The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-12-16
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AT TWELVE O'CLOCK
By MARION GORDON

was desperately in love with plump
and fair little Susie Agnew there was
small doubt that his chestnut was
named for Susie If Fate decreed
that Elsie's hero aud Susie were to
be mated-Elsie's smile quite faded
away for all the signs were against
her!
OF course they tried the mirror
charm, some of the girls taking hand
mirrors and walking around the
house backward were rewarded by
seeing divers faces reflected in the
glass 1t was a moonlight night and
the -shrubbery cast lacy-black shad-
ows across the path that encircled
the house
test she dared not try and so while
the others played hide-and-seex in
the crisp cool air after the midnight
hour had passed. Elsie sought the al
cove In the conservative where she
had promised to meet Arthur Beck
man and give him his answer.
He arrived almost as soon as she
did. He sat down beside her and
took one cold little hand in his own.
Nov, Elsie?" he asked softly.
"Oh. Arthur" she trembled, IL
can't"
"Well-never mind-don't cry
about It," he said practically, for her
voice was near to tears. His own
heart was wrung with the bitterness
of the moment Don't let 1t worry
you one instant, dear. You needn't
tell me why-I suppose It's another
chap-would you like to join the
ghost dance? The orchestra is tuning
up" He tried to speak lightly but all
the spirit had gone out of his voice.
Elsie shook her head you don't
understand" she whispered. turning
her head half toward him so that the
soft fragrant masses of her hair
brushed his cheek. THE signs were
all against i'll"
He hardly breathed. so fearful was
he of losing this blissful moment. but
her remark was puzzling.
The signs? Oh. you mean those
charms and all that clap-trap bust
ness of apple parings and melted lead
and so FORTH" he demanded.
"Yes-you see wanted to wait and
find out what Fate really had in store
for me. I thought If the signs were
propitious for my-my being happy
with you l believed that together
with" She hesitated and turned
away her head.
Together with your love for me"
he prompted softly and he was wild
ly happy when she did not deny 1t.
Would insure our happiness" she
completed
Fol de roll" calculated the Knave
of Hearts. taking Old Mother Hub
bard In his arms SO suddenly that
the homeless dog bounced to the floor
and rolled away. Fol de rol. darling.
I'll risk all the bad luck in the world
in marrying you II you'll have me!
Compared with the fact that l love
you and you say you love newly,
the charm business doesn't cut any
figure at ALL"
AT tudl iuStduI came WuDcIl Adn'
sing of mortar and pestle fame; the
Fates had decreed that he was to be
Elsie's future spouse and he was
eager to find her and press his suit
once more. He was gather supersti-
tious himself and the signs were au-
spicious for him.
Through the shielding palms he
caught one glimpse of the Knave of
Hearts and Old Mother Hubbard and
he lost his belief in signs at once.
AS he turned away he saw the fat.
stuffed, woolly dog of Mother Hub
bard lying at his feet.
With a well directed kick he sent
the poor beast flying across the floor,
whence 1t bounded into the fountain
and bobbed serenely around among
the startled goldfish.
Nothing In -charms!" muttered
Wilbert Lansing as he stalked gloom
ile home.