Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-04-10
A BONE OF
CONTENTION
BY Mrs. m. L. Rayne.

A pyramid Of bones and among them
one Of such manifest destiny that it at
tracted the eye as if by magic, a wick
ed looking bone with handy legs and
two I'll shaped feet, an instrument OF
fate endowed with strange power in
love affairs, half sister to the horse
show, that weird bit of social demon
olOgy, a chickens wishbone.
The fact is always emphasized when
the modern black art is practiced that
the bone must belong to a chicken; but,
as no other fowl, not excepting the
bird of America. the turkey, possesses
such an appendix, the distinction seems
unnecessary.
The bone on the pyramid was res
cucd from destruction by the white fin
gers of a girl, who dressed it and hung
it over the outside door. When it had
been lodged there m hour man came
in. He was TALL and as he came under
the "cOniure" he brushed it with his
head and dislodged IT,
We'll. you're IT," laughed the girl as
Ac SLoOpCh anu p4Chtd II IIOLl iAe hOoI.
THAT is the first time you ever came
under the wishbOne."
"Will you break 1t with me, Nell?
You know l believe in it as an omen.
We will both wish, and the one that
gets the wish piece must tell the other
what wish was made"
"Oh, let's tell beforehand. Health
and prosperity is all l wish for. Am
not moderate"
81 wish" said the man, that we are
married at Christmas and live happily
ever"
THAT sounds like the ending to a
dime novel love story. Seeing that we
are not even engaged. it would take
a stronger force than that of a wish
bone to marry us by Christmas.
Nell, will you marry me?
She had waited seven years for this,
and now that it had come it was most
welcome, and it angered her that 4
miserable chicken bone could supply
an opportunity for this laggard in
love. \ panorama of war flashed
the futter of flags, a soldier promoted
for bravery, then forgetfulness and ST.
lence. She looked at the serious, stolid
face of the man as he stood holding
the arbiter Of human deStinies be-
tween thumb and forefnger and de-
cided:
"Yes, David, but please do not give
your chicken bone too much credit.
You may not get your wish after all"
1t went apart with snap, and Da-
vid held the long piece, and his salts
faction over it was immense.
"Well, it worked, didn't It? We will
keep the pieces, and they will bring
us good luck. | have always had the
greatest faith in wishbone omens."
yet it was necessary that it should
fall and strike you before you accepted
its dictum," suggested Nell.
David Wilson wrapped the bone of
fate in a tissue paper covering and laid
it away carefully among his cherished
possessions. Nell dropped hers into
her gloveboX. wished the chicken that
owned it had never been born, rated
herself for a fool and sat down TO have
a good cry.
Engaged to David Wilson! Why, /
might as well be engaged to father.
And all I'm doing it for is TO show
Ransom Hale that | am not breaking
NV heart for him even If he is wear
ing fine new shoulder straps. The
mean thing, never to write a word.
oh. David, you superstitious, good, old
stupid. how will | get you off my
hands? Seven years of acquaintance
ship ought to count for something
Oh. chicken bone, engine of destiny
how hate you"
And the next day when Captain Hale
called on Nell and asked her TO marry
him she consigned all chicken bone
wishes to perdition while she made a
clean breast Of her affair with David
And what the captain meant by holu'
ing her in his arms while he heard her
story can easily be guessed. Then
they went into session as committee
of ways and means to circumVent the
plans of destiny set in motion by that
wishbone.
A week later David presented himself
In a state Of abject depression. I've
lost my luck" he said in Grape edged
tones.
Lost on a business deal" suggested
Nell warily.
"No; lost my wishbOne. | put il
away carefully, and now it cannot be
found high or low. 1t has disappeared
as if by magic"
And you are sure no one was IL
your ROOM"
"No one but my waSherwOman, ant
| don't know what she wanted there
But she would have no object in steal
ing a wishbOne."
mo, and there would be no magic il
a wishbOne that would let itself b'
stolen. Oh. David, that is bad omen
We must call our engagement off unit
YOU find it. Bad luck will follow If W.
persist in disobeying the omen. We are
up against it now"
Il know it. | feel it in my bones,
said poor, victimiZed David mournful
! Iy. Nell, dear, do you think it pos
! sible that the-cat-ate-it:"
"No." Nell was shaking with laugh
ter which by a desperate effort she
| changed into nervous agitation. 81 fee
that it may mean a warning, and W.
must obey. We cannot throw ourselve:
against an oracle. You see, it was no
! intended that we should marry"
/ The envoy Of fate was never found
ps the wicked girl knew right well i
never would be- for by her own scheme
/ It was abstractcd. SO cleverly did sh'
| play on the superstitious nature of Da
| vid that he not only forgave her fo
/ marrying Captain Hale, but was him
/ self at the wedding as best man. Blu
! every now and then he goes on a still
/ hunt after that lost wiShbOne.-Chicag'
/ Record Herald.
ALL RUN DOWN.
An Every Day Story. No Appetite. N