Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-21
1Ae Crystal
 Ball.
 0y PbHip keon.
8y Philip kean.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated a Literary Press.

1.-The trouble with me-" Antoinette i announced, Ifs that am too common place."
 Charmian laughed. "You funny lit- lle thing" LAR
 q haven't any Individuality" An toinctte insisted. "I dance pretty well and sing a little. have fairly good complexion. 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 . s,'f," Charmian stated. Every bod ss . you"
 sc.sybody doesn't" Antolnette con t.adlcted. At least''- She stopped suddenly.
 "Well. Dickie does" Charmlan leased. "You know you are the only girl in the world to Dlckie Beveridge. and Dlckie's the salt of the earth"
 "Oh, Dlckiev' Antoinette 6ared. "Dickie's as insignificant as am. He has 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" l Charmian questioned. e
 T do." Antoinette sat up among the l pink couch cushions. q want to be distinctive, Charmian." m
 "In 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 it's gold fig ures it. gives you an atmosphere of mystery q seeress or something"
 Charmian laughed again. Dear girl" she said, tits much better to be a woman than seeress."
 "That's all very well for you to say.' Antoinette grumbled. You have Il voice like siren."
 "Oh, Toinette." Charmian protested, "a seeress and q 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" ! Charmian reached over and took one i of the small. plump hands in hers. Now. who is that sigh for, baby?" she demanded. And who doesn't love 1 you:"
 1 "Otis Singleton said Antoinette un- expectedly.
 Charmian's eyes returned to the fire with an unfathomable expression.
 "So 1t is Otis Singleton?' she said softly.
 Yes" Antoinette nodded. T think he is perfectly fine, Charmian. But he doesn't pay a particle of attention j to me. And l am positively tpngaed tied when l try to talk to hims Do :, you feel that way:'
 i Charmian smiled inscrutably. Not exactly" she murmured. I "Of course you don't" Antoinette went on. You're not commonplace, l and I am not going to be any more. 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 H. 2 Father says the queer men over there used to gaze in it,' Antoinette ex- plained, "and tell what had been and
 what would be-"
 How strange. said Charmian, han ding it curiously.
 T am going to fit up the den," An toinettc 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 q black cat on : the hearth. and I'm going to dress my :, self i'll a smoke colored gown, with a ! snake bracelet, and Pm going to put 't the crystal ball in the middle of my lockwood table and tell fortunes. And after awhile everybody will say, How
 interestingr and then l won't feel so
 insignificant. and perhaps Otis will
 come, and-now, Charmian, what's the
 matter?"
 For the other girl was laughing un- controllably.
 "Oh, you funny child." she gasped. "It's net q laughing matter.' An toinette reproved her. She reached over and took the crystal ball from her friend and gazed into it. Tt shows me great singer crowned with lau- : rels," she said.
 : Charmian sIatched the ball from her. Don't" she cried; don't prophe- sy fame fer me. Tell me of future
 of love and marriage and home. I've been so lonely all my life" < The young girl laid her cheek l against that of her friend. But you know love her. .Charmian,' she said. You precious child." was the grate- i, ful response. and after that there was , long silence.
 , Then Antoinette said. But I'm go ing 10 fix up the den. and I'm going to , invite Otis Singleton" J Better invite Dickie," Charmian urged.
 "i shall never invite Dickie again. 7 i Antoinette stated. "He always asks
 me to marry him."
 And are you sure you don't love