The Tupelo journal., 1902-10-03

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 belleshir
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
'and 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 it. 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 a
picture of Marjorie at the age of 10.
Marjorie had picked up the fairy
stone to drop it in the jewel case on
the dressing-table, and smiled at her
face in the mirror as she thought
of her Aunt James words. Already
there was a man on the scene to
stand the test of the magic charm.
She fingered it, wondering how she
should experiment with the amulet.
Suddenly she felt a queer sensa-
ton of suffocation, as though she
were going to faint. The room grew
dim around her, and the next thing
she knew she had a feeling as though
she were on her hands and knees on
the floor, and the furniture looked
huge. She had a strange impression
of being light and soft as she made
her way creeping to the cheval glass.
Looking in it she saw the eyes of
a big Maltese cat gazing back into
her own. Something flashed the
truth to her brain. She had been
transformed. She heard a step in the
hall, and with a low yowl of terror
she leaped for the open window and
crawled out on the parapet.
Feeling oddly accustomed to her
new shape, she made her way care
fully along the coping until she
reached the piazza roof. The or
c~lIestra had begun to play in the
hall below. Then she heard the
strains of a banjo, and looking in
through a window from which the
sounds came she saw Tom Hartley
tying his neck scarf before a mirror.
Bradford was sitting on a low chair
picking a banjo and occasionally puff
fling at a cigarette.
THAT little red-haired girl isn't so
bad" he said; "a smashing dancer!"
Marjorie pricked up her ears. Red
haired girl, indeed! She moved
further up the sill.
But Slow" said Tom, with his chin
high in the air; shell bore you to
DEATH"
"She doesn't seem to bore you."
said Bradford.
"Oh, 1 don't know! I hate broil-
kissed are stupid"
Marjorie's fur stood on end. Was
this the adoring, delightful Tom of
the morning. She leaped lightly into
the room.
Look at that cat!" said Bradford.
Tom laughed.
you'll like Miss Creswell when you
know her better, Brad, She's full of
fun. One of the boys"
81 rather fancy the other girl my
self" said Bradford. I'm going to
walk her or the piazza tonight and
find out what she's made Of"
1.-THE devil you are!" said Tom.
His collar button had slipped from
its m%oorings. "Scat!" he said to
Marjorie. She ran under the bed just
as Bradford aimed a boot at her.
"IIl trot along, old man." said he;
see you later"
Marjorie could hear Tom humming
and whistling ~nervously as he con-
tinued his dressing. Then the door
opened and slammed shut, and she
heard him step down the hall. She
crawled out carefully and looked
about the room. On the dressing
table there were a few photographs
in a row, actresses faces that Mar
jorie recognized, and there were the
implements of a mans toilet, which
h prowled among with much in
terest. She almost forgot her odd
rude comments. At all events she
had found him out, thanks to Aunt
James fairy stone.
And now to get back to her room.
She felt that the charm would pass
away if she could but touch the
magic amulet once more, and she
would find herself back in her tulle
gown, ready to go down stairs for
the dance.
But the window was closed, and
when she raised both her paws to
open it she realized the limitations
that went with her new form. She
ran frantically about, but there was
no way to escape. Even the tran
som over the door was closed. What