The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-12-01
The Crystal
Ball.
BY Philip keon.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

1 Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Il Literary Press.
'The trouble with me-" Antoinette
announced, sis that l am too common
place."
Chairman laughed, you funny lit
tie thingY
81 haven't any individuality" An
toinette insisted. II dance pretty well
and sing little. have fairly good
complexion. l know how to do my
hair, but when other girls scintillate
I'm in the shadow What need is to
be different"
"What you need is to be your own
dear SELF" Chairman stated. EVERY
body loves you"
Everybody doesn't" Antoinette con-
tradicted. "At LEAST She stopped
suddenly.
"Wel, Dickie does" Chairman teased.
'You know you are the only girl In the
world to Dickie Beveridge. and Dickie's
the salt of the EARTH"
"Oh, DECKER Antoinette hared
'sDickies as insignificant as l 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 grandT
Chairman questioned.
81 do" Antoinette sat up among the
pink couch cushions. 81 want to be
distinctive, CHAIRMAN"
'Tn 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 it 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 a seeress."
THAT'S all very well for you to say,
Antoinette grumbled. you have u
voice like siren"
ooh, 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 lovable to everybody"
Chairman reached over and took one
of the small. plump hands in hers.
Nov, who is that sigh for, babyT
she demanded. "And who doesn't love
your
"Otis Singleton" said Antoinette un
expectedly.
Charmian's eyes returned to the fire
with an unfathomable expression.
$50 it is Otis Singleton" she said
softly.
Eyes," Antoinette nodded. Il think
he is perfectly fine, Chairman. But
he doesn't pay a particle Of attention
to me- And l am positively tongued
tied when l 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 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 1t
caught the autumn sunlight.
Father says the queer men over
there used to gaze In II" Antoinette ex-
planned, land tell what had been and
what would be-"
"HOw stranger said Chairman, han
ding it curiOusly.
81 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 bust OF Pal
las over the door, and black cat on
the hearth, and I'm going to dress my
self In a smoke colored gown, with a
snake bracelet, and Pm going to put
the crystal ball in the middle of my
/, teakwood table and tell fortunes. And
after awhile everybody will say, How
Interestingly and then l won't feel SO
insignificant, and perhaps Otis will
come, and-now, Chairman, what's the
matterT
For the other girl was laughing IN
comfortably.
"Oh, you funny child" she gasped.
tits not a laughing matter" An
toinette reproved her. She reached
over and took the crystal ball from
her friend and gazed into it. ut shows
me a great singer crowned with iau-
rels," she said.
Chairman snatched the ball from
her. Don't" she cried; don't prophe-
81 fame for mel 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 1 love her, CHAIRMAN" she said.
"You precious childv' was the CRATE
full response, and after that there was
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 Dickie again"
Antoinette stated. "He always asks
me to marry him."
"And are you sure you don't love
hfm-sure?" The older girls gaze was
compelling.
"Weu." Antoinette hesitsted, II do
like Dickie, CHAIRMAN, but when /
think what a commonplace couple we
would make
"fou would make a dear couple"
CHAIRMAN stated. land your laughter
ana brightness are not for such men
as Otis Singleton"
"Why not"
"Otis needs woman who has suf-
fered as he has suffered. He has had
a hard life and 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 find his
( fateY' And she flew up to her own
room to dress.
All the week that followed Antoi-
nette was busy Transforming the den
into an abode of black art. CHAIRMAN,
watching somewhat wistfully, made
invaluable suggestions.
II shall never At into It as you
would" Antoinette said one morning
despairingly. "Pm too chubby. hate
that word, Chairman, but it fits me.
And 1t fits Dickie Beveridge. He pro-
posed again last night. and he looked
like a little fat Cupid, oh, dear" And
/ she smiled ruefully.