CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1905-05-04
FLORINE'S
AMULET
By INA WRIGHT HANSON

EsRsssasasessssssssssssss,sss
1 found Florine by the tea table on
the veranda gazing dreamily into her
cup. She wore my roses in the belt
of her white gown and in her bronze
hair. For some time I had not dared
to approach F1,rine without being for
tified with diJagreeable speeches; oti-
erwise / should have been guilty OF
proposing to her. Considering that her
monthly income was quite equal to my
annual one, a proposal Of marriage
from me would be palpably absurd.
sighed. and my sigh aroused Flor'ne.
"Oh, I'm glad it's your she said
brightly. 'T saw a visitor in my tea
cup"
I frowned and took a chair on the
other side of the table.
81 wish you wouldn't" I said.
"Wouldn't what7 Give you a CUP
Of tea? Well, you needn't drink it
Are you afraid 1t will hurt your com.
plexion?"
Her tone was bantering, but her
eyes had a hint of concern In their
violet depths. I looked away ds I an.
swered:
1.-THE other night at pit you turned
your chair around three times. and
then when you lost you attributed 1t to
the misplacing of your rabbit foot"
81 did make a mistake" she said
gravely. ut wasn't the rabbit footl
1t was the day. Wednesday is my un-
lucky day"
"If you keep on folks Will think you
are weakminded," l continued, keep
ing my gaze carefully from the danger.
GUS charm of her face. ''I have actual
ly heard 1t said that you wear an anu
letr'
Tlorine was silent 20 long that
was compelled to glance at her. She
was regarding me with what might be
termed a complex look Her mouth
was dimpled with smiles, her lifted
brows were derisive. but her eyes were
troubled. ignored the eyes.
"This superstition business detracts
from your real WORTH" / went on re-
lentlessly. ut is the flaw in the dia-
mond, the blight in the rose, the-the"-
Fly in the ointmentY' she suggested
politely.
ITO have it told around that you
wear an amuletp' / reiterated in fine
scorn.
Then Florine laughed. When Florine
laughs
"You poor old dearF' she exclaimed
as soon as she was able. II don't be-
neve you have the ghost Of an idea
what an amulet isP'
1 was solid on that score, for had
Just learned the definition from the
dictionary.
"'An object, usually a peculiar bit
Of stone. metal, bone, paper. wood OF
the like, worn by superstitious people
as protection against witchcraft.
bad luck, disease, accidents, etc.
charm
too absurd" Then she went on into
another gale of laughter.
az don't see where the absurdity
comes in," 1 retorted. "If that isn't
an amulet, then what is it7'
supped my tea with dignity while
Florine recovered herself.
II knew a girl once who wore an
amulet" she said at last "It was the
well, the picture Of somebody she
liked"
Picture-ah! To be sure, l wasn't
an Adonis, neither was I afraid Of
breaking the camera, but for one rea-
son or another had faced a photog-
rapher. Picture. was it7 Was she the
girl7 wondered.
"It wasn't bone. metal, stone, paper
o. wood" she went on. And she
didn't wear 1t as a protection against
anything. She just wore 1t because
she liked 1t. because she liked the man
whose picture was In it."
at wasn't an amulet them" said.
sitting down my cup.
cit was an amulet" contradicted
Tiorine. "Unimaginary folks get thsir
definitions out Of the dictionary. Other
psopIs"-
How about . waikr' interrupted
osuIdn't even DestDod b b disagree