Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-24
Amelia fornd herself meekly obey

If you wicked woman. the gypsy; smilingly informed her. q ix 1t 90! those two enemies die on you. But you good woman, 50 just lose them. For some ladies. charge ;5. $1o. much money. Very little for you. Now lendal me more quarter an some bill-money, 10 build up you luck
 Opening the palm into which sheI had shut the bit of blue thread, she showed the knots quite absent. |
 eff me, lenda me the bill-money next you heart" she continued, as Amelia, duly impressed, protested that she had no "bill-money" about her. So the erstwhile superior young woman, more impressed, unpinned the five-dol- lar bill she habitually carries in the front of her blouse for emergency ne- cessities, and allowed it to be closed with the fourth quarter, in a. corner of her handkerchief. | The handkerchief corner was knot ted with the blue thread that had sui fered the mysterious untying. Then the handkerchief was firmly closed in Amelia's own palm. :;
 "Now, you say after me: My love, come back; my enemies. go; pain and misery leave me; happy will be-" again commanded the gypsy. her black eyes and white teeth flashing. 7,
 Amelia, wondering but still submis- sive, again eekly compiled.
 The gypsy caught her hand. presse' It against her own breast, then kissed and conveyed 1t to her forehead.
 Now" she said. tossing it from her ;n dramatic fashion, "you bad luck gone, lost: you good luck come near you; you misery-pain all come into; my body. You be well, happy, all: right. |
 Keep that handkerchief near you. xeep it secret. do not open the knot,l .ell no one. If you unite it or tell the secret you break the charm.
 "In two days all will be we'll with you. You marry. have fine trip. fnei house. fine servants. all this summer. Some time see you again"
 Then she slipped from the office, just IS the manager, his assistant, the oth- CT stenographer, the bookkeeper and a bill clerk came back in a body. Simul- :aneous sight of the smiling gypsy and ,f Amelia's furious blusnes told the whole story. There was a shout of laughter, amid which Amelia, in dig nified silence, sought her hat and coat. Before donning them, however, she at- tempted to wipe her hot cheeks with he knotted handkerchief and the bill clerk exploded.
 "If the dago woman hasn't worked the build up your luck dodge on our wise and saintly Miss Jennings!" he cried. "
 "How much did you put in the hand kerchief.." queried several voices in unison, thus proving Amelia by no means the first office victim.
 Five dollars and quarter" ad- mitted Amelia. too nervous and excited 10 recognize the wisdom of silence. But it's all there!"
 The bill clerk, amid another peal of laughter took the crumpled handker- chief and united it. Then he spread 1t ] out before the amazed and indignant Amelia ,s.. ...
 Not penny was in sight.
 "Of course she palmed the money they all explained. comfortingly: "she saw you were easy. The money never went into the handkerchief at all."
 Then Amelia, remembering that the gypsy had also omitted to return the two extra quarters loaned" fog the building up" process, sank into a chair weakly and all but cried on the other stenographer's shoulder. The other stenographer, generously forget. ting Amelia's contemptuous strictures concerning her own previous fortune, telling experiences, endeavored to con. sole the dropping girl.
 "Time to get to work. everybody ,aid the assistant manager. kindly di. verting the general attention, and Amelia, who daily keeps office" while he rest of the office force goes out to luncheon, went off in search of hel own midday meal. Hot. strong coffee and beefsteak put renewed courage in her. and all afternoon she bore ur oravely under the slow fire of laugh. ing "hits" and comments. But ths thought of a gypsy. a quarter or five. iollar bill is still potent Go set hel cheeks burning. and it is doubtful fl Miss Amelia Jennings will ever bs ,uite so distinctly superior again. Chicago Record Herald.