Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-12-04
The Crystal
Ball.
by Philip kean.



"The trouble with me-" Antoinette
announced, sis that I am too common
place."
CHAIRMAN laughed. you funny 1T
tie thing"
81 haven't any individuality" An
toinette insisted. II dance pretty well
and sing a little. have a fairly good
complexion. ! know how to do my
hair, but when other girls scintlllate
I'm in the shadow. What need IL to
be different" 4 :.
"What you need Is to be your own
dear SELF" CHAIRMAN stated. EVERY
body loves you"
Everybody doesn't" Antoinette con-
tradicted. cat LEAST She stopped
suddenly.
"well. Dlckle does" CHAIRMAN teased.
"You know you are the only girl in the
world to Dlckie Beveridge, and Dickie's
the salt of the earth"
ooh, Dickiew Antoinette hared.
"Dickie's as insignificant as l am. He
has nice little figure and nice little
way Of saying things, but there isn't
anything great or grand about him"
"Who wants to be great or grandT
CHAIRMAN questioned.
81 do" Antoinette sat up among the
pink couch cushions. ~ want to be
distinctive, CHAIRMAN"
"In what way?" Charmian's eyes
were smiling as she lounged in the big
chair by the open fire, for the October
days were cool.
"Well like you, for example," An
toinette said-"your red-gold hair and
your gray eyes and your black lashes
and your way of wearing things. Now,
what would look like In that black
kimono you have on? With Its gold fig
ures 1t gives you an atmosphere Of
mystery like a seeress or something"
CHAIRMAN laughed again. Dear
girl" she said. "it's much better to be
a woman than seeress."
"Fhat's all very well for you to say
Antoinette grumbled. "You have n
voice like siren"
"Oh, Toinette," CHAIRMAN protested,
"a seeress and sirenl I'd so much
rather DE just Wouuu anu ioNuDio
and precious like you"
Antoinette dlmpled and then sighed
but I'm not lovable to everybody"
CHAIRMAN reached over and took one
Of the small, plump hands In hers
"Now, who Is that sigh for, baby"
she demanded. "And who doesn't love
your"
"Otis Singleton" said Antoinette I'M
expectedly.
Charmian's eyes returned to the fire
with an unfathomable expression.
80 1t is Otis Singleton?" she said
softly.
"Yes," Antoinette nodded. II think
he is perfectly fine, CHAIRMAN. But
he doesn't pay particle Of attention
to me. And | am positively tongued
tied when | try to talk to him. Do
you feel that wayT
CHAIRMAN smiled inscrutably. mot
exactly" she murmured.
"Of course you don't" Antolnette
went on You're not commonplace,
and l am not going to be any more
/ am going to create an atmosphere.
Otis Is Interested In occult things. and
there's that crystal ball that father
brought from India"
She rose, crossed to table and
brought back the translucent sphere
which gave out opal flashes as 1t
caught the autumn sunlight.
"Fathcr says the queer men over
there used to gaze In It," Antoinette ex-
toll hat had ham md
what would be-"
How stranger said CHAIRMAN, han
ding II curiously.
II am going to ht up the den" An
toinette recited as she flung herself
once more among the cushions, with
dark, mysterious hangings, with dado
of peacock feathers, and bust Of Pal
las over the door, and black cat on
the hearth, and I'm going to dress my
self I'm a smoke colored gown, with Il
snake bracelet, and Pm going to put
the crystal ball In the middle Of my
lockwood table and tell fortunes And
after awhile everybody will say, How
Interestingly and then | won't feel 30
insignificant, and perhaps Otis will
come, and-now, CHAIRMAN, what's the
matterW
For the other girl was laughing un-
comfortably.
"Oh, you funny childp she gasped
"Ifs not laughing matter" An
toinette reproyed her. She reached
over and took the crystal ball from
her friend and gazed Into 1t. 1T shows
me great singer crowned with lau-
rels," she said.
her. Don't" she cried; don't prophe-
sy fame for me! Tell me Of future
Of love and marriage and home. I've
been so lonely all my life"
The young girl laid her cheek
against that Of her friend. but you
know love her, CHAIRMAN" she said
"You precious child" was the CRATE
full response, and after that there was
a long silence.
Then Antoinette said, But Pm go
ing to FIX up the den, and I'm going to
invite Otis Singleton"
Better invite Dickie," CHAIRMAN
urged.
II shall never invite Dickle again"
Antoinette stated. "He always asks
me to marry him"
"And are you sure you don't love
him-suref" The older girls gaze was
compelling.
"Well," Antoinette hesitated, II do
like Dickie, CHAIRMAN, but when ]
think what O commonplace couple we
would make
you would make q denr couple"
Chnrminn stntod. "nnd your laughter