The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-01-14
The Popcorn Seller.

uuSUduuS. lHdlly one IolA NJ N@ApN-
ence in story as follows:
"Last summer" she said, 1--WE spent
as usual at our place, Fernclif. in the
mountains. We had house full or
guests, as usual, and one of the men
l consider it a breach OF confidence
for any girl to reveal the name of a
sutton, so I will call him Mr.. Beach
was devoted to me-"
"I see," remarked the other, "you
wish to conceal the denouement. 10
call your lover by his real name would
spoil your story. Go on
81 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 l have
found since my marriage that she
was right"
"Oh, dear, why didn't you make 1t
more of a mystery?"
zone day a circus came to town.
We young people agreed that we
would attend a performance, and all
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 Cashmere? called Mr.. Beach, buy
ing package Of the popcorn.
"'Mother's got book of poems by a
Mickey called Tom Moore said the
fellow, handing up the change. And
be strutted on with, Here's your cele-
brated popcorn cakes grown on the
fertile plains Of Palestine etc.
1.-THE audience began to guy him good
naturally, 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.
1.-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.
eve had gone home, and 1 was dress
ing for dinner when, looking out of my
window, l saw young man dressed In
the height of fashion coming up the
walk. In a few minutes Susan handed
me a card and a note of Introduction
from my friend, Adele Perkins. AS
soon as 1 had finished my toilet went
down into the drawing room to greet
the caller.
81 never was so puzzled in my life.
I was sure I had seen the man before,
but where l could not tell. l was look
ing at him, trying in vain to place him,
when his face lighted up with smile.
Then the truth-the undeniable truth
broke in upon me. He was the pop
corn seller Of the circus"
"Heavensv' exclaimed the listener,
raising her hands.
"There he stood. evidently enjoying
my surprise, while I, who had extend
ed my hand, drew back.
"T haven't come he said, to sell
you a cake Of the celebrated popcorn
from the sunny land of Brazil. have
come to call upon the friend of my
cousin, Adele Perkins But before
asking to be treated as a guest Will
explain that the company of perform
ers you saw today are all fellow stu
dents Of mine at college. They need
what they make in this manner to en-
able them to pursue their studies. |.
on the contrary, have been porn with
a silver spoon in my mouth. But |
am a practical chap, and my father,
being Of the same mind as myself. pre-
fers that / shall work my way through
college as a preparation for the duties
that are expected to fall to me when
I have finished my education. l have
therefore joined my chums as pop
corn seller and make bold to say that
I keep up my end of the profits
"My dear, you can imagine my as
constituent at hearing this bowling
swell tell how he came to be mem
Der of a circus company. invited
him to dinner, but he declined be-
cause If he accepted he would be too
late for the evening performance.
After dinner l returned to my room,
feigning a headache, and, taking
maid, slipped out back door and
went to the circus. We had barely
got seated when the popcorn seller
strutted by. I was curious to hear
where his popcorn would come from
this time"
"Where?"
"From the shining hills nesting about
the south pole"
"And the denouementW
IT never could Danish the popcorn