The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-17
The EVENING STORY
The Crystal Ball.
by Philip Kean.1

| Inc trouDle with me-, AntOinette
announced. "is that I am too common
CHAIRMAN laughed. "You funny little
thing!"
Il haven't any individuality" Antoin-
cite insisted, II dance pretty we'll, and
sing little. have fairly good COM
plexion. I know how to do my hair.
but when other girls scintillate, I'm in
the shadow. What need is to be diff
| ferent."
What you need is to be your own
dear SELF" CHAIRMAN stated. every
Everybody DOESN'T" Antoinette con-
tradicted. lat least" she stopped sud-
denly.
well. Dicky does" Charmian leased.
world to Dickie Beveridge, and Dick
les the salt of the EARTH
"Oh, Dickie," Antoinette dared,
"Dickie's as insignificant as 1 am. He
has a 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 grand?"
Chairman questioned.
II do" Antoinette sat up among the
pink couch cushions, II want to be dis
| tinctive, CHAIRMAN"
I'm what way?" Charmian's eyes
were smiling as she lounged in the big
chair by the open fire. for the October
| days were cool.
/
toinette said. Your red-goid hair and
your gray eyes and your black lashes
| and your way of wearing things-now
what would 1 look like in that black
kimona 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, its much better to be a
woman than a seeress.'
| That's all very well for you to say"
/ Ant rfn "a In1 Gxyn hoxr q xrr,fo
| like SIREN
| ''Oh Toinette," Chairman protested,
"a seeress and siren! I'd SO much
| rather be Just a woman. and lovable
and precious like you"
Antoinette dimpled. and then sighed.
| But I'm not 1ovable to everybody"
Chairman reached over and took one
of the small, plump hands in hers.
Nov, who is that sigh for, baby?" she
! demanded. land who doesn't love
| your"
"Otis Singleton" said Antoinette. I'm
| expectedly.
! Charmian's eyes returned to the fire
| with an unfathomable expression.
| so it is Otis Singleton" she said,
softly.
yes" Antoinette nodded st think
he is perfectly fine, CHAIRMAN. But he
doesn't pay a particle of attention to
me- And / am positively tonguetied
| when try to talk to him. Do you feel
that way?"
Chairman smiled inscrutably. mot
! exactly" she murmured.
! "Of course you DON'T" Antoinette
went on you're not commonplace,
and 1 am not going to be any more.
l 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 a table and
brought back the translucent sphere
which gave out opal flashes as it
caught the autumn sunlight.
Father says the queer men over
there used to gaze in it, Antoinette
explained, land tell what had been
and what would be-"
| How strange" said Chairman,
| handling it curiously.
ct am going to fit 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 a bust of
Pallas over the door, and a black
cat on the hearth: and I'm going to
dress myself in smoke-colored gown
: with a snake bracelet, and I'm going
to put the crystal ball in the middle
| OF my teakwood table and tell for
tunes. And after while everybody
will say How interesting and then
I won't feel so insignificant. and per-
haps Otis will come, and-now Char
milan, what's the natter"
l
uncontrollably.
"Oh, you funny child" she gasped.
Its not a laughing matter" An
toinette reproved her. She reached
over and took the crystal ball from
her friend and gazed into it. "It
shows me a great singer crowned with
laurels,' she said.
CHAIRMAN snatched the ball from
her. Don't" she cried, don't proph-
esy fame for me. Tell me of fu-
ture 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 1 love you, Chairman" she said.
"You precious child" was the CRATE
full response. and after that there was
a long silence.
Then Antoinette said: But I'm go
ing to fix up the den and I'm going
to invite Otis Singleton"
Better invite Dickie." Chairman
urged.
to marry him."
| "And you are sure you don't love
| him-sure % the older girls gaze was
compelling.
| like Dickie, Chairman, but when I
think what a commonplace couple we
would make
You would make a dear couple"
Chairman stated, and your laughter
and brightness are not for such men
| as Otis Singleton.
why not?'
"Otis needs woman who has suffer-
| ed as he has suffered. He has had
hard life and a lonely one-a life like
mine Antoinette-" She caught herself
up quickly and glanced at her friend.
But Antoinette was absorbed in her
plans.
Anyhow, I'm going to invite him and
read his fortune in the crystal ball.
Who knows but he will md his Eater"
and she few up to her own room to
dress.
All the week that followed Antoinette
was busy Transforming the den into an
abode OF black art. CHAIRMAN, watch