The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-05-24

ome foolish investment again, like
hat oil we'll you discovered where a
kerosene can had tipped over. or the
lying machine inventor who nearly
titled both Of you."
I'm all right this time," announced
gregory with chnckle of surety.
Ina storekeeper proceeded to his
I'D iron box Of a saie. Gregory be-
:ame Immersed in reading the glaring
,oster on the wall of a circus exhibit
ng fifty miles away. 1t showed for
our days. and this was the last one.
Just in time,' he said TO himself.
Thank you. Silas. I'll pay ySu back all
tight" he added aloud. May be away
from town for a spell Cot to catch
he midnight train. So long"
Cheerily Gregory put the money
away. Gaily he waved the covered
box. It contained the lone hen Susan
lad asked him to care For.
There was great gossip rs to the
mysterious departure of Gregory. At
the end of two weeks, however, the
storekeeper received draft for his
money. That same day Susan was
handed registered parcel by the post
man. Enclosed was a neat gold breast
pin. On the card were these words:
June is the month Of brides, roses.
song-birds, sunshine"
A month later, from another city,
came five-pound box of chocolates.
Its cover bore the legend, II make it
JanuNy-mistletoe, merry sleigh
BELLS"
u Declare" said Susan to her sister,
|"I can't understand all this extrava-
gance and mystery. I'd rather have
Gregory back with nothing than have
him away, maybe in all sorts of
bother and hard work. Poor fellow! /
drove him away. and" Susan dis
solved in tears.
A week later there came letter.
Dear Sweetheart Susan" it read, 1--WE
ordered that farm outfit and I'm com.
ing home. Get ready to begin that
life partnership this fall-beautiful
sunsets, harvests and ALL"
! Susan gave scream Of delight aa
che opened the door one morning and
found Gregory on the doorstep. He
was dressed in neatly-ftting suit; he
wore a well-trimmed mustache. Con
fidence and opulence were suggested
by his bearing. Love, too--his loyal
| eyes told that rs he boldly kissed Su
San.
Gregory" was her first word as
they were seated on the sofa, what
does it all mean? Did some one leave
you a fortune?"
Better than that" replied Gregory
buoyantly-"a chance to earn every
dollar I've got. 1t was the chicken
Susan
what chicken" asked Susan, for
getfully.
1.-THE one you asked me to care for
Susan, that was q wonderful fowl. Nc
more crazy that you or I--only queer
"How queer, Gregory"
"Well, it walked backwards. Think
| of a hen that walked backwards-the
| only one in the world, a-a-' ant
Gregory foundered and consulted {
circus bill. "a rara avis, that's it.
went straight to the city where cir
Gus was showing. A side show wal
interested. Not that a chicken tina
walked backwards was so strong al
attraction of ITSELF but with the tat
tooed boy and the trick porcupine i
made big draw. Snowman gave MI
twenty-five dollars week. Thu
chicken just caught the farmers. 1
rival Snowman offered me the sam
and percentage on admissions. Las
week another Snowman offered nj
$1,000 cash for the curiosity, so In
here with the money to stock up tina
farm. What do you say, Susan?"
"That you are husband wortl
waiting for" replied Susan tenderly.
| Copyright. 1913. BY w. q. Chapman.)