Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-09-21

For little while, and then 1t passed
away"
"But howP" said eager, fearful
Dora.
al used-a charm |" said Mrs. Thax-
ter.
"a charm?"
Dora looked almost incredulously at
her aunt.
A charm repeated the old lady (;
which l inherited from my Own
mother"
"Was it effcctual?" Dora asked, won
deringly.
Entirely So" answered Mrs. Thax-
ter.
"Oh, aunty! what was it?"
Well, dear, | don't mind telling
you, >" said the old lady. And I'll give
you the amulet itself. lIereH
She unclaspcd astring Of dull gold
beads from about her neck rs she spoke
-old-fashioncd globes of precious
metal, whose patterns of chased ara
bcsqucs had long since been worn off
into glstening smoothncss -twenty-onc
of them, neither more nor less, strung on
piece of silkcn thread.
Your gold beads, aunty" cried
Dora.
My magic spell, child answered
the old lady. Il never wore them
round my neck in those days. ! carried
them hidden away in my pocket. You
must do the same. DO not let Herbert
suspect they are there. But when ne
speaks a little crisply, and you feel in
clincd TO rctort with sharpness, stop and
count OF three ~ these beads with your
fingers. Then say what you please"
Dora laughed Historically.
"Youarc making game Of me, aunty,'
said she.
"Iam speaking the solid truth" said
Mrs. ThaNtcr "Idon't ask you to be-
lieye in me or in my amulet. l only
ask you to give it a fair trial.
But" argued Dora, ait seems so
ridiculous"
Every likely" said the old lady /;
"but | had the beads from my mother,
and she taught me their spell, which /,
I in my time, found 50 ctlicaCious. But
mind, You are not to utter syllable
until you have counted three beads
one, two. three. one for faith, two for
hope, three for charity. Then trust me,
niece Dora, you will find the fever will
burn out Of your heart. the harsh. ncttlc-
stinging words will slide unspoken from
your tongue"
Wei" said Dora. taking the beads
and glancing almost suprrstitiously at
their duh glitter. 81 will try them.
But am almost certain that they will
not do any good"
"And | am certain that they will"
said Mrs. Thavter, quietly, Now let
us 60 out into the garden and get some
of the early Sweetwater pears. and
gather white currants for tea"
So Dora spent the day happily at the
old farm, and went back In the sultry
summer twilight to her new home.
Herbert Wilton was there before her,
impaticntly pacing the floor.
This isn't a particularly pleasant
place to come back to and find de-
serted" said he, sharply. why
couldn't you have told me YOU were
going away, and then could have
spent the evening at the club"
because ! am not a five-year-old
child to ask leave every time ! go out, "
was the answer that rose hotly to Do
ra's lips: but she checked herself as she
| remembered Aunt Thaxter's amulet,
and slipping her hand into the pocket
of her dress she counted off one, two,
three of the glittering beads.
And by that time little of the
dreariness Of the unlighted apartment
struck into her own heart. II was a
cherries place for Herbert to come
/ home TO.
"Tll light the gas directly, dear" she
said. And perhaps l ought to have
told you that thought of spending the
day at the old farm. did want to see
dear old aunty so badly"
Herbert's frown faded away and
naturally enough, too, he said {:
Suppose we go down together on
Sunday, Dora. It must be rather
stupid for you here, with nothing but
the canary and your needlework to