TALKERS
Some years ago, Mark Twain was a guest of honor at an opera box-party given by a prominent member of New York society. The hostess had been particularly talkative all during the performance—to Mr. Clemens's increasing irritation.
Toward the end of the opera, she turned to him and said gushingly:
"Oh, my dear Mr. Clemens, I do so want you to be with us next Friday evening. I'm certain you will like it the opera will be 'Tosca.'"
"Charmed, I'm sure," replied Clemens. "I've never heard you in that."
It was a beautiful evening and Ole, who had screwed up courage to take Mary for a ride, was carried away by the magic of the night.
"Mary," he asked, "will you marry me?"
"Yes, Ole," she answered softly.
Ole lapsed into a silence that at last became painful to his fiancée.