The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-09-29
The Prophecy.
BY LILLIAN G. COPP.

the skilful fingers of the young musi-
oian glided.
"Pauline, don't. Your music Is
saying: This is the last meeting of
the dear old club, Annie Ellis in
terrupted.
"Never mind, Pauline. She has a
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 four
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 that
they had been students at the New
England Conservatory. 1t would have
been difficult to have found girls more
unlike in looks, in dispositions or in
social abilities, yet their love for each
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, when
they would hold their first reunion.
AS the last notes of Pauline's music
died away with half-sobbing sound,
to dispel the feeling of sadness which
fogf int ocnnnlonau Marion
exclaimed gleefully:
"Oh, say, girls, let's each turn seer
and revealer and prophesy which
shall ultimately be ours, success or
failure. Who agrees?"
"We all dol" was the simultaneous
response.
Marion, you tell" said Crystal
Mason. the really talented one of the
Get, "for to you Dame Fortune shows
nothing but her treasures"
"Yes, Marion. do" the others
urged.
who will be first? You, Pauline?
Well, l must take your hand, 81 you
can transmit your personality to me.
Marion looked demure and began
with a solemn voice:
II see four years of hard labor not
unmixed with discouragement, and
then assured success. When we meet
again, ive years from to-day. Pauline
will play beautiful original melody
that she will dedicate to me in re-
membrance Of this prophecy.
Nov, 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 a position offered
you, Annie?" the girls quickly inter-
posed.
mo, haven't" Annie positively
denied.
But you have had, my dear. An
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 teacner who edu-
Gates her younger sister and assists
her brother to make success of life
will reap neither a great amount OF
money nor of fame, but in the con.
seriousness of no neglected duty, tc
her the next five years will be peace
full, contented ones"
Il actually believe that Marion /:
invested with supernatural powers; II
sounds uncanny," Crystal said a.
Marion reached for her hand.
Have patience and will revea
the source of my prophetic powers,
Marion returned laughingly, as sht
again gave imagination full sway.
Il hear voice like a thunderint
applause; see tall, slender woman
standing before crowds of peopl,
whose hearts she has won by hel
glorious voice. ThjsJis not her frs
appearance. Of, no! for thsy chez
and cheer again as she stands befor,
them. Is this the. reward of fiv,
years labor? Five years. voic,
whispers scornfully. 1t took ten. nay
fifteen years of close application com
bined with months of drudgery, t.
make this success possible. Get bacl
to your five yearsi All, here | Sc,
her, in stuffy attic room by tn,
side of ragged bed On which lie
the form of little girl. Crystal
voice is low and sweet as she sing
q soothing lullaby to the crippled
child who fondly murmurs, I think
you's an angel, you's SO lovely.
There, girls, live up to the goo,
things l have prophesied and failur
will be an unknown word in you
vocabularies, Marion said, as sh
dropped Crystals hand.
But how did you do 1t. Marion?
Els 1t really true?" we're the anxiou
queries Of the girls.
sClose observation Of character an,
. perhaps too vivid Imagination "