Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-05-17
THE FAQUIR'S CURSE.

SO'N OhO SiAuhOH " buIH Iu'
chicken.
Gertrude" she called, "what /.
the time-half after five?"
"a quarter to SIX" answered z
voice from an adjoining room; anC
Gertrude Louis made her appearance
fair and fresh as a May blossom in
her evening costume of olive crepe
'Hasn't Frank materialized yet?'
she asked, going to the door a mo-
ment to look out into the wild March
night.
''No. / suppose he is calling upon
Miss Sharp, as usual" Mrs. Richard
son said vexedly ''Can Genevieve
and Idalia, dear. We won't wait
supper any longer"
Mrs. Richardson was Just I'm the act
Of 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 tho end
.'Whoever counts yours will have
bis hands full, " exclaimed GenevIeye
Percy.
"My good child, sins are not count
cd by the handful, especially in cases
like yours. A shovel is used," Frank
Eetorted, as he hung up his coat and
bat and came to the table. "What,
Gertrude! You here? Why did you
not telephone?"
81 did," Gertrude replied, butter
ing her toast, "Dut not to Edna"
"What a sharp remark" said
Frank, at which exercrabls pun
everybody looked painfully solemn.
EDNA and ! have been TO the
'Musee," Frank ventured after a
brief pause. There's a new attrac-
tion this week-a genuine Simon
pure fauuir from the torrid plains Of
distant India"
"What is a faquir?" queried Ger
trude, forgetting TO remain on her
dignity.
Frank favored her with a look full
OF commiseratiOn for such ignorance
"a faquir, my unsOphisticated
maiden, IS very holy being, who
performs no work, owns no superior,
despises everybody and everything,
and benefits the community by tying
his wrists TO his feet, spreading saw
dust along his backbone, and trun-
ding himself along like a cart-wheeI
for couple of hundred miles or so.
OF course every one is anxious to
have the honor Of Entertaining a man
so holy as to roll into their presence
doubled up like hoop So at vast
expense the prOprietors of the 'Mu-
see have secured this wonderful
creature of whom / speak, and for
positively one week only he may be
seen by the elite of Omaha, in daily
exhibitions in the curio hall"
what does he look like?" asked
Genevieve.
'Well, his personal attractions are
dndeniable. His eyes are encircled
by bands of white paint, his cheeks
are rich mustard yellow, a white
streak decOrates the bridge Of his
nose, and another surrounds his
mouth. He is dressed in a flowing
green and yellow robe none too clean, !
and he carries a pair of tOngs, with a
brass dish at the end of them for the
gifts his admirers bestOw upon him."
what did you give him, Frank?"
fdalia curiously asked.
Frank laughed uprOariouslY.
81 had Geneyieve's carbolic ball in
my pocket, and | stepped upon a chair
and snapped it under his nose. He
sneeZed so violently that the tongs
few half way across the room; and as
soon as he could speak he pronounced !,
a
glish, too" /
"What was the curse?" said Ger
trude. [;
That | should be shorn of my
ElOry-Or something to that effect
that everything | most valued would
be taken from me; that l should
wither from the face of the earth, |
root and branch" And the irrepres.
sible young man drew down the cor.
ners Of his mouth and tried to Iool
grave. 3
"Your glory! That means your
attest acquisition, of course" Gen.
eyieye commented, with a glance at
the silky black mustache on Franks
upper lip. "What would you do,
Frank If that faquir should trundle
himself out here some night, and in
the morning you missed your mus
tache?"
Advertise in the Herald" an
twered Frank, unheSitatingly.
Let the subject drop, nv son."
said his mother. wearilY. "Will you
have a doughnut?"
"Do not be cross, mOtherkin," ," the
said, as he helped himself
literally and passed the plate on to
Gertrude, who bit her lips TO keep
from laughing.
Pleasanter people than Mr.. and
Mrs Richardson it wUuld be difficult
70 find in all Omaha. Their cOzy
residence was charmingly located
near HanscOm Park, the loveliest bit
" green wood in the city.
Born and bred under the sunny
skies Of Virginia, and inheriting all
the warm-heartedness and genial
characteristic Of Southern
people, it was no wonder the Richard
IONS were general favorites, and their
beautiful home gathering place for
Ioung people, especially.
having no UduBlIcT OF her own, |
Mrs Richardson was never thoroughly
happy without a hOuseful of girls and
made them welcome at all times.
Gertrude Louis was a special favor
te with her. and frequently dropped
n to spend the evening with the two ,
ooarders-or adopted daughters, for
iuch they were made to feel them
Reed and Genevieve
Percy. As Gertrude was something
II a flirt, on such occasions she eX- I
)ected Frank to be in attendance, /
md relented any neglect on his part.
Tonight, the four young people
we're in the widest spirits. Nothing
would do but theymust visit the Musee
md see the wonderful faquir, so Frank
escorted them thither.
Idalia and Genevieve shrank back
rom the repulSive looking object
Shom the crowd about the rostrum
we're admiring. Gertrude, however,
avored the holy hermit of India with