The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-11-24

- ETHAN =. ARMOUR I
Copyright BY American Pres Asso- I
citation. ls1l 4
Adcniram Doyle was I strong Be.
lever In indications. Az . child and
young man he had never failed to see
the new moo over his right shoulder
without feeling sure that he would
meet with some misfortune during the
month. He would never start ON q
journey on Friday or sit at 1 table
about which there were thirteen per-
sons. These are but q few signs that
he regarded. but they serve to show
his character.
When eighteen years Of age be had
engaged himself to a young lady sew
eral years his senior. For an engage
ment ring he had given her one with
an opal setting. He was not aware at
the time that the opal. invariably
brings bad luck. The girl was equally
ignorant She had not been engaged q
month when she was taken IN and died.
II was not remarkable that Adoni-
ram. who was naturally inclined to
make much of such matters, should
have been deeply impressed with the
fearful penalty he had paid for run
ming counter to the opal blight. When
he recovered from the shock Of bis
Gancee's death he was not only disin-
clined to enter again upon an engage
ment without duly considering all the
signs involved In the way of warning.
hut had reached a condition where he
was looking for one to indicate that
the lady Of his choice was the right
woman for him to maFFY,
Ref9re he had passed middle age he
had noted a number Of indications
that such OF such a person would
make him happy, but either the girl
who seemed to be pointed out was &c,
homely or had had tamnAr o. some
other defect which led him to disre-
gard the sign. with mans natural
~perversity he formed a purpose Of
marrying a young woman who had as
much cORtempt for these petty super
stitions az he had respect. Miss Octa-
via Sparks had a mind superior to
that Of Mr.. Doyle. but she liked him
Women are supposed to condpe their
laFe and admiration to men who are
above them In intellectual strength,
but this Is not an invariable rule. Mr..
Doyle was q gentle. simple minded
man. free of guile. and he appealed to
Miss Sparks stronger intellect. Pes
haps IT was q considerable muscular
strength he possessed Of which he was
himself unconscious that impressed
her weaker physical organization.
Be this as it may, the tWe we're
araWn together. and 1t only needed
some indication that fate intended
their meeting to induce Mr.. Doyle to
propose. He waited a long while for
such an augury; but. none appearing,
he made up his mind to propose, any
way. He started eat pNa eFisp an
tumnal evening, but no sooner had he
opened his door than there. pp in the
southwest, was q crescent. He caused
Hia 1Fst glimpse Of the new moon was
ever his left shoulder
He went back into the house, tool
or his hat and overcoat and sat down
disappointed. He was not sure that
the incident portended a refusal on the
part af Miss Sparks or that q mar
riage With her would result disastrous
y. Nevertheless he dare not, in the face
OF 20 marked a warning, persist In his
intention OF asking her to b. his wife.
But he continued his friendly rela-
tons With her and longeA to settle
down with her In the bonds OF matri-
m0ny. He lived alone in his home
with an old woman who was both
cook and housekeeper, and there was
n0 reason why he should not bring
Miss sparks into the house as his wife.
Should he do 80 he felt confident that
she would make It q very different
home for him. rendering what was
desolate. cheerful. But Of this he was
not ceftain- How did he know that
Dhe might not turn ont to be q virago7
However. q constant companionship
gave him confidence ID her, and the
following summer be came again to a
to propose marriage to her.
This time. In passing between his
house and hers. q snake crossed the.
road directly before him.
He stopped short aud watched the
viper slowly dragging itself along in
the dust. to lose itself IN the long
grass and make Z fnal m0mentary ap-
pearance a. It crawled under q fence.
He stood for q few minutes thinking,
turned reluctantly and went back
to his home. This second warning
WINS % pronounced that he resolved
never again to set ont with an inten-
don tc propose to Miss Sparks.
From this time be began to con
slider the different unmarried women
in the place other than the On o.
whom be had 1T bis heart, with d
view 70 acoulx1n9 I helpmeet a Wfd-