Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-04-02

I found Florfne by the tea table on
the vsranda gazing dreamiiy into hei
cup. She wore my roses In the bell
OF her white gown and 10 her bronze
hair. For some time I had not dared
to approach Florine without being for
tined with disagreeable speeches; 9th
erwise I should have been guilty Of
proposing to her. Considering that hef
monthly income was quite equal to my
annual one. a proposal Of marriage
from me would be pslpably absurd.
sighed. and my sigh aroused Florine.
"oh. I'm glad It's your she said
brightly. II saw a visitor In my tea
cup"
frowned and took q chair on the
other side OF the table.
II wish you wouldn't" I said.
Wouldn't whati Give you n cup
OF tear Well, you needn't drink IT.
Are you afraid IL will hurt your com
plexionl'
Her tone was bantering, but her
eyes had n hint OF concern Ia their
violet depths. I looked away as an
swered:
"The other night at pit you turned
your chair around three times, and
then when you lost you attributed Il 20
the mIsplacing OF your rabbit foot"
Il did maze a mistake" she said
1svely. 1T wasn't the rabbit foot;
IL was the day. Wednesday Is my I'M
lucky day"
If you keep on folks will think you
are weakmlnded." I continued, keep
Ing my gaze carefully from the danger.
Gus charm OF her face. II have actual
ly heard IL said that you wear an anu
let.'
Florine was silent so long that |
was compelled 90 glance az her. She
was regarding me with what might be
termed a complex look. Her mouth
was dlmpled with smiles. her lifted
brows were derislye. but her eyes were
troubled. ignored the eyes.
This superstition business detracts
from your real WORTH" went on re-
lentlessly. 1T Is the flaw In the dia.
mond. the blight in the rose. the-the"-
ply In the olntmentT' she suggested
politely.
ITO have IL told around that you
wear an amulet" reiterated In fine
scOrn.
Then Florine laughed When Florine
laughs
You poor old dear" she exclaimed
as soon as she was able. II don't be-
lieve you have the ghost OF an idea
what an amulet Isl"
was solid on that score. for had
Just learned the definition from the
dictionary.
IAN object. usually a peculiar bit
Of stone. metal, bone. paper. wood or
the like. worn by superstltious people
as protection against wltchcraft,
bad luck. disease. accidents. etc. A
charm
"Oh, don't!' she choked. you are
too absurd" Then she went of Into
another gaze OF lhughter.
Il don't see where the absurdlty
comes in" / retorted. III that isn't
an amulet. then what Is it,
supped my tea with dignity while
Fl0rine recovered herself
Il knew a girl once who wore an
amulet" she said at last. 1t was the
well. the picture Of somebody she
liked"
Picture-ah. To be- sure. / wasn't
an Adonis. neither was / afraid Of
breaking the camera. but for one rea.
son or another I had faced a photog
ruphcr. Picture. was ~ Was she the
glrlg wondered.
1T wasn't bone. metal, stone. paper
or wood" she went on. And she
didn't wear IL as n protection against
anything. She just wore II because
she liked IL. because she liked the man
whose picture was In H."
1T wasn't an amulet then" I said.
setting down my cup.
1t was an amulet" contradlcted
Florine. "Unlmaglnary folks get their
definitions out OF the dictionary. Other
people
How about a walk I interrupted.
I couldn't even pretend to be disagree
able any longer; neither could | mus
ter up determination enough 90 leave
her lovely. laughing sprite that she
was Perhaps there was less danger
In walking
But | am going TO have another
caller" she demurred.
"Do you see him In your teacupT
I asked.
"No: see him nc the gate" she
laughed. although he may be coming
10 see mamma. He Is very fond Of
mamma. Possibly l shall be nc the
summer house soon"
IL was clearly a dare. and took It.
I went TO the summer house. Around
the summer house are trees and fiOw-
crs; In front Is n miniature lake-a
beautiful place. but a dangerous one
when a man has no right 20 tell what
sometimes dlms his eyes and impedes
bis speech.
As sat down something nc my feet
caught my eye. picked IL up. 10 was
n heart shaped lOcket set with rubies