Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-09-04
UNLUCKY THIRTEEN.
Constance A. Il. Cotterel.l

be, there can be, no one OF whom need b
jealous Lord MacPhools certainiy-but-
Here Jenkyns throws open the drawing
room door and announces me: Mr.. Trevor.
AOh, Trevor. now dye dor says my host
laying his hand On my shoulder
Ishrink inwardly from his touch, but
smile politely; for though i hate the old
man, love his daughter.
4 believe we shall be thirteen" he goei
on. Kent has failed us at the last mo
ment But you don't mind, do your
Iprotest have not the slightest objec-
ton.
NO, thought not" says Mr.. Bellairs,
with horrid smile-in any one else but his
daughters father, disgusting leer. "5u-
perstition is the last thing you young men
go in for nowadays, ehs'
assent to this original proposition.
Somebody was saying, just before you
came in. that Trevor fought shy of thir-
teen at dinner. But you say you don't'7
From my old nurse l imbibei many curl
Gus superstitious horrors of which l have
never been able to rid my self, but how can
confess TO this ogrei l boldly deny any
such weakness and, to my unu:terable re-
lief, he moves away.
II is marvel to me how such O monster
can have such a daughter as Evelyn.
think to myself her mother must have been
an angel Of beauty and goodness and prob
ably died of horror at a nearer acquaintance
with the ogre. l am just settling this ques-
tion entirely to nv own satisfaction,
when the door opens Though my back is
turned, know it is Evelyn She mods. and
smiles kindly as she passes me.
For the space of that second breathe the
air of Paradise. But she goes on into the
other drawing-room, and l hear her
greeting her guests, and laughing and
talking gayly. Then l see Lord MacPnoole.
that fatuous idiot sitting by her, and she
seems positively to enjoy his weak jokes. He
is a horrid Radical, ani TO ms they have
low, democratic flavor What right has he
TO think he may amuse god iess with his
feeble with From my inmost soul loaths
the facetious fellow.
To add to my discomfort, those foolish oil
world superstitions rear their heads. Never
in my life have ma lie one of thirteen. Of
course there is nothing in it, tell myself.
How could there be! Nevertheless / grow
more ill at ease How do l know it
is net truef Vino has ever proved
i'll And Evelyn says somethin;
which makes MacPhoole laugh How
can she condescend to DO amused with such
an empty creature'
All, joyI he is leaving her side with some
last joke, most likely as stale and OLD as tbs
hills. The chair next her is empty. Why
should not II
Thinking to leap at once to heaven from
the place of torment, rush into the other
room.
Mr.. Trevor,' cries a voice l have heard
called sweet To me it Is the voice Of an
owl, crow.
Taking not the slightest notice, continue
my way, heallong She sees me coming Is
il only flatterins >elf-ieception, or does she
smile with pleasure. At this moment feel
some little impelimen. in my mad career.
oh, dear, Mr. Trevor | hear Miss
Fortcscue cry, you have knocked down my
fan. Are you growing blindf
MutterinS anathemas on that hate
full fan, l pick it up AMI re-
turn it to her. She then proceeds, So it
seems to my excited imagination, TO inquire
into the health of every member
of my family. ] have always thought my
self squire of danes. and Miss Forte cue
is both beautiful AMI charming; but never
tie less i feel that could, with cheerful
alacrity, apply the first torch 10 her funeral
Tyre.
At last she i satisfied. l turn to leave
her, and behold that piggling MacPhoole in
the act Of sitting down again by Evelyn!
She only sent him for fre-screen- Who
but j, her bond-slave, should wait OH herl
Who else fetch her fire-screensi
Freely, unreservedly do l consign Miss
Fortescue to outer darkness, there to wan
der with her fan forever,
Unconscious Of the horrible fate awaiting
her. hear her entertaining Lambert Kerr
with accounts OF : dance to which she went
last night / sit desperately down by
small table and open an album On the
first page l behold the monster and Miss
Fortescue. Bang! l shut it and clasp it.
"Cheer up, Jack, old fellow,' q kind,
merry voice says. close to my ear. "You
are to sit rext bJt ono to hsr at dinner.
have been pumping Jenkyns."
Chalmers, you are a trump say grate
fully, as he sits down
"You seem awfully down. he continues.
leaning his elbow on the table. IS it that
ass MacPhoole you are jealous of Only
minute before you came in heard her COM
pare his laughter to the cracking of thorns
under pot
Well" l allow, greatly relieved.
I hardly supposed she would take
him, but-hans it all, Chalmers, we are to
DO thirteen
And what Of that" He stares at me,
and then bursts into an increiulou, laugh.
You don't mean to say you are growing
'uperstitious. Jackl Poor fsllowlr
"Nno," Isay, slut still, you know, one
ioes not Ike t. run counter TO established
beliefs
Established beliefsl, be laughs again.
1 have never had much sympathy with the
.ender passion myself. but if it can turn a
man like You into an old woman
shall objure it altogether. live by my
wits, and can't afford to trifle with them!'
"Chalmers!' / say, angrily, you are q
,old- hooded
And, think, Trevor be returns point
,dly, you are a trifle too hot-bloodedl'
He goes away. The next minute hear
him laughing with Mis- Fortescue and
Lambert kerr--at me, dare say
But DO not care In the other dra wing
Dom ! see Evelyn still talkin, to Mac
Phoole. She Is there: here am !, not thirty
eet away, yet an impossible gulf divides
Is II is like horrid nightmare
Then / see MacPhoole leave her, and |
my Old familiar friend, darts |
rom some lurking place and, with fend- |
sh smile Of triumph in my direction, takes |
lis empty chair OF course il may DO nv |
evered fancy, but at this moment his face
appears TO me more diabolical than ever |
mans vas before. think Of Miles Stand |
sh, AMI curse the hour when al mite my |
riend to share the secrets Of my bosom Is /
lie telling her of my egreyious follyi She |
aughs. Is he witty at my expense theni A |
ew hours ago my greatest caum, and nowI |
late him with a deadly hatrei-at leas: |
hink l do.
Hurrieily run over in my mind my an
'es;ors and my relations. as far a. can re-
member. but do not rscollect ever - have I
leari of any one of thom beng insane.
Evelyn is still monopolized ty Chalmers |
N despair return to the album This time /
he fates are more propitious Opening In |
he middle of the book l light on the portrait
4 Evelyn Bellairs This swee. mouth Is not
angling at any other mans wit These !
yes LOOK straight into my own
How long ] have t~en gazing at it l dc
rot know VIXEN hear tire swsetes. voice h
The world say. over nv shoulder:
You are very interested in my album 4
Mr.. Trsv1r What ara you looking ar
/ SFring T. my feet, AMI she moves nearer
IN the table
Chsimars has brought her How wronge |
Kim, VITA the kiaicst, plying smile b,
meet; nv eve. and turns away
AT my own partrait' shs exclaims, look \
ng up 70 me with smile
DO you think say in low voice. @tha,
should care 20 look at any otAerT
She blu hes and looks down How can
tell = he nlarmurs
/ am ab u 70 uttor | know not what
when the voice o! the monster is hearG
.hTo1sh the room tia: Is u say. he stand.
lbout four feet away. AMI speaks, very 4
ikely in hi. ordinary yoics hat 70 me- IL /,