hundred and twenty-five dollars, and her hand, heart, and dearest
love forever.'" He looks up at her. "Ethel!"

SHE, smiling: "Sign it, sign it!"

HE, catching her in his arms and kissing her: "Oh, yes--HERE!"

SHE, pulling a little away from him, and laughing: "Oh, oh! I only
wanted ONE signature! Twenty autographs are too many, unless you'll
let me trade them off, as the collectors do."

HE: "No; keep them all! I couldn't think of letting any one else
have them. One more!"

SHE: "No; it's quite enough!"

SHE frees herself, and retires beyond the table. "This unexpected
affection" -

HE: "IS it unexpected--seriously?"

SHE: "What do you mean?"

HE: "Oh, nothing!"

SHE: "Yes, tell me!"

HE: "I hoped--I thought--perhaps--that you might have been prepared
for some such demonstration on my part."