The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-06-08
THE LUCKY OPAL.

Many a true incident makes a very
| readable story. Perhaps, after all as
some one says. all fiction is fact Persons
| VINO were catering TO their health ar West
Baden three summers ago. when the IN
| usual incident here described transpired
| VIII readily recognize the facts, although
! fictitious names have been substituted
| FOR the real ones.
WIN Gray was general favorite at
| Baden that season. looked upon with uni
versal approval by mothers who had the
| interests of manageable daughters at
heart BE had come from somewhere il
| the East to drink the mineral waters, to
rid himself Of the dreadful southern ma
laria, which took possession OF him while
! waiting for orders TO move with his regi-
ment from Tampa TO Cuba
VIII Gray ard Bert Clarke had been
classmates OF DuPaw. and upon Wits ur-
gent invitation Bert came down from
! Michigan for a fortnight Bert had taken
TO law in Detroit and was getting on ex-
ceedingly we'll
The Fishers Of Toronto who were the
/ heart OF the social life OF the famous
! Indiana resort, had announced cards and
4 dancing for Thursday evening. VIII told
/ Mrs. Fisher about Bert, and she insisted
that he be brought along.
He's Just the fellow for my cousin
Joel Lewis. from Mobile. ',she said. Wen
1 have a reunion of the North and South,
/ you know
The large psrlors of the Baden Hotel
were brilliantly Illuminated in colors, and
! with the profuse wild flowers Of many
varieties were gorgeous spectacle.
Miss Lewis was a typical southern
! beauty. Indeed. a prettier girl would be
| hard ID find. North or South. Tall, grace
ful and willowy, with a deep, mellow
| complexion so characteristic of the aris-
/ tOcratic blue-blooded creole.
/ q orb. civ ND ho~
l some. His bright. blue eyes were a strik-
| ing contrast TO Miss Lewis eyes Of deep
brown.
/ a mutual admiration sprang up at once.
/ They were together nearly all through
| the cards, and were almost inseparable
in dancing. A waltz had just been ex-
/ hausted, leaving them as fresh as at first,
seemingly craving for more.
Presently Miss Lewis led Bert off into
| the Turkish den. Mrs. Fisher looked all
! over for them, but she no doubt knew
well enough where they were, for she
never once intruded into that nook.
CAS- a diversion announced the happy
/ hostess, ''I have arranged for a voting
contest TO determine which is the most
popular young man and woman here this
evening-just for fun, you know. Each
! person will please write your choice on
these slips Of paper and deposit them IN
signed and folded into these ballot
boxes"
Mrs. Fisher and VIII were election
clerks" and the young minister was
Judge" The announcement was soon
made that Miss Lewis and Mr.. Clarke
had been elected by very complimentary
pluralities.
20, isn't that Iovely?" Joel said, de-
lighted, when handed the unexpected
prize. But there's an opal-it will bring
me misfortune. sure she added, with
inherited southern superstition
why. the opal is a lucky stone said
Clarke.
Very unlucby for those not born in
October. No one could persuade me to
possess one"
I'm an october chap" said Bert. so
III exchange the stone representing your
month for it."
May is my month"
"Then I'll take your opal and you may
have my emerald
All were then ushered into the dining
room, Miss Lewis upon Bert's arm. They
were a handsome pair, and no one felt
mistake had been made. Everyone gave
a toast to the most popular couple"
the preacher coming last, preceded by
the deputy clerk.
why, we have a preacher and the
marriage license man here, why not have
a wedding2' blurted out Charlie Smiley.
Good suggestion" said the preacher.
I'm ready If you are. Get the girl"
Charlie Smiley withered.
THAT would be jolly though" remark
ed Miss Farley. whats the matter with
the most popular coupler"
Happily, the conversation switched.
Bert whispered over to VIII, who man
aged TO get the clerk away from the Ia
BILE, and quietly the three left the house,
attracting but little attention
The stout engineer-his name was not
Nike or Pat Dolan, he was not even an
Irishman-quite likely remembers yet his
queer run of that night. II was nine miles
to Paon. the county seat There was no
train and 20 drive there and back in time
was out of the question.
A rush was made for the railroad sta
ton, in a minute the operator was in
communication with the chief Monon Off
Gals and IN ten minutes the engine which
had just brought In the last passenger
train for the night was dashing with the
three young men to Paoii, where II was
but a short sprint to the court house.
Fortunately the track was clear, there
being nothing 10 hinder the great speed
desired and in fact. made. Before they
were scarcely missed they had rejoined
the party in the hotel
The preacher came near exclaimfng
aloud when secretly told, and VIII had to
get MN TO one sue anu PANNAi~~ llAC ~
ument to convince him. The minister
then calmly stepped to the center OF the
room. Miss Cook struck up 'Lohengrin,'
and in came the most popular couple
from the mushroom
Some began to cheer. thinking they
we're being treated TO a pretty farce, and
not until they heard the little minister
wind up brief ceremony with and now
do / pronounce you husband and wife.
did they realize what had actually hap
pened.
opal is my lucky stone" said Bert, IS
they started on their Lewis-ClSrke ex-
petition TO the North
And it's a lucky stone for me" replied
his smiling bride. Let's not have them
changed. '-Orvtlle II. Stewart, in Chicago
Record Herald.