El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-26
The Talisman
BY Andrew White.

small pastebOard box with great
- care, tied it securely with a
string, then. with hand that was al
most firm, he addressed the parcel to
Miss Mabel Craymer.
This firmness was in some respects
surprising. for the box contained pres
ents bestowed upon him from time 10
time by Miss Craymer-Ihe young lady
he had expected to lead to the altar
And among them was the little Blliken
she had given him to hang on his watch
charm for luck.
Still smarting with indignation at
the quarrel that had taken place be-
tween them, he would not admit. even
to himself, that he was sorry the en-
gagement had been broken off.
1t was parting with the Bilhken he
solemnIy assured himself that affected
him most acutely. It was the first
thing she had ever given him, and,
though people might laugh at him Tor
being an imaginative and supersuuous
fool, Harrington firmly maintained II
had brought him luck
Harrington put on his that and left
mo" muttered he, "it is all up be-
tween US now. That's 2 fact. II would
be impossible for me 70 care for girl
who as good as told me 1 was telling
oh. I'm awfully sorry My fault"
He was turning the corner OF the aV-
enue where he lodged, and had been so
taken up with his thoughts that ne had
run full tilt into someone coming from
the opposite direction. So roughly had
they cOllided that he had sent the UNI
brella flying from that someone's hand,
and it was not till he had picked it up
and was returning IL that he became
aware that he was apologizing to Ma
Nab" he gasped. Then raised his
hat with an air Of assumed indifference
and passed on.
Someone's just left packet for
YOU. sir" announced his landlady,
meeting him in the passage. You'll
find II on the sitting room table"
Harrington hurried into the sitting
room There lying on the cloth, was
such a package as he had sent away
that morning, only II was considerably
larger.
He tore it open savagely. we'll
knowing what 1t contained Out they
fell with a clatter upon the table-a
lady's watch, ring, two bracelets. q
long chain-au the presents he had
given TO Mabel; and-what was that in
the corner Of the box?
He unwOund a quantity Of tissue pa
per from small lumpy object, and
was confronted by the Billiken- II
gazed at him with a friendly leer. At
tached to it was a scrap of paper with
a few hasty words:
You said it brought you luck Please
keep it."
Harrington held the charm at arms
length staring at 1t stupidity. Please
keep it! She had requested him to
keep il. and she had returned every
little thing he had given to her An
angry flush went over his face.
What does she take me fOr?' he
demanded, turning 1t about in his fin
gers.
He turned, and saw Davis standing
in the doorway. Hello" he cOntin-
ued, what's UpT'
she has returned my presents" re-
piled Harrington.
What on earth for?" asked Davis.
looking at his friend curiOusly. i
thought you two young people were
about as much in love as it was posi-
Bile 10 be-"
so We were"
'Werei What's happened?"
"Oh, Issuppose we were both a bit to
blame" said Harrington with a dis
nal laugh. You know 7 have 2 sis
ter who teaches at a school IN York
shireT'
Davis nodded
Well. one of her colleagues, a Miss
Bishop, had to go to London on bust
ness. She felt a bit nervous, never hav-
ing visited London before. and my sis
ter asked me to go up town, meet Miss
Bishop at Kings Cross, and play the
part Of escort. L couldn't very well
get out Of the job. so I went Well, as
Ptccsdiuy in taXicab, who should
pass US but old Cramer. He stood on
the curb glaring after US. Miss Bish-
op is an awfully pretty girl and the
old boy"
He came home and told tales"
He ought to have had more sense.
But hadn't you told Mabel about it?"
she was staying a few days at her
aunts. I didn't write and tell her.
Ia Ta~
know all about 1t when we met. Let
tiers are so easily misunderstood. And
then, when / went round as soon as she
returned from her sunt's-"
There was ructiOn. 1 SUPPOSE
That just describes it. When 1 tried
to explain matters she as good as told
me was 1nventing the story as 1 went
along. ] could see her father had
painted his version Of the affair IN
pretty strong cOlOTs He never fan
cied me as soninlaw- He is one OF
the wealthiest tradesmen in Maysbury
and he always thought Mabel was
ehucking herself away on me-"
Tt doesn't matter a button what he
thinks, said Davis, vigorously. You
don't want to marry him. If you take
my advice, YOU will sit down and write
to Mabel. Just tell her the plain IN
vanished truth and If she is the sort
OF a girl I take her to be-weIl YOU
viii be on better terms than ever in a
day o. two"
But the advice was thrown away up
on Harrington He had always prided
himself upon his word. Lying was such
a despicable thing, and Mabel had as
good as accused him OF that In
stead Of sitting down to write the let
ter, he once again packed up the B'l-
liken and posted it
The next day was like a dream to
Harrington He was at his wits ends
So he returned 10 his desk.
1t was almost nine o'clock when he
closed the book before him with
bang, flung down his pen. and gave a
sigh of relief to think his work was
over. The other clerks had long since
gone home, and with its solitary light
burning, the office was anything but
cheerful
It shan't be sorry to get out Of this"
he muttered, and was about to descend
from his stool when slight noise made
him look round.
Then a startled cry came from his
lipsS which was cut short as some