stn't forget."

Jerry consulted his mother's eyes. She nodded her head and he took the
marbles. Then he shook hands with Danny and Chris and Nora and kissed
and hugged Kathleen, leaving Celia Jane till the last, because she was
still sobbing.

Celia Jane did not feel entirely forgiven because Jerry seemed to avoid
her and she abased herself before him.

"I--I'm s-s-sorry, Jerry. I'll n-n-never do it again. You ain't mad at
m-m-me any m-m-more, are you, Jerry?"

"No, I ain't mad at you," Jerry assured her.

"Then will you m-m-marry me when we are g-g-grown up, Jerry?"

Jerry flushed uncomfortably at that and felt that Celia Jane was taking
an unfair advantage of him, so he did not answer.

"W-w-will you, J-J-Jerry?" Celia Jane besought him.

"No," said Jerry at length.

"Why w-w-won't you?"

Jerry felt himself flushing still more hotly from head to foot, partly
at the smile he saw his father and mother exchange and partly at Celia
Jane's importunity.

"Because," he said.

"I'll g-g-give you my silver ring if you will, Jerry."

"No," said Jerry more firmly.

"Why won't you, J-J-Jerry?"

"Yes, Gary," interposed his father with a dancing, twinkling light in
his eyes, "why can't you promise it to oblige the lady?"

"'Cause," Jerry informed him gravely, "when I grow up I'm goin' to marry
Kathleen."

Jerry was somewhat dumfounded at the burst of laughter which followed
his announcement. They did not know, he thought, that Kathleen had given
him her old, adored rag dog of her own free will.

"The darling!" cried Mother 'Larkey, after she had stopped laughing.
"But there is plenty of time to change your mind yet."

"Then you must be very kind to Kathleen, always," said Jerry's mother.

"He has been," said Mrs. Mullarkey.

Kathleen looked up at Jerry and gurgled.

"Never mind, Celia Jane," consoled Nora. "He'll be in the family,
anyway."

Celia Jane was greatly cheered by that consolation and brightened
visibly, much to Jerry's relief. She kissed him good-by, throwing both
arms tightly about his neck in her impetuous fashion.

It was with a sad and yet singing heart that Jerry followed his father
and mother out to Sultana,--sad at leaving behind all that had made his
life and his world the past three years, and singing at the thought of
the new world and the new life he was about to enter into, with a father
and mother of his very own, a circus twice a day, every day in the week
but Sunday, and ele