The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-10-29

Getting married., said Made
moiselIe viviane. "Since my fourth
husband died have been so lonely.
If 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
a noncommittal answer when the
bugles sounded, and four prancing
steeds, which had been attached 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 mean
ing Of stage fright for the first time,
saw then, row above row, like cab
bages, or turnip heads In which Hal
loween 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 spangless 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. Inow introduce to you Doctor
Salerno, the guy in the cage, what has
come from the Japanee islands to
marry the beautiful Mademoiselle WV
lane. Doctor Salerno, who caught and
tanned these famous man-eating mon
sters at a terrible expense, has woOed
Mademoiselle Viyiane, this here capri
cious beauty, for years In vain. At
last she agreed to become his happy
wife, but only on condition that the
ceremony should axe place in the
lions den. Professor, will you kindly
begin the ceremony which shall make
them man and wifeT
Mademoiselle Viviane rose with a
smile and opened the cage. There was
something sinister about her glance,
barrett thought. The professor stepped
In gingerly and took his station as far
as possible from the lions.
do you accept this woman for your
welded wifey' he asked.
EYES," said barrett, gulping.
do you accept this man for your
welded husbandY' inquired the pro-
lessor of the fair tameress.
II do" said Mademoiselle viviane.
''Then put this ring upon her fin
ger" said the professor, handing q
two-carat gold wedding ring to OAR
rett.
While the young man held 1t unde-
cidedly in his hand something hap
pened which always gave>him ten
der feeling toward lions thereafter.
Nero, the toothless old monster who
had been DOING In the corner strolled
forward, laid his head upon Made
moiselle 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 OAR
rett with gesture Of surprising de-
cision.
'Put on the ring" she Missed. "You
boob, hurry, or the professor will lose
what little head he's got left"
The professor had already lost 1t.
He was clinging to the bars and emit
ting a series of bowls which profound.
ly interested the lions, for the three
Of them, surrounding him. gazed up
into his face with friendly smiles.
"Help! Helpl" shrieked the profess.
sor. I'm an alderman. I appeal to
the law!r Save mel"
The look on Mademoiselle viviane's
face was terrible. In fash barrett
understood. He knew the meaning Of
the glances that had passed between
the professor and mademoiselle.
An alderman! An alderman was
licensed to perform wedding cere-
mony. A certain similarity of appear
ance between the two showed him
the point of the trick. In another mo
ment Mademoiselle viviane's dreams
Of fifth husband would have come
true.
He sprang for the cage, found the
latch and opened 1t. Just as Media
moiselle Viviane's two hundred and
fifty pounds moved ponderously
toward the entrance barrett sprang
out. In another moment he was run
ming at full speed out of the tent and
down the road. Behind him he heard
the roar of the lions mingled with the
despairing cry Of Mademoiselle Wv
lane. He heard the managers shouts
behind him. But In the distance, very
dim and hazy but like radiant star,
was Lorna's face.
RI