Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-02-20
THAT CURSED OPAL
II Made Donor Of Gift Uneasy
When Her Friend Disappeared.
BY GENE WILSON.

Name was out OF sorts. She felt
that she had every reason to be, and
nursed her wrath accordingly.
The floor walker, at other times
her beau ideal Of manly perfection,
after casting her a smile of condo
scending affability which passed I'M
noticed, walked on down the aisle in
resentful establishment Who, pray,
was Name, to ignore one OF his stand
ing, and-er-good looks?
customer, whose station in life
and whose question afforded excellent
opportunity for repartee, received
merely an absentminded Two aisles
down." as Name stared resentfully
ut Bessie's massive golden pompadour,
which rivaled in luster the silver she
was selling at the wall counter.
And had she not every reason to be
incensed? It was the same old story.
For two years she had gone with Jim.
During that time she had made her
self over into the kind of girl he pro
fessedly admired.
Had she not left on at least half
her puffs at his request? Had she
not lowered her cherished pompadour
to quite common and unnoticeable d.
mansions? Her earrings had been
sacrificed at the altar of love, one by
one her neardiamond rings had fol-
lowed suit, and. last, oh, GROWING
grief, her purple hiatt
She no longer fiirted with the other
fellows; no more did she feel It a
necessity to go out every night of her
life. In short, her every habit had
been changed to please this exacting
man.
What had happened? Two weeks
ago she had introduced him to her
very best lady friend, the girl to
whom she daily laid bare her heart,
TO the great discontinue of custom
ers; the one, in short, whom, next to
Jim, she most loved and trusted.
What was the result? Bessie, who
was and who gloried in being all the
things she had ceased to be at Jim's
request, and then some. instantly at
tracted that individuals tickle atten-
ton to the exclusion Of all else.
Would Bessie give up her jewels
and pompadour? Not shel She
shone more resplendent each day in
the things-bitter thought-with |
which Jim presented her. Would she |
stay at home evenings! Jim took her |
to new and more attractive place |
every day as soon as work was over,
while the deserted Name was hourly |
forced to watch the glow of triumph |
In the eye of the now despised Bees
sic.
At this point IN her reflections she |
was interrupted by a customer who, |
she was dimly aware, had spoken sew |
eral times. She forced herself to pay |
Il would like something to give
little girl Of ten on her birthday. Can
you suggest something?" asked the
young woman.
Name tore her glance from the wall
counter and turned 1t on her wares.
Those hatpins are awfuly swell,
9S centsi" she remarked.
"She doesn't wear hatpins yet"
ihSOhAJ ou66OoIOu Ihc WOulu-Oc puI~
chaser.
mo, Of course not" agreed Name.
There's those pocketbooks, genuine
german silver, marked from 81. We're
selling a lot Of these; and there's
these little opal rings, real opals,
s49S."
81 think I'll take one of the little
purses. Opals are so dreadfully un-
lucky, you know"
Names interest was at last awak-
ened In a .daze she made out the |
check and handed over the change.
Unlucky, were they? She cast
baleful glare at the unconscious Bes-
sic, which changed to a smile of pure
hypocrisy as she happened to turn
around
Say, Bessie" she called to her.
when do you go to lunch? Let's go
together"
Bessie, rather overwhelmed at this
peaceful overture after a week of
snubs. assented with alac-
'ity. The die was cast
At lunch they chatted over every :
Known subject except Jim. l,
What are you going to do for ,
lat this winter, Bessie? I'm afraid
we got to wear my last winters ,
black one"
Il thought I'd get a lavender one. :
I goes 80 well with my hair, don't
'ou think so?" Bessie replied in
What seemed TO Name snug satisfac-
ion.
Yes" said Name, gritting her
eeth. you go out 80 much you really
'ught to get new one. It's your
birthday next week. isn't 1t. I'm go Z
ng to send you Just little something 4
o show you I'm sorry I've been SO I