Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-09-20
FLORINE'S
AMULET
By INA WRIGHT HANSON
COPYRIGHT, 1901, BY Ina Wright Hanson

to approach Florine without being for
titled with disagreeable speeches; 9th
erwise l 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 Florine.
''Oh. I'm glad It's your she said
cup"
frowned and took a chair on the
other side Of the table.
Il wish you wouldn't"I said.
Wouldn't what? Give you cup
Of tea? Well, you needn't drink 1t.
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. looked away as 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"
II did make mistake" she said
gravely. 1T wasn't the rabbit foot;
it was the day. Wednesday Is my un-
lucky day"
"If you keep on folks will think you
are weakminded." continued. keep
Ing my gaze carefully from the danger
otx ~ hox. Ron l.
ly heard 1t said that you wear an anu
letv
Florine was silent so long that l
was compelled to glance at her. She
was regarding me with what might be
termed 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" l went on re
lentlessly 1T is the flaw in the dia-
mond. the blight In the rose. the-the''-
Fly In the ointment?" she suggested
politely.
.sTo have 1t told around that you
wear, an amuletv' l 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 is!'
was solid on that score, for l had
just learned the definition from the
dictionary.
of stone. metal. bone, paper. wood or
the like, worn by superstltious people
as a protection against witchcraft,
bad luck, disease, accidents, etc. A
charm
"Oh, don't" she choked. You are
too absurd" Then she went of into
another gale of laughter
II don't see where the absurdity
comes In" | retorted. IF that Isn't
an amulet, then what Is it?'
supped my tea with dignity while
Florine recovered herself.
II knew 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. l wasn't
an Adonis, neither was afraid Of
breaking the camera. but for one rea-
son or another had faced photog
rapher. Picture. was It? Was she the
girl? wondered.
1T wasn't bone. metal. stone. paper
or wood" she went on. "And she
didn't wear 1t as protection against
anything. She just wore 1t because
she liked 1t, because she liked the man
whose picture was In It"
ut wasn't an amulet them" l said.
setting down my cup.
1T was an amulet" contradicted
Fiorine. "Unimaginary folks get their
definitions out Of the dictionary Other
people
How about walkr interrupted.
I couldn't even pretend to be disagree
able any longer; neither could I mus
ter up determination enough to leave
her-lovely, laughing sprite that she
was. Perhaps there was less danger
In walking.
"But am going to have another
caller" she demurred.
"po you see him In your teacupr
asked.
mo; see him at the gate" she
laughed, although he may be coming
to see mamma. He Ia very fond Of
mamma. Possibly shall be at the
summer house soon"
It was clearly a dare. and I took II.
went to the summer house. Around
the summer house are trees and fiow-
: ers; In front Is a miniature lake--a
beautiful place. but dangerous one
when man has no right to tell what
sometimes dims his eyes and impedes
his speech.
As sat down something at my feet
caught my eye. picked 1t up. 1t was
q heart shaped locket set with rubies.
It dew open In my hand, disclosing
two scraps OF white cloth. exam
ined the pieces with some interest, es-
pecially as I noticed that my mono
gram graced the upper one. They were
two corners from one of my handker-
chiefs evidently. Anyway It was my
monogram. When my eyes fell on the
other piece a bewildering lot u
thoughts chased through my brain. for
that piece bore my profile, traced clev-
erly In purple Ink, Florine's amulet
q picture Of a man she likedw No
more letting q paltry fortune stand be-