The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-14

| in love, with Siu Siddai, WADE
lines cousin, and though she is
! ashamed of deceiving Bill and
Grandfather she is afraid to tell
| them the truth.
Meanwhile Madeline lmarries
Con David, animal trainer with
the circus. he tells her he is
going to put her in his animal
act, Madeline is terrified of the
, lions and tigers but finally
makes a public appearance in the
act.
NOW CO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XVI
Madeline's terror was curious
| ly like stage. fright. She was
quivering in the knees and sick
in the pit of her stomach as Con
led her across the arena, but
when she stepped into the cage
and heard the burst of applause
from the audience her fear van
ished, just as stage fright van
ishes after the first few words
are spoken.
She felt calm. rather elated,
and found herself enjoying the
sensation of giving thrills to a
multitude. To be sure, all she
did was to stand with her back
against the door and watch her
husband put the cats through
their PAGES, to stand without
cringing when a long, striped
body Slithered over her feet and
a great yellow tail dashed against
her ankles.
But the audience was well
aware that hers was the greater
danger. She carried no protec-
ton. OF course the revolver
Con used occasionally held only
blanks and was fired more for
effect than anything else-but
few Of the spectators knew this.
Just at the end of the act Con
turned, swept Madeline into his
arms and kissed her. The audi
ence cheered.
"You were great, honey" he
said enthusiastically. "You weren't
afraid, were you?"
"Not a bit," she answered.
Gust the same, I'm glad to be
on the rood old sawdust again. !"
"We're going to have the
greatest act in the country be-
fore we're through! When you
have Lucy crawling to you we
won't take any back talk from
any one. Well name our own
price-go to Europe, go any
where We want to"
Lucy Madeline gasped. "You
want me to work with Lucy!
I"Why not? She doesn't know
any of the other tricks. Well
break her with new ones. make
star act. While Pm putting
the others through the routine
you can put. Lucy through her
act. 1t should be a riot"
you've. lot of confidence in
me, haven't you COM" she asked,
nesting against his shoulder.
"I'm going to make a real per-
former out of you yet" he laugh
ed.
Madeline had been married al
most month before she wrote
Donna the news. Then the letter
contained more about the animal
act than it did of Madeline's
marriage Donna read the letter
the day she walked without the
aid of cane. Standing under
an apple tree heavily weighted
with golden fruit, with the sun
light throwing crimson splashes
upon her copper curls, she was a
picture that made the heart of
the young farmer watching her
contract swiftly.
Donna smiled as she read of
Madeline's happiness, frowned
over the dangers of the animal
act and then tore the letter into
pieces, letting the wind flutter
them about her head. That was
the end of the Gabriel sisters
act. Perhaps now that Madeline
was married to the man she loved
she would want Donna to an
nounce her real identity and she,
Madeline, would get in touch
with her grandfather.
Donna was thinking of this last
possibility when Bill reached her
side. Consequently there was
tragedy in her eyes and wlsttul-
ness about her mouth.
"Bad news" he asked abrupt
ly, his gaze indicating the flut-
tering scraps of paper.
"No. not exactly. My partner
is married and has decided to be-
come an animal trainer, that's
ALL"
"Does that make you unhap-
py?" Bills voice thickened. 81
guess | was right when l said you
wouldn't be satisfied here"
81 wasn't thinking of myself"
Donna answered. 'I'm through
with the circus unless you and
Grandfather decide you don't
want me here. Pm quite strong
enough now to take a few lessons
in management of the farm and
unless you are too busy to give
HI %n ctorf ~