Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-02-11
. Stems AN.

natured member OF the group, who
looked as II he believed in signs
about as much as a week-old infant
believes in the molecular theory.
Nobody could recall any such ad-
venture.
''You want to try it, then" he con-
tinued. grinning to himself at the
thought. Its more Of hooray than
when your wife's gone to the country
and more exciting than the last two
thirds of a picture puzzle.
Il went up Burrillville way
while ago to visit an old friend OF
mine over Sunday. and dropped plunk
into place where 1t made all the diff
ference in the world whether you put
on your right or your left shoe first,
and where It was near-tragedy II
you saw the new moon over the
wrong shoulder
III was my friend Fred's wife that
had the boogle. and she had me raz-
sle-dezzled from the getaway. BY
the time I'D been there two hours
didn't hardly dare stir in my tracks
for fear I'd slump into whole punches
of bad luck.
'Id never seen her before, though
Fred's been married three or four
years. and after he'd been toning me
10 weekend with him most Of that
time. l finally spouted up yes and
trotted along one Saturday afternoon.
''Fred's wife-I'll call her Minnie,
because that's her name. and she
proved to be one OF these chummy
sorts that first-name you inside the
first hour, as long as you're a friend
Of her husband's-shes one Of these
women that seem to have lot of fun
remembering all the good and bad
luck signs that were ever invented,
and fastening EN- to everything that
happens from morning to night. Hon
estIy, didn't know there were so
many common or garden varieties Of
superstition left floating around little
old Rhode Island.
mot that she took EN- seriously.
you understand. Or at least, she pre-
tended not to. Though privately I've
a notion that If it came to sitting thir-
teen at table. she'd back into a corner
and scream for help. till somebody
dropped out or somebody else came.
'-She was cue of these chic little
sorts, awfully strong for hubby and
the kids, but right there with the glad
welcome till you felt as if you'd al
ways belonged there, and 1t didn't
seem to stand to reason that she
should really take the superstition
stuff seriously. Still, you never can
tell how much Of that sort of rope
even sensible person will swing.
''It began the minute l hoped up
the steps and rang the bell. She an
nf hand % =, wsfeESafilgf ssfseESaflf . and stuck out her
was OF course. And as l was step
ming in | stumbled over the doorsill
which was higher than common anc
an. -. landed full length on the floor
Oh. gooeyr said she. 1t was the
right foot. wasn't it?'
1t was said I. picking myself
up and feeling like fool. nut how
does that help?'
Why. bscause that shows were
awfuny glad to see you. II it had
been the left foot, now, it would have
meant Just the other thing, and that
would have been terrible. wouldn't
it?'
Il caught one glimpse of the smile
she flashed me and decided on the
spot that it would have been calam-
ity and a half if Id done anything
else than stumble. so long as it was
with the right foot
I'm falling, though, I dropped my
umbrella half across the hall. /
started for it. but she let out scream
that brought me up short.
Don't touch it, she said, and
darted forward herself, laughing as
she picked 1t up and handed it to me.
Il suppose l must have looked
some foolish at that, so she came to
the rescue again by explaining.
Don't you see? You couldn't
have bad luck any surer way than by
picking up your umbrella when you
drop 1t. Never. never do it, or heaven
knows what will happen to you. It's
bad luck. you know, to drop an UNI
brella, but II somebody else picks ii
up for you, that takes away the spell
Just then Fred came down stairs.
In time to catch her last remark, and
he laughed as he shook hands.
Don't let Minnie jar you he
said. She's mighty keen for that
sort Of thing. You'll probably learn
more about signs and portents than
you ever dreamed of. She's a regu-
lar dictionary Of 'em. She'll have you
ticketed for the dope shop if you take
EN- as seriously as she does.
2She chucked him under the chin
at that, and took me up to see the Kid,
which is usually the first thing on the
program where there is onel She
took it of the floor and handed it to
me to hold.
You know what bachelor does
when some one passes a baby his way
Does a quick sidestep aud yell for the
police. That's what / started to do.
but she wouldn't have 1t.
oh. but you've got to. just a min
ute. she said It's the chance Of a
lifetime. Make wish while you have
him in your arms. the very best wish
you can. because you don't get a
chance to hold baby like that every
day
What's a wish got to do with the
baby?" ! asked. while Fred grinned
Mercy Don't you known she
asked Make wish when you hold
a baby for the first time, and it'll
come true inside of year.
There was nothing to it. took
the kid and held is as straight up as
] could, until it began to howl, and It's
mother grabbed it, the way they al
ways do.
What did you wish? asked Fred
Heavens Don't tell him, said
Minnie It spoils The wish il you
tell.
I'd just as soon tell as not. |
answered, because I've already got ii.
] wished wouldn't drop the baby