The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-27
THE EVENING STORY
Polly and the Prophecy.
(By StanleY Barton.)

woman, and therefore Polly did not
blush, as she was wont to do under
the admiring stare of men.
Nevertheless, Polly was uneasy.
There seemed to be a. set of grimness
about the tense mouth of this oddly
dressed seer that BODIED IL for the di-
minutive one before her
You would penetrate the future"
began the fortune teller. land you
have come to me to find out what is
woman, I will tell you Listen: An
old man with money is to enter into
your life. The stars tell me that you
will greet him with open arms"
81, won't" protested the rebellious
Polly. She had in MIND, as she spoke
the sturdy Jimmy Hamilton. whom She
had refused for the third time that
morning.
1.-The stars do not lie chidedl the
fortune teller IAN old man will enter
your. life. and his impetuosity will fair
~ take your breath away He will be
old, but-he has money"
81 don't hear a bit more" came
from Polly angrily. and in a turbulent
state of mind she drew her naughty
little self indignantly out of the camp
chair and f1ounced from the tent.
Polly Edmunds wasn't superstitious.
and it was absurd to believe that she
had gone to the fortune teller except
through gentle curiosity; but 1t was
enough to make any self-respecting
girl angry-the suggestive words of
that parchment-skinned, siIly-talking
Roumanian. She just wouldn't be-
lieve, and she knew very we'll that she
would always remain true to Jimmy
Hamilton; he of the dark brown hair
and blue eyes-Jimmy Hamilton. who
could twist his love words and phrases
to the daintiest proposals ever bring
ing the bushes, to the cheeks of
maid. She would not receive any hid
eous old millionaire with open armsl
Polly was in a terrible state of mind
when the luckless Jimmy espied her
from across street and fastened to join
her. .r
"You." She stamped d foot in the
fine frenzy of her rage. 'As if 1 didn't
have trouble enough without you COM
ing alongi''
Jimmy smiled and continued to plod
cheerfully along at her side.
''If 1 had a mouthful of vulgar gold
teeth" contributed the girl spitefuIly.
I'm sure would keep it closed and
not be always grinni1g like a Cheshire
cat! It's what L call an-an ostenta-
tious display of riches
Without 4 word of protest, Jimmy
obediently pulled his lips to a straight
line.
Are you dumb?'' asked the fair
vixen. Can't you talk? Have you
lOSt yOQT NOlC6. II OF gracious sake,
say something! You get on my
nerves"
It's fine day." observed Jimmy
Hamilton.
Polly glared. You ought to read
the advertisements and take a course
in general intelligence"
The nabashed Jimmy laughed
heartily. You are the original little
cross patch he enthused. 1.-The to-
basco sauce as it were. to the dull
routine of life in GreenvifIe. Really,
1 am proud of. you, Polly. But why
this most becoming petulance?' ~
Il don't know why 1 should tell you
my troubles observed the girl. you
haven't any sympathy-and, besides.
I have decided to have nothing more
to do with you. There!"
"I commend you on your decision"
remarked the youth at her side. But.
honestly, dear, it's not original, and
you don't mean it. I'm the only chap
in the town weather-beaten enough
to survive these sudden storms, of
which the present onesided alterca-
ton is but reasonably fair example"
"You like to hear yourself talk"
snapped the maid. You are simple
eaten up with egotism. Some day
your head will expand to the bursting
point and prove the vacuum that L
have long suspected
Polly, in her tempestuous way,
suddenly turned the conversation. II
have been to the fortune teller, II you
must know"
Jimmy, on the day before. had
strolIed through the camp of these
picturesque nomads. "Gipsy queens
have regulations for being rare seers,''
he observed, thoughtfully.
'tRare-fools," stormed the maid.
"I just hate myself for having gone
out there at ALL II ought to have
known better. No one can read the
future she concluded wisely. 1T
isn't possible
II deduce, then, that the parcel of
| information handed out by the
| swarthy Minerva wasn't at all to your
| liking
The girl flushed. then the storm in
her eyes suddenly abated and a
expectantIy in its place "It would
be nice if 1 could believe her" she
ventured, demurely. You would ad-
wise me to, would you not?'
| Certainly came from the grim
ming. and unsuspecting Jimmy. .'Gipsy
queens are daughters of seventh
| daughters, you know. They are wise
| in the occult.
Thereupon Polly. with happy
little smile, unfolded the information
vouchsafed by her Romanian high
ness.
A frown clouded the youths brow
at the completion of the tale. Rot
he grumbled.
But" objected Polly, sweetly, Il
| have your own words for IL that these
gypsy people are vastly clever. Since
| talking to you I have no doubt but
| what it will come out as she said.
Anyway I must wait for my old mil
| lionaire man. always did believe
that 1 should marry for money. and
then-who knows-he may be nice;
| and I can love him. il he is
| Polly was in a rare hunlor. Never
| before had she been able to tease this
great, good-tempered giant. He always
/ took f1er refusals to marry him as a
| good joke. But Polly was to see the
| sudden tuition Of the gipsy's prophecy
whether sire believed in it or not.
| '-Honk. honki
| A most cratic automobile with rive
occupants caIoe zig-zagging down the
narrow road, interruptirg for the mo-