The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-10-18

It was on the first morning in Novem-
ber and the clouds looked dark and cold,
as Silas Bromly stood in his barn-yard
and looked over the broad acres of land
that belonged to his father and would
one day belong to him. For he was an
only son and he considered himself sole
heir to his fathers possessions although
he had one sister. But she had married
against tho wishes of her parents and
they had decided to give all their prop
erty to sllas.
So 1t would seem that he ought to have
been well contented with his lot in life.
But on this particular morning he GER
talnly was not contented with himself or
with anything that he saw For there
was a cloud resting on his usually pleas
ant face, and he muttered to himself
T don't see any use in a fellow living
If life is to go on like this. Now, I will
tell you what 1t is" he went on bitterly
to himself, "Silas Bromly. you have got
to overcome this cowardly bashfulness or
else you have got to march yourself down
to that river beyond the bluff there and
duck yourself In head first and never
come to the surface again; so there,
now" And he turned and looked moodily
across the field to a slight opening in a
narrow strip of woodland that lay just
beyond his fathers farm.
Here on bright mornings he could see
the roof and chimneys of a neighboring
farm house. But on this morning all
that he could see was a thin line of blue
smoke that was being whirled about by
the sharp air that was chilling him
through. And he knew that the morn
ing meal was being prepared and in fancy
he could see the fair face and laughing
eyes of the girl that he knew was pre-
siding over the meal. For here it was
that lived the girl that was a delight to
his eyes, and a constant torment to his
heart He had loved Susie Dayton ever
since she was a small barefoot girl in
short dresses, and they had attended the
district school together.
He was going over all this in his mind
and thinking of the many days that he
had sat bolt upright on the backless
benches and peeped at her over the top
of his book and then of the very few
times that he had had the courage to shy
a paper wad at her when he thought no
one was looking. Then he would be so
frightened at his own boldness and he
would duck his head behind his book and
not dare to look above the top of the
page for the rest of the day
His mothers voice calling to breakfast
brought him back to the present, and to
the curse of all his bitterness OF heart
at the present moment. He had attended
a halloween party the night before at
Susie Dayton's home, and all the girls
and boys for miles around were there.
They had amused themselves with fortune
telling and all sorts of games.
First they wrote the name of each girl
on a slip of paper, then put them in a
hat and one of the girls carried them
into a dark room and stirred them all up
together and put one blank slip with
them. According to tradition whoever
draws the blank slip is to remain bach
elor all his life; and whatever name you
draw from the hat, that is the name of
your future wife.
When all was in readiness, Minnie Ray
mond brought the hat in and passed 1t
round to each young man In the room.
Mirth ran high, and every one was call
ing to know what name each one had
drawn. Poor Silas was in such a high
state of nervous excitement that he
could hardly find the courage to draw
at ALL But at last he did take heart
and shut his eyes, and make sort Of
wild grab at the hat. and drew out a
slip and held It UP to the light. Then,
horrors of horrors! He had drawn the
blank slip.
"Say, silas. what name did you drawn"
called out Frank Wilson, as he held up
his slip for Silas to read the name. Now
this was Just a little more than human
nature could bear with patience, for
there on Franks slip as plain as plain
could be, was the name of Susie Day.
ton. And he had always been jealous of
Frank, for he was considered the best
looking young man in the neighborhood.
and had winning manners, and, worst of
all. thought Silas, he is not afraid Of
girls.
Come, silas, do let us see your Slip
called out several voices at the same
time, and some of them made grab as
he backed up to the fire and tore the
slip into bits and tossed it in the blaze.
Now, Silas, that is not fair" they all
cried. Nobody else has refused to show
their slip, so why should your"
j II know" said Frank, ''he got the
blank slip. for I saw it." Here Susie
came 70 the rescue, and said, Don't let
them tease you, Silas, that was not a
fair game anyway, so let us try some
other" And she gave Silas glance that
/ set his heart in flutter.
what other game shall we try?' was
then asked "I know one" said Lille
+ Wayne, land 1t never fails to come true. "
WELL then, tell us what 1t Is, Tor that
the one we want" "All right" said
Lille, "get me four apple Seeds II
would like to know what you are going
to do with apple Seeds" said Minnie Ray
/ mond, as she brought the seeds and gave
them to her.
/ You will find out fast enough If you
will be patient for Just a moment. Now
/ come here, SUSIE" she said, 81 want to
/ try your fortune first" and taking Susie's
/ hand, she laid the seeds as far apart as
she could on her open palm. Then she
/ said, "I am going to name these foslr
seeds for four different young men. and
you are not to know the names till You
have placed your finger on each one and
said the proper ceremony over them"
Then she said, Repeat just what I
say" Then as Susie touched one of the
seeds, she said, This one 1 love all
| others above"
THAT" said Lille, us Charley Wayne"
| Then touching another she said, This
one I do admire" and Susie again re-
/ peated, This one do admire" That"
said Lille, '1s Will Dawson"
Touching the third one. she said. This
! one I'll take and all others forsalse .
/ And Susie repeated after her, "7his one
I'll take and all others forsake" 'IAat,"
said Lille, us Frank Wilson" Then, as
! Susie's finger was placed on the last
one she said, "And this one I'll kick in
the fire." And Susie again repeated,
"And this one I'll kick in the fire." THAT
| is Silas Bromly," said Lille.