Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-05-01

.LETTIE'S LOVE CHARM.

"Why, Lcttie Vincent, you dom
mean to say you have been quarreline
with Bertie-and only six months mar,
ried % said Mrs. Austin, reprovingly, to
her niece, who had run in a moment to
see her.
"Well, it wasn't exactly quarrel" :"
half sobbed Lettie. "But if he finds
fault with me, | have to answer him
back little sharp, and then he goes
away angry
II always had charm against these
little storms when | was married in-
herited it from my mother, and | think
l shall give it to you"
AS she spoke she unclasped neck
lace from her throat, made of twenty
lustrous amber beads. 81 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 of these beads on your
fingers. There is something mystic
a55',asnbor, and whom you have count.
ed three beads you can say what you
please Lettie laughed little aDgrily.
"You are making fun Of me, aunty, "
she said.
"No, I'm not" she said gravely, II
don't expect you to believe it, but do
ask you to give it fair trial"
"But it seems so ridiculous"
"Plcnty of good things seem ridicu-
lous at first but | know that il 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 word,
child, you will find the amber charm
will work. :"
"Well," Lettie said, taking tho beads,
and glancing at them little supersti-
tiously, "I'll try them, but I'm certain
they won't do any good
"Andf 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" ho said sharply, "[ don't
know that particularly admire to come
home and find the house deserted. Why
couldn't you have told me you were
going awayr
because I'm not three -year-old
baby, to have to ask leave every time
20 out. That is the reason why"
These words we're tho answer that
rose hotly to Lettie's lips, but she sud-
denly 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" a
little Of the dr. eariness Of the unlighted
apartment struck into her own heart,
and sh realized that it was cheerless
place for BERTHE to come home to.
II didn't mean to stay so late" !" she
said, cheerily. But l did want to 60
and sec aunty so bad, and perhaps I
should have told you that | thought Of
spending the day at the farm. Plllight
the gas in a minute, dear"
Berties frown faded away.
"Well, suppose We both go down on
Sunday, Lettie | declare don't won
der you want to go, for it is insuffera-
bly, 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 superstitious thrill
passed through Lettie's heart as she
realized the success Of the amber
charm.
The next morning, Mr.. Vincent,
dressing in hurry, found button of
his shirt.
'1f there isn't another button gone, I"
he exclaimed, angrily dashing the shirt
TO the floor. ''It does seem TO me you
might be little more careful about such
things, Lettie."
A sharp retort trombled 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
II 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, and he laughed
happily.
81 shouldn't have spoken so quick
ly," said he, but you know what
button off mans shirt is to his TEN