The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-03
The Wishbone.

One might have Thought il the yerita
BILE famous apple-pie Of primer period
from the way IN which il ran "A, atS
it; r. begged for it: G, cut il ID
divided it; E, eyed it; 4, fought for il,
and q, got il.
however. 1t lay ON Alice Abbot's plate,
aud after the tender white meat had beer
sn eaten oil. she held il up, saying tc
her cousin Bertha
"See, BERTHE. my fortune-tsller ]
shall wish with il, and put it over the
door, and the one who comes toward me
first tonight. having passed under the
oracle, shall be my husband -
Oh, mammal cried BERTHE, with 8
pretty pout, YOU might have cut me
shat bit of the turkey, I'm the eldest
and ought to be married first be gen
srous, Alice, give me the bone I'll
buy you a lovely brides dress for my
wedding.
"No, no, twould have no charm for
vou, il is my wishbone, and have sole
right to the test Here, Dollie, you may
pun with me, and Alice Turned TO her
little tive-year-old cousin, and the two
pulled. Alice was triumphant, winning
her wish in the larger half she then ran
across the hall and fastened the bone
over the parlor door.
Nov, said she, with laugh, "now
we will all be on the lookout for the
conquering hero.
"Shall You surrender Internationally,
Alice 2 asked her aunt Carrie, with n
keen look at Ahce's flushed face.
One must, to fate, mustn't one q
returned Alice, with another question.
"Cela depend, one makes ones fate,
sfter fashion, sometimes therefore
would advise you TO be cautious how You
rrife with yours.
II aunt Carrie intended her words to
carry an undereurrent of meaning, they
reached their goal IN Aice's understand
ing. She knew now that her aunt had
noticed her indecision and wavering
over certain questions to which she
must soon give decided answers, and
she felt that aunt Carries advice was
needed.
1t was not AN unusual quAndary for a
Young, pretty girl to be in, that Of hav-
ing to make up her mind to say either
yea or nayr 10 two men whose happi-
ness hung upon her lips, but it was Il
trying one. On the one hand, there was
position, talent, energy, TO choose on
the other, wealth, fine looks and winning
manners and with both, devoted love.
Alice had prOcrastinated and delayed
determining which she would take,
until both lovers chafed at her irreso-
luteness.
Her heart had been touched by neither
of these suitors that citadel wnsas vet
impregnable unto their. assaults Had
L never been shlken All, hid beneath
lne outeS wills there was @ tender spot
~scf certain knight had pierced-an
rode away, and this little secret sore
Alice was trying to forget. and had
schooled herself at last 10 believe il was
but a fancied pang, and one that either
wealth or position would cause her to
lose even the memory Of.
1t had been Summer Irritation,
this knightly episode. Alice had spent
the seasDn, year before, in o little
mountain village. He had been on q
sketching tour in the same region they
had met, and talked, and read, and
rowed for weeks together, then one
morning he made little picture in her
album, wrote his name thereto: Ger
ONE Reid Knight" and mounted his
charger and rode away. That was all,
and vet the fortress had been taken,
Alice's heart went with him. Nobody
knew how she watched. and waited, to
see or hear from him after, but never,
on street, at reception or ball was her
handsome Knight to be found he had
ridden out OF her life il seemed that
summer morn, hnt not out of her
thoughts. Was ithot strange that with
two devoted, ardent, warm lovers, the
girl should constantly compare one cold
careless one But il was Just this con-
slant recollection Of her that delayed her
yea or nay, and DIR. Ellis Fame, and
Mr.. Frank Merrill. rising young physi-
clan, and agreeable young millionaire.
with all their advantages we're weighed
and found wanting.
Mrs. Garfield, Alice's aunt, with whom
she made her home, had noticed Alies's
troubled hesitation on the choice OF
these two eager lovers, and was woman
enough to suspecta third had something
TO do with it, and having heard some
little hint OF AIice's summer Irritation,
she thought love was the reason that
neither position nor wealth gained the
day.
That Christmas morning two pretty
r~.Fk- L Il A fenx Law
One, basket OF rare winter blossoms
with note from DR.. Ellis Fame, asking
her to wear a rose for him that night as
a token of consent. The other, a costly
iewelled ehatelaine with all it's pretty
from Frank Merrill,
and warm letter of affection, begging
her to "wear his chains now and for
ever"
There was to be an informal gather
ing of friends in Mrs. Canfeld's parlsr
that evening, and as Alice stood before
TIE mirror arranging herself for the oc-
casion, she played little game with
Fate. First, she fastened a cred, red
rose in her glossy brown puffs and
curls, then she hooked the silver chain
of the beautiful chatelaine, with its fan
and tablet, and vinaigrette, around her
slender waist, then she smiled and
nodded her head, and whispered 10 her
pretty image in the glass
Either becomes you, my dear If
Frank Merrill walks in under the oracle
toward me first, down comes the flower
II Ellis Fame be the conquering hero,
cast my chain and wear roses. / have
decided, my wishbone shall tell 2
whom am to marry !"
Notwithstanding she tested in this
light, heartless manner with her future,
there was nervous tremor around her
heart after she came down stairs and
entered the rooms. Her aunt and cousin
were entertaining some guests at the ex-
IRENE end of the salon, when Alice
heard steps ascending the stairs and
the voices of her two lovers were borne
on to her ears Was it to be rose or
silver
"Walk in-Miss Abbot will be pleased
20 see You, / assure you" 1t was DR..
Fame who spoke, and Alice began to tug
4 the chain, then she looked up and be-
leld Gerome Reid Knight walk in under
she. wishb0ne and come toward her.
The room swan, and amidst the greet
NO aud explanation which followed,
lice murrnured some incoherent words
about = surprise, pleasure, superstition,
stc."
/" NY friend Knight came down TO
Garfield for his Christmas, Miss Abbot,