Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-03-25
LETTIEs LOVE CHARM.

to say that you have been Quarrelling
with Bertie-and only six months mar
riedi" sail Mrs. Austin. reproYinglr. to
her niece, who had run in for moment
10 see Ter.
Well. it wasn't exactly a quarrel. =
half sohbed Lettie. -Bnt If he finds
fault with me. have to answer him
back a little sharp, aud then he goes
away angry.
Il always had a charm against these
little storms when / was married; Ia
lerited. it from my mother, aud think
shall give it to you.
As she spoke she unclasped neck
lace from her throat. made of tweaty
lustrous amber beads Il didn't wear
them when ] was first married, said
Mrs Austin. but carried them around
in my pocket. SO must you. Now,
when your husband speaks so sharply
to you and you feel like swapping back
just count three If these beads on your
fingers. There is something mystic
about AMBER and when, you have
counted three, beads you can say what
you please. Lettie laughed little
angrily.
-Yon are making fun Of me, auntv,
she said.
mo, I'm not, !" she sad grayeiy, Il
don't expect you to believe it, but do
ask you to give it fair trial
-But it seems so ridiculous.
Plenty of good things seem ridiculous
at first; but | know that If you won't
utter syallable after you have been
yexed by BERTHE until you say one, two,
three for charity-then, mark my word,
child. you will find the amber charm
will work. I"
Well, Lettie said, taxing the beads
and glancing at them little supers l.
tiously, @rll try them, but Pm certain
they won't do any good.
"And am certain they will, said the
old lady cheerfully.
When Lettie went home that night, in
the solitary summer twilight, BERTHE
Vincent was before her, impatiently
pacing the floor.
We'll, he said sharply, II don't know
that particularly admire to come home
and find the house deserted. Why
couldn't you have told me you were
going away?"
Because I'm not a three year old
baby, to have to ask leave every time /
go out That is the reason why"
These words were the answer that rose
hotly to Lettie's lips, but she suddenly
remembered the amber charm, and
slipped her hand down into her pocket
and deliberately counted three Of the
glittering globes; and by the time she
had finished the zone for faith, two for
hope, and three for charity, little of
the dreariness of tile unlighted apart
ment struck into her own heart, and she
realized that it was cheerless place for
BERTHE to come home to.
II didn't mean to stay so late, she
said cheerily. But did want to go
and see aunty so bad, and perhaps l
should have told you that j thou sht of
spending the day at the farm. I'll light
the gas in minute, dear.
Bertie's frown faded away.
well. suppose we both go down on
Sunday, Lettie? I declare / don't
wonder you want to go, for it is insult
ferably stupid for you here all day long
alone, with the canary and kitten for
company. Now sit down and let me
read the paper to you until you get
rested.
And an almost supersti:ious thrill
passed through Lettie's heart as she
realized the success Of the amber charm.
The next morning, Mr.. Vincent. dress
ing in hurry, found button off his
shirt
IF there isn't another button gone,
he exclaimed angrily dashing tile shirt
to the floor. 1T does seem TO me you
might be a little more careful about
such things. Lettie.
A sharp retort trembled on Lettie's
tongue, but like lightning the amber
charm flashed across her memory, and
the faith, hope, and charity trio were
called to her relief.
Il will look them over this morning,
Berthe. You shall find every button
right after this.
AS she spoke she laid out another
shirt, not buttonless, aud he laughed
happily.
Il shouldn't have spoken so quickly,
said he, but you know what a button
of mans shirt is to his temper.
When he had gone to the office, leav-
ing an affectionate good by on Lettie's
pretty face, she drew out her amber
charm and divided Bertie's kiss with it
~You darling old thing" she said
als vi. BERTHE does love me, and thanks
to you, my blessed trio, / am learning
to control this pettish, way ward tongue
of nine little.
Autumn leaves were falling when she
went down to the old farmhouse again.
well, dear, said Mrs. Austin, -and
how dos the spell work?"
~Oh, aunty," she cried, II am 50
happyl am so thankful to you'll And
if can only keep those precious old
beads forever"
-Of course, my dear, Of course; keep
'em as long as you want 'em. Only as
far IS their being q charm is con-
Oerned-"
You needn't tell me, auntie, about
that. And Lettie laughed and colored.
i know it is not the three beads so
much as thet stopping to think. But
who would suppose that little way of
stopping to count would be actual dis
cipline for ourselvesi / know / was al
ways quick and irritable. but, auntie,
am learning to control my temper. And
it live 100 years. feel that must
have my faith, hope, and charity
charm.