Evening journal., 1909-01-23
The Popcorn Seller.

husbands. FINALLY one told her expert
ence in a story as follows:
Last summer" she said, I'VE spent
as usual at our place, Ferncliff. in the
mountains. We had a house full of
guests, as usual. and one Of the men
1 consider it a breach Of confidence
for any girl TO reveal the name of a
suitor, so I viii call him Mr.. Beach
was devoted to me-"
Il see" remarked the other, "you
wish to conceal the, denouement. To
call your lover by his real name would
spoil your story. Go on"
Il liked Mr.. Beach very much, but
he seemed rather prosaic. wished
for something more snowy. Mother
said that a practical man would wear
better than a snowy one. and / have
found since my marriage that she
was right"
"Oh, dear. why didn't you make it
more of a mysteryf"
zone day a circus came to town.
We young people agreed that we
went to the tent in a body. We
climbed the board seats to a conven-
lent height. sitting in a bunch, Mr..
Beach being beside me. We were
much too early for the show. but en-
joyed ourselves watching the country
people come in. Near us a young fell
low was arranging his wares, consist
ing Of popcorn cakes. AS soon as he
had them laid out on his table, or,
rather, board, he took up some pack
ages and, holding up one, passed
around the ring, dragging one leg
after the other, the way circus people
do, drawing:
"'These celebrated popcorn cakes
are made of popcorn grown in the vale
Of Cashmere under the glow of the
radiant faces Of the most beautiful
women Of the world. Only cents a
package. Warranted fresh and lus-
cious to the taste
"'What do you know about the vale
of CashmereT called Mr.. Beach, buy
ing package of the popcorn.
"'Mother's got a book of poems by a
Mickey called Tom Moore said the
fellow, handing up the change. And
he strutted on with, Here's your cele-
brated popcorn cakes grown on the
! fertile plains of Palestine etc.
''The audience began to guy him good
haturedly, but he smiled at any one
doing so with a bewitching smile. In
deed, every one was watching him and
wondering where next his celebrated
popcorn would come from. He con-
tinued his rounds till there was a
flourish of half a dozen dingy brass
instruments, and the performance com
menced.
"The only attractive feature Of the
show was that the actors were fine
looking young men. They seemed rath
er amateurish, their performance con
sisting principally Of gymnastic stunts
We stayed till the end, however, the
girls Of our party being interested in
the fine appearance of the young
Ajaxes.
I'VE had gone home. and was dress
ing for dinner when, looking out Of my
window, 1 saw a young man dressed II
the height of fashion coming up the
walk. In few minutes Susan handel
me a card and a note OF introduction
from my friend, Adele Perkins. AZ
soon as / had finished my toilet wen
down into the drawing room to gree
the caller.
"I never was so puzzled in my life
was sure l had seen the man before
but where l could not tell. was look
ing at him. trying In vain to place him
when his face lighted up with a smile
Then the truth-the undeniable truth
broke in upon me. He was the pop
corn seller Of the circus"
Heavens exclaimed the listener
raising her hands.
"There he stood, evidently enjoying
my surprise, while /, who had extend
ed my hand. drew back.
at haven't come he said, to sci
you cake Of the celebrated popcorn
from the sunny land Of Brazil. hav'
come to call upon the friend OF m.
cousin Adele Perkins. But befor
{ asking to be treated as a guest vii
explain that the company Of perform
ers you saw today are all fellow stu
dents OF mine at college. They neeI
, what they make in this manner to en-
able them to pursue their studies.
on the contrary. have been born witt
( a silver spoon IN my mouth. But
, am practical chap, and my father
I being of the same mind as myself, pre-
! fers that shall work my way through
college as a preparation for the dutie
that are expected to fall to me whel
II have finished my education. l hav
: therefore joined my chums as POT
I corn seller and make bold to say tha
e I keep up my end Of the profits
( my dear. you can imagine my as
tonishment at hearing this howlin
swell tell how he came to be a men
Der Of a circus company. invite
him to dinner, but he declined be
1 cause II he accepted he would be to
= late for the evening performanc,
y After dinner I returned to my room
feigning a headache, and, taking
: maid, slipped out a back door an
went 20 the circus. We had barrel
got seated when the popcorn selle
strutted by was curious to hea
where his popcorn would come fror
this time"
~"Where?p
"From the shining hills nesting abol
the south pole.'
"And the denouementf"