Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-06-30
FLORINE'S
AMULET
Rx INA WRIGHT HANSON
BY INA WRIGHT HANSON


Of her white gown and In her bronze
hair. For some time l had not dared
TO approach Florine without being for
tilted with disagreeable speeches; oti-
erwise l should have been guilty Of
proposing to her. Considering that her
monthly income was quite equal to my
annual one, u proposal Of marriage
from me would be palpably absurd. l
sighed, and my sigh aroused Florlne.
"Oh, I'm glad it's your she said
brightly. 81 saw a visitor in my tea
cup"
frowned and took a chair on the
other side of the table.
81 wish you wouldn't" said.
"Wouldn't what? Give you 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 hint Of concern In their
violet depths. looked away as l an
swered:
1.-THE other night at pit you turned
your chair around three times, and
then when you lost you attributed It to
the nisplaclng of your rabbit foot"
81 did make a mistake" she said
gravely. ut wasn't the rabbit foot;
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 II have actual
ly heard 1t said that you wear IN anu
let!-
Florine was silent SO long that l
was compelled to glance Mt her. She
was regarding me with what might be
termed complex look. Her mouth
was dimpled with smiles, her lifted
brows were derlsive. but her eyes were
troubled. ignored the eyes.
",rhis superstition business detracts
from your real WORTH" l went on re-
lentlessly. at is the flaw in the dla-
mond, the blight in the rose, the-the"-
"Fly in the ointment?" she suggested
politely.
ITO have 1t told around that you
wear an amulet.' l reiterated in fine
scorn.
Then FlorIne laughed. When Florine
laughs
"You poor old dear" she exclaimed
as soon MS she was able. II don't be-
lieve you have the ghost Of an idea
what an amulet isw
l was solid ON that score, for had
lust learned the definition from the
dictionary.
"An object, usually a peculiar bit
of stone, metal, bone. paper, wood or
the like, worn by superstitlous people
as protection against witchcraft.
bad luck, disease. accidents, etc. A
CHARM
"Oh, don'tw she choked. "You are
too absurd" Then she went Off into
another gale Of laughter.
II don't see where the absurdity
comes in," l retorted. IF that isn't
an amulet, then what is iti"
supped my tea with dignity while
Florine recovered herself.
II knew Il girl once who wore an
amulet" she said Mt last. ut was the
well, the picture Of somebody she
liked"
Picture-ah! To be sure. wasn't
an Adonis, neither was l afraid Of
breaking the camera, but for one rea-
son or another l had faced a photog-
rapher. Picture, was it? Was she the
girl? wondered.
at 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 it. because she liked the man
whose picture was in It."
at wasn't an amulet then." l said,
setting down my cup.
ut was an amulet" contradicted
Florine. "Unlmaglnary folks get their
definitions out Of the dictionary. Other
people
How about walk?" interrupted.
l couldn't even pretend to be Disagree
able any longer; neither could l mus
ter up determination enough to leave
her-lovely, laughing sprite that she
was. Perhaps there was less danger
In walking.
"But l am going to have another
caller" she demurred.
do you see him In your teacup"
l asked.
"No; l see him at the gate" she
laughed, although he may be coming
to see mamma. He Is very fond Of
mamma. Possibly / shall be at the
summer house soon."
1t was clearly u dare, and I took 1t.
l went to the summer house. Around
the summer house are trees and fiow-
ers; In front is miniature lake-a
beautiful place, but dangerous one
when Il 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
heart shaped locket set with rubies.
1t flew open in my hand. disclosing
two scraps Of white cloth. exam
ined the pieces with some interest, es-
peclally as l noticed that my mono
gram graced the upper one. They were
two corners from one Of my handker-
chiefs evidently. Anyway 1t was my
monogram. When my eyes fell on the
other piece bewilderlng lot Of
thoughts chased through my brain. for
that piece bore my profile, traced clev-
erly In purple Ink. Florine's amulet
a picture OF n man she likcdw No
more letting paltry fortune stand be-
tween us, II she really cares, aud 1t
must be she cares, Or
When got 30 far l jumped up and
started joyfully for Florine's presence.
Then another Idea assailcd me. Sup
pose Florlne should think that my find
Ing the amulet Influenced my declara-
tion; that 1t was an affair Of honor, SO
to speak, l laid the locket carefully