The Columbus journal., 1892-04-27

ulkA Y OhS ASS4~A
good-naturedly escorted them thither..
Idalia and Genevieve shrank back
from the repulsive looking object
whom the crowd about the rOstrun
we're adlniring. Gertrude, however,
favored the holy hermit Of India with
one of her most ravishing smiles, and
dropped something wrapped in tissue
paper into the brass dish. The scOwl
with which the faqpir was regarding
Franz faded into a grin of delight as
he unfOlded the package.
81 believe Gertrude would f1irt with
a Hottentot," said Frank, indig,
nantly, to Genevieve. ''Some ono
shoNld inform the Bruce. You went
be a bonny Scotch lassie, after all, il
you are not careful" addressing Miss
Louis, who tossed her head con
tenn tuously and deigned no reply.
NOt.in the slightest degree abashed,
Frank ratified on
''The Bruce says you remind him
of a beautiful swan, Gertrude. Rather
~equivoczL praise, discriminating
YOU are nearly all neck. 1 don't
think mu,.h Of Scotch compliments,
do you, &c n~evieve?"
saOh, do be quiet" said Genevieve.
1--WE shall not catch the al unless
we hurry and it is nearly 10 now"
They did lot catch the car, how
ever. and were soon at home entertain.
ing Mrs. Richardson with an account
of the faquir::
y
Frank was late down to breakfast
next morning. but when he finally
appeared the three girls gave three
simultaneous shricks, and his mother
stared at him.
..Shorn of his glory" gasped Gene.
We've. 1.-THE faquir's curse full.
filed"
"Ah, young lady, that remark has
betrayed you!" exclaimed Frank, tri.
umphantly.
How" asked Genevieve amaz-
edly.
"Why, some one cut my mustache
with Il pair of scissors, last night,
after I had fallen asleep upon the
sofa in the front hall. l could have
sworn 1 heard the rustic Of a silken
gown and felt the cold steel touch my
face. When I awoke the outer door
stood ajar and there was sllted sleet
all over the hall carpet. l went up
stairs to my room, and found a va
cancy on my upper lip Confession
is good for the soul, SO make a clean
breast of it, Genevieve Percy"
There is a greater>vOid in your
head than on your lip if you think /
had anything TO do with it," retorted
| Genevieve, scofnfully. 81 was asleep
before the clock struck IL. Beside, l
am not fond of having freaks around
me, and you are more of a curiosity
now than the faquir himself"
cit serves you right; for that habit
of going to sleep on the sofa instead
of retiring properly is most absurd"
said Idalia, her beautiful eyes alight
with laughter, as. she marked Franks
rueful expression. 'JOhnny did it,
perhaps-Or Richie. You and Ger
trude played a hateful trick on.him
once"
mo, it was the faquir," cried
Gencvieve, clapping' her hands ''He
has fulfilled his W curse and taken
revenge for that SneeZe."
The whole family joined in her
merry laughter and the o rang
with peals Of mirth.
II advise a shave, Frank" said
Gertrude, maliciOusly. "After lunch
we'll 20 down to the Musee and look
for your m~ustache."
''On my soul, l believe you were
all in the conspiracy" exclaimed
Frank, as he swallowed his coffee,
and then, Selling his hat, rushed of
to the nearest tonsOrial parlOrs.
The usual thrOng surrounded the
rOstrum that afternoon as the quar-
tette entered. the curiO hall. But the
faquir was evidently on the lookout
for them. A smile made his paint
besmeared face more hideOus tina n
before, as he extended the tOngs
toward Frank. The girls pressed
close behind him, and, looking over
his shoulder, saw two jagged bits of
black hair reposing calmlyin the brass
dish.
Frank turned to look into Ger
trude'S crimson face. and an express
sion of enlightenment dawned in his
eyes.
"Ah! The fiirtatiOn-the inno-
cent PACKAGE think l understand
he said in her ear. "What will the
Bruce say?"
You won't tell?" gasped Gertrude,
her self possession DESERVING her in
this crisis. and her eyes dropping be-
meath the astOnished gaze Of Gene.
We've and Italia.
'I'l hear your confession first, "
said Frank enjoying her confusion.
"Will you, indeed?" pluckily.
''Then you'll wait a long time, and !
have nothing to fear. A promise is
a promise"
Not a syllable could Frank get out
of her, although he tormented her
with questions all the way home.
AS for Idalia and Genevleve, never
having been in her confidence. they
were utterly d~umfounded at the
denouement, for they had be-
lieved some of Franks madcap
friends the perpetrators of the joke
until they looked into the faQuir's
brass dish.
Gertrude told them all about it that
night. In the supposed faQuir she
had recognized a vagabond quarry.
man who used TO blast in the quar-.
ries near Dysan Hollow some years
previous. The scheme had instantly
y flashed through her brain, and,
snatching a moment when she was
unObserved. she scrubbed a few
lines ON a leaf torn from her note
book, and wrapping it around a gold
dollar dropped it into the dish.
Obedient to instructions, the faquil
had entered the house by the un
latched door, and finding everything
las rcprescnted-Frank sound ASLEEP