The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-11

self to go through even a mock cere
mony, even for another week Of Lor
mas company. But now these
thoughts were utterly dispelled
Mademoiselle Viviane was stout
double-chinned, and fifty. She had an
adiposity of tissue which made her
bow of recognition flop. Her hands
which rested on the lions heads, were
rolls Of flesh in which a few obscure
diamonds and rubies were twinkling
like plums in a pudding.
Are you on?" asked the manager
How much?" gasped barrett.
Five night and no notice."
I'm on" said barrett feebly.
| The manager smiled and nodded to
the lion-tameress, who opened the
door with a click that was terribly
sudden.
Come in and meet the lions, boys
said the manager, dragging the half.
! swooning professor after him.
Three hours later barrett sat be.
side Mademoiselle viviane, waiting
for the opening Of the show. The
three lions. looking very much bored,
crouched at her feet. Mademoiselle
Viviane, who had taken q liking to
barrett, chatted vivaciously.
"Of course it's only a game" she
said. Zone does lot of things when
one needs the money, even II one
doesn't like doing them. But often
wish it was real" Here she sighed
and looked sidewise at barrett.
Il beg your pardon?" stammered
the young man.
Getting married." said Made
moiselle Viviane. Since my fourth
husband died I have been so lonely.
II l could find real nice-looking
young man I'd like to make him happy
for the rest of his days.
barrett was searching his brains for
brains for a noncommittal answer
when the bugles sounded, and four
prancing steeds, which had been at
tached to the front of the cage, dashed
forward and carried them into the
center of the arena
The amphitheater was lined with
faces. barrett, experiencing the
meaning of stage fright for the first
time, saw them, row above row, like
cabbages, or turnip-heads in which
Halloween gashes had been cut for
mouths. The mouths were set in
vapid grins, and as the cage drew up
in the center of the arena single
shout rang out.
The manager stepped forward. He
was clad in tights and spangles, and
he held the professor rather firmly
by the arm. The professor was clad
in clerical clothes and looked sad.
Ladies and gents" the manager
roared, II now introduce to you Doctor
Salerno, the guy in the cage, what has
come from the Japanee islands to
marry the beautiful Mademoiselle
Viviane. Doctor Salerno, who caught
and tanned these famous man-eating
monsters at a terrible expense, has
wooed Mademoiselle viviane, this
here capricious beauty. for years in
vain. At last she agreed to become
his happy wife; but only on condition
that the ceremony should take place
In the lions den. Professor, will you
kindly begin the ceremony which shalt
make them man and wife,"
Mademoiselle Viviane rose with a
smile and opened the cage. There
was something sinister about her
glance. barrett thought The profess
sor stepped in gingerly and took his
station as far as possible from the
lions.
do you accept this woman for your
welded wife," he asked.
YES" said barrett, gulping.
DO you accept this man for your
welded husband?" inquired the pro-
lessor of the fair tameress.
II do" said Mademoiselle Viviane.
Then put this ring upon her
finger" said the professor. handing a
two-carat gold wedding ring to OAR
rett.
While the young man held it unde-
cidedly in his hand something hap
pened which always gave him a ten
der feeling toward lions thereafter
Nero, the toothless old monster who
had been doing in the corner
strolled forward. laid his head upon
Mademoiselle Viviane's arm and
grinned up into the professors face.
The professor, with wild shrek.
leaped back against the bars.
Help! Help!" he shrieked.
Mademoiselle Viviane turned to
barrett with gesture Of surprising
decision.
Put on the ring!" she Missed. You
boob. hurry, or the professor win lose
what liffla haaA ho,n not L.