Nevada County picayune., 1890-09-04
' Well, 1 must confess that it

dSc aS lllntOo, Sdiu MaDel, WHO seemed to be put out at her lover failing to promptly comply with her latest whim
 10 do what you ask me would not be proof of courage on my part; it would simply be ridiculous l would be exposing myself to hor- rible death for no purpose. '' Now, Mabel did not really want her lover to enter the glass cage where the snakes were confined, but she wanted him to seem to be ready to do even that for her sake.
 Then you refuse, do you, John :" sue said, with slight curl of her lip.
 Fanny, without giving John a chance to "eply, said, "Of course he refuses. The conditions aae not equal; he is a docio., not q snake charmer; Hazak knows his pets in his hands they are harmless in an- other deadly"
 You seem % take great interest in John s weIfale,' said Mabel, who was vexed by Fanny's interference.
 But, remarked George, gravely, what you asked John to do is very dangerous.
 The more opposition that was manifested by Geo,ge ald Fanny the stronger Fanny insisted
 Very we'll" said John, II will handle the cobras if Hazak VII ai- low me, but, as l have no desi4e to give public exhibition of my couf- age, we will wait until the crowd leaves"
 "There, knew John would con sent exclaimed Mabel. t.;emph- antly.
 "I will a 4ange the matter at once" sad John,
 He went to Ilazak whom he found to be an | ''shman, held a sho con versation, and e,u"oed saving, II can enter the cage with him later. "
 ShotIy alter the crowd had de- pa ted, Fanny, Geo ge, Mabel and Jonn app oacled he cage, when Halak stepped up and said:
 "Well, SIT, ore you lcady?"
 "Oh, John, don go; l was only fooling."
 "Pa don me, Mabel, for not ac- ccdlng to th,s :equest of yonfs, l have made up my nnd to go into that cage and l shall do so."
 John tened away rom her, and a moment lac, he and Halak had en- tered the cage.
 The snakes eight or niue Tn num- be-, gIjdcI hither and ,hi,her in obedience to the commands of their owner, but an occasional pai ial ca ing of tue head, or q low hiss, showed ;hem to be fully alive to the presence of st anger.
 The par stayed in with the snakes perhaps minu'e; 10 the onloohe. s it seemed weeks, Mabel was ai.aid to speak, for fear of attracting her lovers atten, on aud he should relax his vigilance. When they came out Mabel ran to JohI w,,h esie ded hands, eNcla' p'rg. "Oh. John. bow much l admire you. Such coug--'
 "A moment, please replied John. Don't hank me. If you think l an brave, all right. did not enter the cage fo. youi sake it Was rather 0 show Nod bad litde physical courage. Allow me to say that any girl who would hcediessIy expose her fu u,e husband to no !ble death is not iit O be any mans wife the -efoe 1 leloGnce our en- gagement."
 The orv was soon told all over town, aad, fo' oaco, public op'Aion was GO ect when it said, "Served her right.
 John And cws and ptet,y Fanny Maxwell have been ma lied e'gbt yea S. Two cha ming boys, ,he light of heir paieNts' eyes, z ace their homo. Mabel Joyce is still Mabel Joyce; and as the sto.y of Johns pe,jl is old 10 every new cone, to Woodland, she is liable to .cnain Mabel Joyce u1,il he end of tue chapter.
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