The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-05


 Hippopotamus," said Edith pro- vokingly, what would you do if. added to the problem which I have just propounded, was the additional fact that the young man did not wish to speak to you9,'
 It was more than human nature could endure.
 s.Hippopotamus,s' cried Chester eagerly. Eff you give Miss Twining any advice on that basis you are as stupid as you look. It is g. wonder tracks for yawning in her face"
 The huge animal twitched it's ab- surdly inadequate tail impatiently.
 .sNo wonder you are nervous and ashamed,'' continued Chester severe ly. ''You should be on your knees, if you didn't have legs like a grand piano.'
 Hippopotamus,'' said Edith calm ly, the young man il. question is pleased to be hippant. I don't know that want to talk to him. after all-''
 ..Oh, Hippopotamus,' cried Chester riteously. .'the young man was SC surprised, confused, so startled. He didn't know what he was saying"
 don't want to talk to him, Hip popotamus.'' said Edith.
 The ungafnly creature turned it's long rugged back with an air of sfinality that left no room for doubt as it's views on the matter. 3 ssHippopotamus.'' said Chester. s'ye5- have got to listen. One day when I was a little boy was playing here in this very park. Three other little boys pitched into me, and it looked ass if they were going to be too many for me. The fight began by our throwing twigs at each other. At that juncture a little girl came along. a little girl with slim white hands. I remember because she slipped off her mittens, and the way she sailed into those three boys was a caution. They fled incontinently. That was 8 dozen years ago. and I didn't even know the little girl. She just came to my rescue because the odds were unfair. wish that T could meet her some day."
 .Hippopotamus.''' cried Edith in great excitement. .I was that httla girl"
 Were you really asked ,cheste r quickly.
 ..Yes, I wonder how could have been such tomboy. Don't you re- member how lost my mitten, and how my nurse scolded me for inter- fering?.'
 q kept that mitten for full eix weeks replied Chester.
 '.Did you reaHys The nurse told mother, and was punished for be- ing tomboy.''
 .'Tomboy girls are the best kind Chester. .AI little girls should pttss through tomboy period. It is es sential."
 "How much you know about little girls,'' observed Edith.
 .I that is Why, I don't know about other little girls.''
 ..An this theory is built about mea'
 ..Yes. it is," said Chester gravely.
 ..But what were you doing in New York? I thought that you were a Chicago boy.''
 chester's heart leapt She had thought about him then. knew where he was from.
 .I had just returned from Europe. '' he explained, ..and we stopped over here. It was the most fortunate event of my entire existence.''
 ..why?'
 s.You did not misunderstood me. however equivoca1 my position seem ed. You knew that I was telling tae truth, and you believed in me. You understood how felt about it all You said so at the time, and knew that you did. have cherished that since. Tell me what your father has against me
 The relapse into seriousness was a tactical mistake. Edith paced about her apprehensively The hippopo- tamus had betaken itself to the bot tom of its tank, and nothing but a minute section of it's nostrils was showing.
 ..oh.'' she cried. "I forgot. I shouldn't be talking to you I don't know what father has against sou. He just told me never to I must be going
 ..our chaperone is still visible. '' ventured Chester in hopeless att s.,apt to restore the old footing. But she had turned like a flash and was gone.
 Checking an impulse to follow her, Chester turned to the keeper in charge:
 eff you wanted to tickle the hip popotamua pink" he said, what would you do for her?'
 The keeper stared.
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