The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-07
BEGIN HERE TODAY ,

formers with Renfroe's circus
When Madeline's grandfather
wi.o is blind asks her to spend a
weekend at his farm she per.
suades Donna Ito go instead.
Donna, preter,iing to be Made.
line, falls in love with Bill Sid
DIAL, Madeline's cousin.
Con David, animal trainer, is
devoted to Donna but she regards
him merely as a friend. Made
, line loves Con and schemes to
win him.
Donna falls from the trapeze
and is injured. Madeline wires
Bill to come for her and begs
Donna to continue the impersona-
ton. Bill takes Donna to the
farm to recuperate. Mrs. Planter,
the housekeeper, is suspicious of
the girl.
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER X
There was a big crowd at the
Lebanon station to, see Donna
and Bill arrive. Not all of them
admitted that was the reason for
their appearance on the depot
platform, and innumerable ex-
cuses were invented. But the
story of the tragedy had made
Donna a heroine, and Bill, to-
ward whom many of the local
bellies had cast amoreus chances,
had become something of a hero.
Grandfather Siddal was there,
his sightless eyes rowing over the
crowd as he sat in the car beside
Nub Planter Young Doctor Len
nox and his assistant, Ben Wheel
er, were there, too. When the
train drew up to the station they
sprang upon the platform and
entered the Pullman. The crowd,
wide-eyed, watched Donna's de-
scent through a lowered window
and saw old man Siddal embrace
his granddaughter.
There were tears in Donna'S
eyes as the make-shift ambulance
rolled along the road to the
farm. They were not tears of
pain, for she scarcely felt the
jolts and jars. She was happy
happier than she had ever been,
and each tear was a prayer that
she might be worthy of 50 much
! kindness and love.
Against her protest she was
given the first floor room that
had been Grandfather SiddaPs
since his blindness.
/ ut used to be your Mas, y
said the old man. 81 just took
it SOS not to bother any enc
helping me up and down stairs
Not that | can't climb the stairs
Pm as spry that way as | even
was. And l can get around by
myself now all hunky-dory. But
the windows low and you car
look out across the fields ant
see Bill bringing home the COWS
When the wheat's ripe it's like
a sea Of gold and mighty pref
ty. Then when you're able tt
walk bit you can come out OF
the porch without mite Of trou
ble."
Donna thanked him with
kiss. It really was lovely room
There was little Of Amos Sid
daPs personality in it, and Mrs
Planter removed that when she
took away his pipe, slippers and
shabby dressing gown. The old
fashioned bureau was maple
with a mirror decorated with
: hand-paintedr roses, and a drawn
work" center piece. On the pink
sprigged wall paper little golden,
haired sheppardesses herded
flocks. Pink satin cushions made
gay the window seat and the
maple rocker, and a large, gan
Cling, gaily-dressed doll occcu-
pied a place of honor in one cor
ner of the room. Donna wonder
ed if it had belonged to Made
! line. Then she concluded that
Madehne's mother must have fall
lien for the fad of French dolls.
There were white shelves con-
tanning many books. A white
wicker sewing basket was filled
with bits of linen and colored
silk thread. The rag rug was
| pink and pale blue, obviously
made at home. Over the mantle
piece hung two photographs.
One was a smaller copy of the
crayon in the dining room. The
oher showed a fair-haired girl
with a sweet, simpering sort Of
beauty.
81 never changed anything in
Ada's room," Mrs. Planter said.
Her manner toward Donna was
still 'hostiie.4 The housekeeper
made no attempt to hide the re-
sentiment she felt over the extra
labor the girls presence would
entail and because Bills return
had sent her son packing.
''You ought to have a nurse"
Mrs. Planter mumbled as she
hung Donna's clothing in the
maple wardrobe. Madeline had,
with much forethought, shipped
Donna's trunk to her, though
before doing so she had care
fully removed the lettering OF
Donna's name. "I've got 10 men
to cook for now," Mrs. Planter
went on. "and when harvest time
comes around l won't even have
time to think-let alone fetch
and carry for you"