Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-05-22
~ The
0uperstitions
Of Rhoda.
BY Martha Endicott Eaton.
BY Martha EndicoM Eaton.
Copyrighted, 1908, by N. E. Daley.

Copyrighted, 1908. by N. e. Daley.
1t was evening. Rhoda had dined.
The parlor in her little fiat, which was
also her study, was well lighted.
Logs were burning brightly on the
nndirons. Everything was coy and
comfy"
Rhoda had drawn big chair close
to the fire, and you would have
thought she had everything heart
could desire, but II you had looked
hard you would have seen a tear on
the Tong ey clashes.
She was writer. Her stories had
always sold well until lately.
B-r-r-r-r went the doorbell. Her
maid let In tall, good looking man
with Gibson chin. Rhoda gave him
her hand with faint smile.
Jack Welles saw the tear she tried
to brush away.
"Rhoda, dear, what Is it2"
"Well TO tell the truth, ! am dis
couraged-another rejection. Do you
know, JacK-Pve just thought of it,
don't believe shall sell another story
this year 1t is my thirteenth year."
mo; you don't mean itr
Eyes, and 1t is no use. / might rs
well not write at all l wonder II my
money will hold out until next year."
Jack roared with laughter. He
couldn't help 1t, she looked so serious,
and he could see she firmly believed 1t.
"But, then" she continued, II did
see the moon through the glass this
month";"
as that bad2"
every bad Didn't you know 1t.
Jack?"
mo. never give the moon
thought"
"You don't2 Oh, how l wish
didn't If see 1t face to face, you
know, have lots of luck, and I bow
three times and say Good evening.
Lady Moon very politely"
"Why, Rhoda Stratton, never knew
your exclaimed Jack.
81 really can't help 1t, Jack. It's
atavism, | think"
"Say, Rhoda. II you really think you
won't sell any more stories this year,
why don't you marry me, and then 1t
won't natter"
Jack had asked her to marry him
nearly every week for the last Ave
years.
II can't, Jack. don't want to be
married." pleaded Rhoda.
you'd better You might starve"
mo, I won't. Maybe I can find a
hunchback and touch his hump, and
that Will change my luck and break
the spell of the thirteen"
"R-h-o-d-a" gasped Jack. 'Where
did you learn all this?"
al don't know. have always known
It,"
81 nearly forgot had tickets for the
theater Get on your wraps. Mother
Is coming for us In the carriage. Here
she is"
Rhoda laughed heartily all the even
Ing Mt the fun in the play. Afterward
they went for bite to eat And very
tired RhOda tumbIed into bed that
night Her trouble was forgotten for
awhile.
But, alas, she dreamed. She dream
ed spider was spinning web In the
rungs OF her chair.
She remembered her dream when she
awoke and called TO her maid to bring
her n book which was on her desk.
As she drank her early cup of tea--a
habit formed In England-she perused
the pages OF her dream book and found
what she wanted
u txa 1.te ..
before you means you will receive n
sum OF money"
Much encouraged, Rhoda was soon
dressed She always walked before
sitting down for long day at her
desk.
Today she did thing unusual In
her. She took a manuscript with her
and bearded an editor IN his den. He
took her story and promised to pass
judgment upon It shortly.
Rhoda thanked him and walked
home quickly. Her friends knew they
must never disturb her in the morn.
ing. At 3 o'clock, however some girls
came for ten. Rhoda always had some
new dainty for them. Today, after
finishing new short story, she had
prepared some chopped walnuts and
chopped pimentos and cream cheese
and mixed them into n paste and
spread II on some dainty biscuits. The
girls declared It very good.
Only two came that afternoon. Bar
bara Van Allen and Dolly Van Brunt.
by and by Jack Welles and his mother
came; then Bob Kingsley Bob was a
kindred spirit. He was as supersti-
tious as Rhoda.
"Look, Rhoda," he said; II found a
nail with Its head toward me-"
"How lucky! walked miles down
Broadway, but no such luck came to
me-"
A scream of laughter came from the
girls.
"What is it. Barbara querled Rho
da.
"Mr. Kingsley has a rabbits foot In
his pocket"
as 1t Off left hind leg from rab-
bit shot in graveyardT' asked Rhoda.
''Rhoda" exclaimed the girls.
"She's as bad as Bob" remarked
Jack.
"well, that's the only foot that's
lucky anyway" said Rhoda.
"Rhoda, dear, how can you believe
such thingsT asked Mrs. Welles. "A
girl so sensible in other ways and one
who puts 30 much heart into her work,
and you are methodical too"
MRS. Welles," answered Rhoda 30
berly, "some one has said, There IL a
screw loose in every one That IS my
loose screw. suppose. don't know"