The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-21
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ran away from her grandfather )
farm.
When Donna is injured by a
fall from the trapeze Madeline
arranges fer her to be taken to
Grandfather Siddaps farm to re-
ouperate. To please her partner
Donna pretends to be Madeline.
She falls in love with Bill Siddal,
Madelines cousin, and though she
is ashamed of deeeiving Bill and
Grandfather she ,is- afraid to tell
the truth. = &c a. ,.gs.I e., =.
Meanwhile Madeline marries
Con David, animal trainer with
the circus, and, although terrified
of the lions and tigers takes part
in the animal act. ,r,a,. 5,a.. .,.,
Mrs. Planter, housekeeper on
the farm. is hostile to Donna.
Bill and Donna are married.
After the ceremony Mrs. Planter
shows Donna a handbiH ANNOUNCE
ing Madeline's marriage to Con
In the circus arena and Donna
realizes the woman is a danger
Gus enemy. --:n ~ .:...:
In New Orleans Madeline en-.
counters NED TRAFFORD, for
merly boss canvasman of the cir
Gus. She decides not to tell Con.
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
49," CHAPTER XXI $500.
"You know, Honey" Bill Sid
dial said, struggling into his shirt
and ruffling his crisp dark hair,
f"Pve been noticing you and Mrs.
Planter. She's a harmless old soul
with a bark a lot worse than her
bite, but | can see she gets OH
your nerves. If you'd like to get
rid of her and have Minnie Jones
came over to help you with the
work I'll speak to Grandpop and
Pm sure he'll agree to the
change"
Donna's first reaction was one
of relief. Since Mrs. Planter had
shown her the circus handful, re-
lations between the two had been
more strained than ever. Donna
had made an effort to be pleas
ant, had tried tactfully to assume
charge of the household, as befit-
ted it's mistress, but she had met
sullen resentment. Mrs. Planter,
Donna felt, was becoming her evil
Nemesis.
But before she could agree
gratefully to Bills suggestion
caution prompted q different an
swer. Mrs. Planters indicative
tongue could spread scandal
that would wreck Denna's mar
riage. The girl knew that she
could easily convince Bill it was
her partner who had become Con
Davids bride, but to do this
would bring out the whole story
about herself and Madeline. Fur
thermore, though Bill might know
she had never been another mans
wife, the neighborEood would
have heard Mrs. Planters story
first. '.'
No-so long as Mrs. Planter
had that handbill in her posses
sion Donna could not risk Offend
ing her. Consequently Mrs. Plan
ter could not be dismissed.
ooh, l don't mind her much"
she said. "Not half as much as
she minds me. But she's easier to
get along with than she was and,
as you say, her bark is worse than
her bite
ashes a good cook" Bill agreed
with relief" and hard worker.
Minnie might not do as we'll"
From that hour Donna's chief
thought was how t. get hold OF
the handful and destroy it. The
slip of paper had become a men,
ace out of all proportion to its
contents. Donna dreamed about
it and awoke shivering and Won
dering if she had talked in her
sleep. Once, in a half-waking
state, she flung her arms around
Bill and chung to him, sobbing UNI
til he awoke and asked if she
were i'll. The rest of the night ne
graded her against his bosom and
soothed her until her tangled
nerves were quiet.
"Maybe / shouldn't have mar
ried YOU so soon after the acct
dent" he said in contrition. Il
should have known you aren't!
very strong yet"
"But I wanted tc be married.
And I love you so. l love you Sc!
I wonder if you love me half as
much as 1 do you?"
eff you don't know that | DO,
then you're a stupid little idiot.
Go to sleep now and in the morn
ing I'll tell you love you until
you'll never want to hear the
word love again:
Occasionally on Saturday at
ternoon Mrs. Planter went to
Lebanon to- visit a married cousin
who lived on the other side OF
town. The next time she spoke
Of paying such a visit and asked
Bill if she could ride, to town with
him Donna found an excuse to
remain at home. Sic was deter
mined to, search for the handful.
She waited until Grandfather
was asleep and she was sure the
car might not return. Then, feet
ing as though she were a sneak
thief, she mounted the stairs to
Mrs. Planters room. Carefully, sol