graphy of events.

"Not that it makes any difference, Jack, but I--er--er--just wanted to
know," said Hazel, with the least bit of suspicion in her manner.

As he told of fastening Nellie's skates for her and of the lovely ice,
the big crowds on the lake, and what a pretty girl Nellie was, Hazel
kept time with her dainty foot kicking her broad-brimmed leghorn, which
dangled by the string from her hand, finishing by poising the hat on her
toe while she disinterestedly remarked, "Those western girls have such
large feet; I suppose they have no trouble standing up on the ice," a
remark which pleased the young man immensely, although he essayed no
response.

When Jack reached his plans for the future Hazel became even more
inclined to worry the historian by a rapid fire of insinuations.

"I suppose you will have to go on the road and take long trips out west
to--sell goods? Shall you have the choice of territory when you get to
be a salesman?" "Do those western stores carry as fine a line of goods
as our folks do in the east?" "The styles out there are about two years
behind ours; don't the girls look old fashioned?" To all of which Jack
had one answer, "Yes."

"You can stop saying 'yes' all the time."

"I will, Hazel dear, on one condition--that you say 'yes.'"

"Yes," demurely answered Hazel.

Just then from a near-by hillside came the tattoo welcome of a cock
partridge "drumming" for his mate, the measured, gradually increasing
roar making the woods resound as Mr. Grouse beat the hollow log upon
which he strutted up and down until his coquettish spouse approached
within sight of her liege lord. She came, pecking negligently at snails
and bugs, missing them oftener than hitting them, but she didn't care.
She scratched at imaginary seeds, inattentively awaiting his pleasure.
As soon as the cock perceived his bride he spread his tail like a fan,
clucked a welcome and flew to her side.

"There, my dear," said Jack; "that is the way you must obey me when I am
lord and master. Be very meek and let me do the splurging."

"And don't I get a chance to say a teeny, weensy word? Have I just got
to listen, and watch the man of the house dry the dishes, get the
breakfast (if we can't have a domestic) and"--Hazel rolled her eyes
mockingly meek and with her hands "Now-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep" fashion,
continued, "match samples for me at the store?" Jack capitulated; his
grandeur collapsed "all at once and nothing first, just