The Press., 1911-09-20
AN ARBITER OF FATE 0amalieI Swallows an Ancient
 Superstition
 By cLARISSA MAcKIE
Swallows an Ancient
By cLARlSSA MACEE
Copyright by American Press Asso- ciation, 1911.


 F
 Here comes Aunt Alvaretta," said Elsie listlessly from her seat in the bow window. "I wonder what has happened She's got her knit hood on over her sweeping cap, and she is run ming across the orchard"
 Mrs. Parsons leaned over her daugh- ters shoulder and peered at the tall angular figure hurrying through the orchard that divided the two houses. Maybe Gamaliel has had another fit That cat will be the death of Alvaretta with his fits and finicky ways; she's worried over him half the time I'll open the door for her" She went to the side porch and awaited her sisters coming.
 Alvaretta came up the narrow path between the rows of chrysanthemums, her prunella shod feet flashing in and out of the dead leaves and her faded face quite pink with excitement.
 "Is it GamalielP' called Mrs. Parsons eagerly as her sister drew near.
 Miss Lee stopped short and stared. HIs what Gamaliel?"
 "I thought perhaps that cat had an- ether fit," returned Mrs. Parsons sharp iy; 'he's always cutting up some sort of didoesF'
 "Gamaliers all right" assured AL varetta calmly as she followed her sis ter into the warm sitting room. How are you, Elsie? Haven't you finished those pillowcases yetP
 '1This is the last one," answered FL Sie, rising to offer her aunt a rocking chair. "When we saw you running, Aunt Alvaretta. we thought something had happened" She resumed her own seat and bent her fair head above the muslin pfIlowcase.
 "Something unusual did happen" aVerred Miss Lee with mysterious mods of her head. "I'n have to take or my knit hood; it's hotter'n all get out in this room For the land-if haven't got on my sweeping cap! Well, it's all in the story of what hap pened when was cleaning the garret this morning."
 'What happened2" queried Mrs. Par sons fmpatiently as she picked up her needles and knitted furiously at some white lace she was making for her daughters rousseau.
 Miss Lee removed her sweeping cap and twirled it thoughtfully on one long finger, her keen, black eyes watching Elsie's downcast face as she told her story.
 "As was saying, I cleaned the gar ret this morning, or was just begin ming to when decided I'd clean out that little closet under the rafters There was a little hair trunk that be- longed to Grandmother Lee, and 1t had all sorts of truck in it. I won't tell you all the stuff there was tucked away in that trunk. Some rainy day you can come Emeline, and we'll look it over. But among other things there was a little pasteboard box and inside of it was little scrap of lace, marked sAnn Lees wedding veil.' That was your great-grandmother. Elsie! There was a scrap of the wedding gown and then screwed up in little piece of pa per was this bit of grandmother's we'd ding cake!' AlYaretta triumphantly held up a twist of yellowed paper. which she carefully unfolded to dis cover a morsel of dark, fruity cake with few iecks of icing clinging to it
 ''Tm going to give it to Elsie to dream on," said Miss Lee slowly.
 Elsie's pale face flushed hotly and nhe shrank back in her chair with protesting gesture of her hands. "You needn't laugh at me, Aunt Alvaretta." she said tremulously. You know don't have to dream on wedding cake my fate's been decided for me" She shot a bitter glance at her mothers | averted face.
 Mrs. Parsons arose and went to the | plant stand in the window, where she | proceeded to pick the dead leaves from the geraniums with quick, nervous ges- tures that betrayed her inward per turbation.
 "I didn't know Elsie had decided | 1he was going to marry Jerome Bar clay. thought she was sort of teeter- lng between him and Rob Harris" blurted Miss Alvaretta, getting upon her feet. I've never taken much stock ln your notion of having Elsie get her wedding clothes ready before she'd made uD her mind"