The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-19

reached tho fair grounds, loased for three days by Ronfroe: rho nfternoon performance was in pros Rreen and Nub could hear shrioks of laughter 9eeasloned by tho ciowns' antics. Near tho Bido show tents and tho concessions small groups had collected, more inter. ested In getting something Tor nothing than m paying for onter. tninment under the "big top"
 Nub watched a farmer logo three dollars at q shooting gal. iory, then strolled over to the own: or of the concession and offered hls services. The other man, black- broWod and blcnry.eyod, sized up Nub and told him no would pay him 50 cents aB a "oome.on". Nub accepted and Tor two hours pro. tendod to shoot revolving ducks with q success that drew moro ''iS Part of tho 60 eonts went for "hot dogs" and root beer. Then Nub saunterod on, looking for more employment. By seven o'clock that evening he had tho wherewlthal to buy Q ticket for the show but, having remembered how he had wriEgIed under tho canvas and dodged policemen in hiB youth, he tried tho same stunt again. and found Q seat tunreserved) and set. tied into it without any qualms of conscience.
 to get q clear view of Madellne's face and, slheo three netB were pre-. aentod at onoo,. he leit after tho performance, dlsgruntled and no wiser. No announcement or Made: lines identity had been mado ana ho did not know which FIT on the flying bars or trnpozo was to pc tho bride tho following afternoon, HOW over, he put tho handblll m ms pocket, sought out . speak easy and promptly forgot the whole at, fair until several days later when inc circus had departed to new fields. Thon hlA hand encounterod tho wad of green paper and no do. clded to send it on to his mother, she could "havs it out" with tho
 Mrs Pinnter, on receipt of tho document, did nothing at all. Sho asked no questions and gave Donna no Information, but folded the hnndblil carefully and put it among her treasures in q battered cigar boz In the bottom of an old "amel- hack trunk. Like her son, Mrs Planter was convinced that there was something odd about the annir Of course, Madeline might havo been tho moro prominent or the two Gabriel sisters and the owner of tho circus might have thought it good buaincss to use her name instead of the others On the other hand - well, it paid to keep . thing like that. The handblli might come in handy some day'
 Secure In the knowledge that Le. banon citizens would De most un- likely to see tho Louisville news- papers nnd that nothing concern. Ing her marriage would reach the ears of her grandfather. Madeline had akreed to tho public wedding. Al f,rst she considered asking to have the announcements read, 'Donna Gabriel" but that would have called for great deal or ex- plaining and might get her into further difficulties with Renfroe. iust as refusal to do what he asked would have done. Once married to Con, 1t would make small difer- ence to Madeline what Donna's po- sitIon might be. The ceremony that tied her for life to the man she adored was all that mattered.
 Con had at first rebelled against making q. "holy show" Of himseit. He wasn't ready to marry yet. He wasn't going to become a benedict before Q lot of gawping yaps!
 Renfroe argued that business was bad. They were to remain m Louisville for three days and some- thing had to be done to attract the public. A double wedding would nc sure to draw Q crowd, especiaily # a cash prize were attached to lt.
 So Con consented Renfroe WIS n sagacious snowman. but even ne was surprised at the number oI applicants to share honors with the animal trainer and hts pride. Ien couples appeared and onered 70 pc married in the arens for the prize of sl00 and furnishings Tor hn apartment. Knowing the value or uns,ro op possessing couple In the roTh srnnp' The man was little, wiz enea ana well past 60. The woman was nIddle.aged. almost . giant- css. with flaming red hair. An iflnerant preacher, sadly in need of funds. consented to perform the ceremony. ...-. top'' was packed, but Nub Planter wss not one If the spectators.
 Throughout the performance Madeline was tn a glow of antici. patlon. not unmtnsled with fear. Suppose af the last moment Con ehot,Id rebel and the ceremony faii to take placel Had sho been fool. iah 10 argue for the public display ' Would this r,iir her chance of ever winning hts iove7
 And what if Donna should insist upon returning to the show ana lon lenrned he had been trapped into mmrrlaReY Madeline repeated l. ..H .U I... M....