The Green Mouse

e Proposition that All

lew and chirped and fluttered about her head, until, bewildere

figures under her amazed eyes, although each hoop seemed solid and without a break in its polished cir

o that?" she c

a bowl full of big, staring goldfish. Then he picked up a ladle, dipped out the fish, carefully fried them over an electric lamp,

girl, excitedly

ted as a boy at her praise.

anded he

hearts, if

from th

h! how on earth did you make

ghtly," he

it in her p

e you hold i

fect

oo

ut, looking again to reassure herself, she was astonished to find that the ca

hem into

to see them take fire in mid-ai

e turned to him, hanging on his

mediately began to swell until each was as big as a football. These burst open, and out of each football of white paper came kittens, tu

and shake your

nes began to drop about her; she shook them from her hair, her collar, her neck; she clenched her hands in nervous amazemen

en again she looked for the glittering heap at her feet, it was g

elf in a perfect storm of white butt

in this world you d

ass of w

ed out in amazement, spilling the brimming glass; bu

drink this--can

ety," he smiled,

t again,

it; it was

ga

ginge

e mo

g with ice-cream soda; there was

ack, savoring her ic

t not too weary to watch him, though she scarcely followed the marvelous objects th

n his shoulder and then turned into a big fur muff which was all right as lon

s; and he laid the fresh, sweet blossoms in her hands. They turned to violets later, but that did not matter; nothing matte

erilously close to a sigh. Out of an old hat he produced a cage full of parrots; every parrot repeated her first

and charred débris the parrots stepped triumphantly forth, gravely repeating her name in unison; and when she saw that the entertainment was at an end, she

say to you that I have been thinking of several things, and

d no need of it at all. Your father made a fortune for my father

l?" he aske

you not tell him so?

e said

y n

d not care to try--

you-

ok his

n I

till lay in his; she looked up at him; her

nd this," she said,

ha

-" She choked; her se

" he breathed;

with a laugh! You face st-starvation with a la

es; the pulsating seconds passed; he laid his other hand above both of he

en hope--his instinct held him stupid and

ened it, watching her pass through the hall to her own door. And the

ic things for any--anybody else--will you? I wish to have

will never do one of those things for

er face ca

, tr

w, then, can

. To look at him nobody would have thought

asing her hands and step

en, in the next moment, she was in his arms, crying her eyes

ened than a large, bald gentleman who came up the stairs in a series of bounces and planted his legs apart and

he begged to know whether this sc

re just in time. Go into the stu

: "I love you; I'll marry you. And if there's trouble"--she smiled upon her frantic fat

hundered

s my father finds a necessity for you in his business--with a view to

e door behind her, leaving the two men

in one lusty Saxon word. He always said it when beaten; it was the beginning of the end, and the end o

a hand glass; and, sitting there, carefully removed all traces of tears

tand that the only thing you can do for a livin

young man, modestly. "It ought to be wor

y repugnant to me!"

ng it--" He drew from his pocket a small, delicately

want to

reful of that kitten! Kindly take this chair. Thank you. No

o be good enoug

d as I was going to explain, the earth is circum

mmit,

t are ceaselessly flowing around our globe!" pursu

t!" snarled

lliam Augustus Destyn whispered

at!

tain

n't pro

tch

ew minutes she glanced anxiously at t

ured. And when the long hour struck she aro

don't interrupt. William and I are engaged