The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-25

ponnn's face was rather tense and coloriess, but BITS choekb were crimson aa, still hand in hand, they entered the living room.
 "That you, Madeline and Bill" Grandfather asked.
 "Yos" Bill answered. "Wo'vc something we want to tell you"
 "Iavo you? Not bud new"' ] hope" ful, but you" Biil stnmmorcd hopolegsly. out his hands and boy and girl stepped forward, v think ] know whnt you're trying Co sny. Seems like cnn sec the light In your ! cyos and foel thnt sort of choke Tn your thront. Its been n long time since 1 felt that away myself but | [ reckon if you wero ever In lovo md bnshful and happy and sad nt tho same time you never forget t.. lie put their hands together ana pnttcd them lovingly
 "You knowl" Bill gnsped.
 "if I hadn't aIrondy guessed it Mrs plnnter would have seen 10 telling mo. So you love ench 0thcr?"
 "Ycs," Donna said, The single word carried more fceling thnn lons phrases could hnvc done.
 And l suppose you've been wor. rNing md wondering what Td think nbou: it, Wondering ana worrying whether you had n right to get married. Maybe 20 years ago I'd have said, 'Bottcr say good. by and let time heal the hurt, buil don't feel that n-wny now Rchl love isn't 40 common thnt we've got right 10 crush it And I'm figuring the love you TWO chiIdren, have for each other K the rehl thing" n.
 "It ls," Bill Hnid solemnly. VI knew the first minute 1 looked at Madeline that she was the one TOT mo and that I'd never care for any one eIAc ns long ns I lived. I've fought tooth and nall against my love, but 1t wasn't any use"
 T know, Sonny. I know" mur- murcd Grnndfather Siddal. May be it's ns well you did q little fight ing. Sort of proved to yourself that Mnddle was the girl you I HUOulu hhoW yVt wv going through some sort of n bat tie, but I couldn't say anything till | you ca me to me to talk IL over"
 q never dreamed you'd take it | like this" Bill stammered huBkily. ''It makes me feel all kinds of n | fool, If Madeline hadn't"
 Grandfather interrupted with another chucklc. Since time began boy, it's been the women who've shown us men tho way. 1 calculate ] very few men ever did their own proposing, even If they think they dld."
 You old rascaIl' Donna laughed happily. "If the truth must come out, Bill hasn't proposed to me yet. but then neither have 1 proposed to him"
 Want me to 70 down on my knees and ask you to marry mey I'll do 1t If you think it's neces- sary." Seriously Bill went on. Tt means a lot to me, Crandpop. that you feel there's no barrier between | Madeline and me. I'm not kidding myself that there won't be talk. The thing that bothered me most was whether you'd feel the way some others are sure 10. that it'H against nature for cousins to mar | ry.
 Some cousins. yes" unused Grandfather Siddal. Where they've been brought up together and sort Of drifted into what they think is love. when It's nothing more than propinauity--that the | wardy gileh mnrrlnRea are sure 10 be a fizzle. But you and Mad. dle---pshaw. 1 knew how the wind lay long before you two did, I'll wager cookies. Not but what I'm grateful Lnd happy 10 see Maddie e0nteutcd e. stay on here and wili- ing Co give ID the circus. but I'd have t0 Do blind two ways. both my eyes and my inner vision. not te realize it wasn't the farm and it wasn't me that was the ettruc- ton. And yosi. Blll -sbueks, yor carried your heart like q buHief lrarrien hIs hurn nnh vnal f9nle6 nn