trunk, then sank down upon the grass. Piffle stared with a puzzled frown. In the few seconds she had passed through the strip of moonlight, he had recognized Mil licent. What could be the matter? She rose unsteadily to her feet, and darted across to the shadow of another tree. She seemed to be run ning awaj from something, yet no one was following. At least, she wa^ clearly in trouble, and thai was all the clown needed to know. Silently descending the stairs, he hid in the shadows and watched. lie did not want to intrude, but if she needed him he would be ready. R u n n i n g and stumbling, the girl left the grounds by a path that led to a nearby stream. Cautiously, Piffle followed. He saw her stand, hesitating a moment. upon the bank, and then with a low. heart-broken cry. flin^ herself into the water In an instant Piffle had plunged in after her, and was carrying her back to shore.
"Don't — oh don't." she moaned. "Please — please let me die! I must die !"
Bewildered. Piffle could only murmur soothing words, and plead with her not to make sounds that would attract others. At length she clung to him and sobbed, while he. careful not to make the slightest noise. carried her to his room. There, when she had finally mastered her emotion, she confided to him. in broken gasps of confession.
'Don't, " Millicenl moaned, die i
She had loved, -he still loved, a \oung
man whom her father disliked, Dick Ord way. Judge LeRoy said Dick was a spend thrift, had ii" serious aim in life. So Dick
had -one awaj to hunt his fortune in the
de-ert mining districts, rhey hid lov<
too Well A\\A w hen I >irk Went ;iw;iv thc\ did nol know -what Millicenl now knew. And today word had come that I >ick had died a terrible death in the desert. So
there were just two alternatives — disgrace or death. "You see — I have no choice,"
Millicenl moaned.
"You have saved me. but only for this time. You have tried to be kind. but you have only made it so much harder — don't you understand?" T he c 1 o w n
bowed his head.
What could lie
say. what could he do, to help this woman whom he loved, even more than he loved lit tie children ? There was somethirig he could do, of course ; he had read of such things in books. But it seemed preposterous. Yet was it worse than death? Stumblingly he made bis offer.
"I don't amount
"I'm only a clown
I've got no
Please let me die! I must
to much." be began.
in a circus. But, I'm free.
one in the world to care for. If you'll let
me care for you — I mean — fust marry you.
and then go away. It would be a disgrace
too. I know, but if I wen1" away your
father would forgive you after a while."
Millicent stared at him, wide-eved. "But I can't ruin your life because I have ruined my own." she protested.
"Hut it wouldn't be ruining my life. Because — don't vou understand — I — " and