The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-11-27
% he took quite . while to gather

really in love. Bnt she had the proud
consciousness of a girl with her first
scalp at her belt. She smiled sweet
ly ut Miss Cresswell after dinner as
she was going up to dress for the
dance. There was one other man at
the hotel, Bradford, an ex-athlete
Of his college, and he seemed rather
divided in his attentions to Marjorie
and Miss Cresswell. Marjorie in the
glory of her triumph decided she
would give him a few extras tonight,
once around the room and then a
stroll on the piazza. She felt as
though this question of belleship
ought to be definitely settled. From
which it will be seen that she was
getting on.
While the maid did her hair she
wondered if it would pique Tom.
She had heard of men who took such
things seriously. And Tom was IN
love like a man in a book. AS the
girl slipped the white null bodice
over her shoulders she caught sight
of the little blue amulet on her
breast.
Take it off, Tibbetts," she said,
sand get my string of pearls. And
Just step into mothers room and
ask her to let me have her little dia-
mond butterfly. l wish to wear 1t in
my hair"
1t was then half after ten, for
the girl remembered having looked
at the little rhinestone clock on the
mantel as she went out. When she
returned a few moments later with
the butterfly, Marjorie had vanished
Later on the excitement attending
her disappearance never swerved the
maids story. Scouts were sent out
to search for Marjorie along the
cliffs, and the rumor spread that she
had eloped. The New York papers
had the story next morning. with o
picture of Marjorie at the age of 19.
Marjorie had picked up the fairy
stone to drop it in the jewel case or
the dressingtable, and smiled at hel
face in the mirror as she thought
Of her Aunt James words. Already
there was a man on the scene tc
stand the test of the magic charm
She fingered it, wandering how she
should experiment with the amulet.
Suddenly she felt queer sensa
, | ton Of suffocation, as though sh'
were going to faint. The room grew
. dim around her, and the next thing
, she knew she had feeling as though
! she were on her hands and knees ol
the floor, and the furniture LOOKED
| huge. She had a strange impression
of being light and soft as she mad
, her way creeping to the cheval glass
, Looking in it she saw the eyes o
, q big Maltese cat gazing back int
, her own. Something flashed tn
, truth to her brain. She had beel
transformed. She heard step in tn
r hall, and with a low yowl of terro
/ she leaped for the open window an
crawled out on the parapet.
r Feeling oddly accustomed to he
I new shape, she made her way care
, fully along the coping until sh
' reached the piazza roof. The eor
l chestra had begun to play in tn
! hall below. Then she heard tn
. strains Of a banjo, and looking i
= through n window from which tn
r sounds came she saw Tom Hartle
tying his neck scarf before a mirror
o Bradford was sitting on low chai
, picking banjo and occasionally put
h fing at cigarette.
9 THAT little red-haired girl isn't s
4 bad" he said; "a smashing dancer!
. Marjorie pricked up her ears. Rec
h haired girl, indeed! She move
= further up the sill.
But Slow" said Tom. with his chi
:. high in the air; shell bore you t
=. death"
. "She doesn't seem to bore you
p said Bradford.
:, "Oh, / don't know! / hate broi
ers. Girls that have never bee
> kissed are stupid"
" Marjorie's fur stood on end. Wa
this the adoring, delightful Tom {
the morning. She leaped lightly int
the room.
Look at that cat." said Bradfor
:, Tom laughed.
y. You'll like Miss Creswell when yo
~ know her better, Brad. She's full I
fun. One of the boys"
:, II rather fancy the other girl m
10 SELF said Bradford. I'm going
e walk her on the piazza tonight or
y find out what she's made Of"
- The devil you are!" said Tor
. His collar button had slipped fro
~ it's moorings. "Scat!" he said
Marjorie. She ran under the bed ju
10 as Bradford aimed . boot at her.
= I'm trot along. old man. said h
y. ~see you later"
|" Marjorie could hear Tom hummir
y and whistling nervously as he co
~ unued his dressing. Then the do
20 opened and slammed shut, and sl
;" heard him step down the hall. 81
i. crswled out carefully and look
y about the room. On the dressiI
table there wese . few photograp
3 In . row, actresses faces that Ma
% jorie recognized, and there were Il