The Democratic advocate., 1908-11-06


would" Antoinette said one morning
despairingly "I'm too chubby. I hate
that word, CHAIRMAN, but 1t fits me.
And i fits Dickie Beveridge. He pro-
posed again last night, and be looked
like q little fat Cupid, oh, dear!' And
she smiled ruefully.
Marry him" was Charmian's prompt
suggestion, land don't think any more
of Otis Singleton"
"But Otis is so fine and splendid"
Antoinette protested.
ayes. he is fine and splendid" Char
mian repeated, and something In her
tone made Antoinette stare.
"Oh, my goodnessv" she said to her-
self later as she fed the black cat on
the hearth to get her accustomed TO
her new environment Goodness, L
came near making an awful mistake.
And, after all, simply couldn't live
without Dickie."
So she sent for him that very AFTER
noon, and he came, beaming.
"Do you really mean what you said
over the telephone" he demanded
"that you'll marry me, Antoinette"
Antoinette nodded. "I've been a lit
tie goose, Dickie," she said briefly as
she let him hold the tips Of her fin
gers, land now I want to talk about
Chairman"
Two heads being better than one'
Antoinette emerged from the interview
radiant
"Your brains aren't chubby if your
body is,' was the praise she bestowed
upon Dickie, "and 1 never should have
thought of that way Of bringing them
together"
"He loves her desperately" Dickie
said. "but he thinks she is welded to
her career. He told me once that he
wouldn't dare ask such q woman TO
share his moderate income
"And she is longing to share it. only,
Of course, woman has to walt until Il
man asks her. Oh, welP'-and Anto1-
nette smiled on her chubby squire
ecstatically-"oh,w well, Dickie, we shall
see what we shall see"
Two nights later Otis Singleton, COM
ing into the transformed cen, with an
amused smile curving his lips, found
small, plump seeress in smoke coiored
crane. with jaGe ornaments at her neck
and on her wrists, presiding over the
crystal ball, which was mounted on
silver dragon.
$50 this is the new fad" he said as
he seated himself.
Antoinette shook her head at him.
"It's not fad" she said. '"Ihis crys-
tai ball has told me some things lately
that have almost made me shiver, and
tie role Of prophecies has been forced
upon me-"
Otis threw his head back and laugh
ed heartily. "Antoinette, you are glo-
rious little fraud" he said, "but that
ball is wonderful" And he reached
out his hand to take it.
But Antoinette's white hands waved
him back.
Let me read what it. says" she
murmured softly, land you will think
It still more wonderful"
Otis lounged in his big chair lazily.
Proceed" he said, then teasingly,
Have you told Dickie's fortune?"
Antoinette nodded. "Dickie is to
marry plump blond on the 14th of
December. and he is to live happy ever
after"
Otis sat up and stared
BY Joye, you don't mean that you've
really said Yes at last?' lie gasped.
recognize the small, plump blond" she
murmured.
Then for q time she was silent, gaz-
ing into the depths Of the crystal bali.
At last her voice came family. Il see
a woman in white"-
"Blond Or brunette?' skeptically.
"She is neither fair nor dark" went
on the voice. Her hair Is a crown Of
red gold, and she is very tall. At her
feet is a wreath of laurel
All tie Indifference had left Single
tons face "Charmian," he breathed.
"Now the crystal is clouded," the
voice went on, 'but in the dimness l
can still see the shadowy figure in
white. She tramples on the laurel
wreath, but her hand is on her heart.
She seems to say, I want not fame,
but love-"
Otis hand came down heavily over
the ball. "You are making it up" he
accused.
The little lady's eyes met his steadily
II am not making it up
"You mean that it is true?"
"As true as that Dickie and l are
going to be married, Otis"
So seriously did she say it that Sin
gleton stood up with @ quick laugh of
resolution. Where is she?" he de-
manded.
"In the library" said Antoinette.
"But, oh, Otis, If she should ever
guess how told your fortunew
"She shan't guess" he said. I'm
tell her you saw money bags and a
rich widow
And with that he was gone, while
the seeress in smoke color flew down
the hall to hunt up her chubby cherub.
"And, oh, Dickie," she said as they
took refuge in the breakfast room. Il
expect she's saying Yes this very
minuter
"Ard all because Of the crystal ball. y
was Dickie's comment as he folded her