Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1909-09-17
The Prophecy.

The notes Of the piano now file,
the room with full, rich melody
then softened Into the sweet, plantiy,
tones of the minor key. into which
the skilful fingers Of the young rlusl
clan glided.
Pauline. don't. Your musc is
saying: This is the last meeting OF
the dear old club Annie Ellis IN.
terrupted.
Never mind, Pauline. She Las q
melancholy drop in her blood that
she delights In sharing with u.s." Mar
ion Hall said, half jestingly.
1t was at Marion Halls home. in
one Of Boston's suburbs, that the fdur
girls were gathered. The room. sweet
with the fragrance of roses which
filled Jars and vases, looked mex
pressibly dear to the girls who had
been such friends the two years thai
they had been students at the New
England Conservatory. 1t would have
been difficult to have found girls mure
unlike in looks. in dispositions or IN
social abilities, yet their love for earh
other had won for them the name of
"The Inseparable Quartet. Once
each week they had met at Marion S
home, where two years ago they had
organized the Good Time Club. On
the morrow the girls were to separate,
not to meet again for five years, " hen
they would hold their first reunion.
AS the last notes of Pauline's music
died away with half-sobbing sound,
to dispeI the feeling of sadness which
was fast gaining ascendaney. Marion
exclaimed gleefully:
"Oh, say, girls, let's each turn seer
and reyealer and prophesy which
shall ultimately be ours, success or
failure. Who agrees?"
I'VE all dol" was the simultaneous
response.
Marion. you tell" said Crystal
Mason, the really talented one of the
set, "for to you Dame Fortune shows
nothing but her treasures.
Yes. Marion. do" the Others
who win be nrst7 You, PauIfssse
Well, / must take your hand. 81 you
can transmit your personality to me.
Marion looked demure and began
with a solemn voice:
Il see four years of hard labor not
unmixed with encouragement, and
then assured success. When we meet
again. five years from to-day, Pauline
will play beautiful original melody
that she will dedicate to me in re-
membrance of this prophecy.
Now. Annie. hearken to what fate
has In store for you, Yours is more
complicated. / must concentrate.
Marion closed her eyes. while the
girls listened intently to what she
was about to say.
"You are not going to accept the
position offered you"
Have you had position offered
you. Annie?" the girls quickly inter
posed.
mo. l haven't Annie positively
denied.
"But you have had. my dear. All
unsalaried position with love, honor
and obey as preliminaries to accept
ance," Marion audaciously affirmed
Then. unmindful of the laugh which
arose at Annie's hot face. caused by
her clever guessing, she went on,
"The conscientious teacher who edu
Gates her younger sister and assist
her brother to make a success of life
will reap neither great amount o
money nor of fame, but in the con
sciousness of no neglected duty, t
her the next five years will be peace
full, contented ones.
Il actcally believe that Marion Ii
invested with supernatural powers; Il
sounds uncanny," Crystal said as
Marion reached for her hand.
"Have patience and | will reveal
the source of my prophetic powers.
Marion returned laughingly, as she
again gave imagination full sway
Il hear voice like laundering
applause; see a tall. slender woman
standing before crowds of people
whose hearts she has won by her
glorious voice This is not her frs,
appearance. Oh, MOI for they cheer
and cheer again as she stands before
them. Is this the reward Of five
years labor2 Five years. voice
whispers scornfully. 1t took ten, nay,
fifteen years of close application com
bined with months of drudgery, to
make this success possible. Get back
to your five yearsl All, here | see
her, in a stuffy attic room by the
side of a ragged bed on which lies
the form of little girl. Crystal
voice is low and sweet as she sings
a soothing lullaby to the crippled
child who fondly murmurs. I thinks
you's an angel. yous so lovely.
There, girls, live up to the good
things l have prophesied and failure
will be an unknown word In your
vocabularies. Marion said. as she
dropped Crystals hand
"But how did you do it. Marionl
ais It really true?" were the anxioue
queries of the girls.
aClose observation of character and
a perhaps too vivid Imagination was
all the material needed was the
gay response. E
"But tell us. what are you gong
to accomplish in the next five years I
Pauline asked.
"Oh, you will know at our reunl (
for then 1t will be reality. not pross-
ecy, to which we shall listen.
The five years are ended. II Is
June again. Once more the four gl.is
are together in the room which ~
joyous time of the past has endeas e
81 tbarn The afr Is heavy with the