Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-08-19
and brightness are not for such mel
as Otis Singleton

''WLy uUt:"
"0tis needs Il woman who has suf-
fered rs he has suffered He has had
hard life and a lonely onea life like
mine, Antoiuctte." she caught herself
mp quickly aud glanced nj her friend.
But intoinetfe was absorbed In her
plans.
anyhow. I'm going 10 invite him
and read his fortuue in the crystal
ball. Who knows hut he viii find his
fateT And she flew up t.. her own
room TO dress.
All the week that followed .Antoi-
nette was luy transforming the den
into an abode of black art Chairman,
watching somewhat wistfully. made
invaluable suggestions,
Il shall sever fit into it as you
would" \B,cinctte said one morning
despairirclr I'm too chubby. | hate
that word. CHAIRMAN but 1t fits me.
And II fits pckie Beveridge He pro-
posed again last night, and he looked
like little fat Cupid, oh, dear" And
she smiled rue sully.
Marry him" was Charmian's prompt
suggestion. and don't think any more
of Otis Singleton"
"But Otis IS so fine and splendid =
Antoinette protested.
Eyes. he is fine and splendid" Char
milan repeated. and something I'm her
tone made Antoinctte stare.
"Oh, my goodness she said to her
self later as she fed the black cat on
the hearth to get her accustomed to
ber new environment Goodness |
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
shat you'll marry me. Antoinette?"
Antoinette nodded. eve been lit
tie goose. Diclie." she said briefly as
she let him hold the tips Of her fin
gers. "and now l want to talk about
Chairman"
Two heads being better than one.
Antoinette emerged from the interview
radiant.
"Your brains aren't chubby II your
body is was the praise she bestowed
upon Dickie "and never should have
thought of that way Of bringing them
together"
"He loves her desperately" Dickic
said, but he thinks she is welded to
her career. He told me once that he
In aSty Cuph IN
share his moderate income"
"And she Is longing TO share It. only,
Of course. a woman has to wait until
man asks her. Oh, welP'--and Antoi-
nette smiled on her chubby squire
ecstatically-"o well, Dickie. we shall
see what we SHAH see"
Two nights later Otis Singleton. com.
ing into the transformed den, with an
amused smile curving HIS lips, found
small. plump seeress In smoke colored
Grape, with Jade 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 az
he seated himself.
Antoinette shook her head at him
"It's not fad" she said. This crys
tai ball has told me some things lately
that have almost made me shiyer, and
the role of prophecies has been forced
upon me"
Otis threw his head back ard 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 Antoinettes white hands waved
aim back.
Let me read what it says" she
murmured softly, land you will think
II still more wonderful"
Otis louuged in his big chair lazily.
Proceed, he said, then teasingly.
"Have you told Dickie's fortuneF
Antoinette nodded "Dickie is to
marry a plump blond on the l4th OF
December. and he is to live happy ever
after"
Otis sat up and stared.
"By Jove, you don't mean that you've
really said Yes at last?" he gasped
Antoinette smiled. II see that you
recognize the small, plump blond" she
murmured.
Then for time she was silent, gaz-
ing into the depths Of the crystal ball.
AT last her voice came family. Il see
a woman IN white
Blond or brunette" specifically.
"She is neither fair nor dark" went
on the voice. Her hair is crown OF
red gold. and she is very tall. At her
feet is a wreath Of laurel"
All the indifference had left Single
tons face. "Charmian," be breathed.
'Now the crystal is clouded.' the
voice went on, but IN the dimness |
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 1t up he
accused.
The little lady's eyes met his steadily
81 am not making it up
you mean that 1t Is trueF