The Columbus journal., 1892-04-27
THE FAQUIR'S CURSE.

was a pueker between her eyebrows
that betokened p%erplexity as she bent
above the gridirOn to turn the
chicken.
sGertrude." she called, ''what is
the time-half after five?"
"a quarter to siX," answered a
,oice from an adjoining room: and
Gertrude Louis made her appearance,
fair and fresh as a May blossom in
ler evening costume of olive crepe.
..Hasn't Frank materialiZed yet?'
,he asked, going TO the door a mo-
ment to look out into the wild March
night.
s.No.- l suppose he is calling upon
Miss Sharp, as usual" Mrs. Richard
,on said vexedly. 'Call G%enevieve
and Idalia, dear. We won't wait
supper any longer"
Mrs. Richardson was just in the act
If pouring the last cup of pale, fra
grant tea, when a firm step crushed
The snow on the dOOr-stOne without,
and the delinquent Frank entered.
singing, in lugubrious tones
And your sins shall be counted in the end"
..Whoever counts yours will have
his hands full" exclaimed GenevIevc
Percy.
my good child, sins r not count
I'd by the handful, especially in cases
ike yours. A shovel is used" Frank
rctOrtei. as ne hung up his coat and
nat and came to the table. "What,
Gertrude! You here? Why did you
lOt telephone?"
81 did," Gertrude replied, butter
ing her toast, shut not to Edna"
.What a sharp remark" said
Frank, at which exercrable pun
everybody looked painfully solemn.
edna and l have been to the
..Musee," Frank yentured after a
| brief pause. There's a new attrac-
lion this weck-a genuine Simon
pure faauir from the torrid plains of
| distant India"
ssWhat is Il faquir?" Queried Ger.
srude, forgetting to remain on her
dignity.
Frank favored her with a look full
IF commiseration for such ignorance.
"A faquir, my unsOphiSticated
maiden, IS a very holy being, who
performs no work, owns no superior,
1espises everybody and everything.
ind beneftsthe community by tying
mis- wrists to his feet, spreading saw
lust along his backbone, and trun-
ling himself along like a cart-wheel
for a couple of hundred miles or 50.
Of course every one is anxious to
nave the honor of Entertaining a man
20 holy as to roll into their presence
doubled up like a hoop. So at a vast
expense the %proprietors of the 'Mu'
see have secured this wonderful
creature of whom l speak, and fol
positively one week only he may bt
seen by the elite of Omaha, in daily
exhibitions in the curiO hall"
s.What does he look like::" asked
Genevieve.
'.Well, his personal attractions art
lndeniable. His eyes are encirclet
by bands of white paint, his cheek:
are a rich mustard yellow, a white
streak decOrates the bridge of hi:
nose, and another surrounds hi
mouth. lie is dressed in a flown.
green and yellow robe, nOn too clean,
and he carries a pair of tOngs, with
Grass dish at the end of them for thu
gifts his admirers bestow upon him.
''What did you give him, Frank:'
[dalia c~uriously asked.
Frank laughed uproariously.
81 had Genevieve's carbolic ball il
my pocket, and l stepped upon a chat
and snapped it under his nose. H,
sneezed so violently that the tong
dew half way across the room: and a
soon as he could speak he pronouncet
curse upon me-ln excellent En-
ylish, too"
"What was the curse:?" said GEL
rude.
THAT l should be shOrn of m
ylory-Or something to that effect
that everything l most valued wOul'
DC taken from me; that l SHOULD
Wither from the face of the earth
-oot and branch" And the irrepres
sibIe young man drew down the col
lers of his mouth and tried to loo
grave.
s.Your glory! That means you
latest acquisition, of course" Ger
,vieve commented, with a glance a
the silky black mustache on Frank
upper lip. "What would you dc
Frank, if that faquir should trundl
himself out here some night, and i
che morning you missed your mu:
tache?"
.:Advertise in the Herald" ar
,wered Frank, unhesitatingly.
LET the subject drop, nv son,
said his mother. YEARLY. "Will 20
nave a dQughnut?"
"Do not be cross, mptherkin," til
;capegrace said. as he helped. himse
Literally and passed the plate on
Gertrude, who bit her lips to kee
from laughing.
Pleasanter people than Mr.. an
. Mrs. Richardson it would be dificu,
10 find in all Omaha. Their coz
residence was charmingly locate
near Hanscom Park, the lOveliest b
! IF green wood in the city.
Born and bred under the sum
skies of Virginia, and inheriting a
the warm-heartedness and geni;
hospitality characteristic of Southel
people. it was no wonder the Richar'
sons we're general favorites, and the
beautiful home a gathering place II
young people, especially.
Having no daughter OF her owl
Mrs. Richardson was never thorough
happy without a houseful of girls, ar
made them welcome at all times.
Gertrude Louis was a special favO