Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-20
LETTIE'S LOVE CHARM.

"Why, Lettie Vincent, you don't mean
to say you have been quarreling with Ber-
tie and only six months married?' said
Mrs. Austin, reprovingly, to her niece,
who had run in for moment to see her.
well, Il wasn't exactly quarrel, > half
sobbed Lettie. But if he finds fault with
me | have to talk back little sharp, and
, then he goes away angry.
81 always had charm against these
little storms when | was married. | in
herited it from my mother, and l think |
shall give it to you.
AS She spoke she unclasped necklace
from her throat made of twenty lustrous
amber beads 81 didn't wear them when |
was first married, -" said Mrs. Austin,
''but carrid them around in my pocket.
So must you. Now when your husband
speaks sharply to you and you feel like
swapping back, just count three of these
beads ON your fingers. There is some
thing mystic about amber, and when
you've counted three beads you can say
| what you please.
Lettie laughed little angrily.
Your are making fun of me, aunty, y
she said.
mo, | aint, said she, gravely. II don t
expect you to believe it, but | do ask you
to give 1t fair trial.
But it seems so ridiculous!
''Plenty of good things seem ridiculous
at first, but know that if you won t utter
syllable after you have been vexed by
BERTHE until you say one, two, three-one
for faith, two for hope and three for
charity then mark my words, child, you
will find the amber charm will work. y
"Well, Lettie said, taking the beads
and glancing at them a little super
stitiously, ''I'I try them, but I'm certain
they won t do any good.
"And | am certain they will, said the
old lady cheerfully.
When Lettie went back home that night,
in the solitary summer twilight, BERTHE
! Vincent was there before her, impatiently
pacing the floor.
''Well, " he said sharply, 81 don't know
and find the house deserted. Why couldn t
you have told me that you were going
away?"
Because I am not a three-year-old baby
| to have to ask leave every time | 60 out.
| That is the reason why.
Those words were the answer that rose
hotly from Lettie's lips, but she suddenly
remembered the amber charm, and slipped
her hand down into her pocket, and de-
| liberately counted off three of the glitter
ing globes; and by the time she had fin
ished the lone for faith, two for hope and
three for charity little of the dreariness
of the unlighted apartment struck
into her own heart, and she realized it
was cherries place for BERTHE to come
home to-
II didn't mean to stay so Late she
said cheerliy. but did want to go and
see aunty so badly, and perhaps | should
have told that | thought of spending the
day at the farm I'll light the gas in a
minute, DEAR -
Berries frown faded away.
''Well, suppose we both go down on
Sunday, Lettie? | declare | don't wonder
you want to go, for it is insufferably stu
pid for you here all day long alone, with
only the canary and the kitten for com
pany. Now sit down and let me read the
paper to you until you get rested. y
And an almost superstitious thrill pass
ed through Letties heart as she realized
the success of the amber charm.
Next morning Mr. Vincent, dressing in
hurry, found button off his shirt.
eff there ism t another button gone, he
exclaimed, angrily dashing the shirt to the
floor. 1T does seem to me you might be
a little more careful about such things,
Lettie. Il
A sharp retort trembled on Lettie'
tongue, but like lightning the amber
charm flashed across her memory, and the
faith, hope and charity trio were called to
her relief
II will look them all over this morning,
BERTHE You will find every button right
after this.
As she spoke she laid out another shirt
not buttonless, and he laughed happily.
4 shouldn't have spoke so quickly, "
said he. But you know what a button
off a mans shirt is to his temper.
When he had gone to the Office, leaving
an affectionate goodbye on Lettie's pretty
face, she drew out her amber charm and
divided Bertie's kiss with it.
''You darling old thing, she said aloud
''Bertie does love me, and thanks to you
my blessed trio, | am learning to control
this pettish, wayward tongue of mine a
little. :"
Autumn leaves were falling when she
went down to the old farm house again.
well, dear said Mrs. Austin, and
how does the spell work?
''0h, auntyl" she cried, 81 am so hap
py! | am so thankful to you! and If can
only keep the precious old beads forever u
''Of course, my dear, of course; keep
EN- as long as you want EN-. Only as Tar
as there being charm is concerned
''You needn't tell me, aunty, about
that. And Lettie laughed and colored.
Il know it is not the three beads so much
as the stopping to think. But who would