The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-02-28
THAT CURSED OPAL
Il Made Donor Of Gift Uneasy
When Her Friend Disappeared.
BY GENE WILSON,.

Wnen neC rT1cIlU UISdppedJ Gu
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 conde.
scending afability which passed un.
noticed, walked on down the aisle in
resentful establishment. Who, pray,
was Name, to ignore one Of his stand.
ing. and-er-good looks?
A customer, whose station in life
and whose question afforded excellent
| opportunity for repartee, received
merely an absent-minded 1.-TWO aisles
down." az Name stared resentfully
at 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 wal 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 of at least halt
her pufs at his request? Had she
not lowered her cherished pompado>r
to quite common and unnoticeable d.
mansions? Her earrings had been
sacrificed at the altar Of love. one by
one her near-diamond rings had fol-
lowed suit, and, last, oh, GROWING
grief. her purple hat!
She no longer hirted with the other
fellows; no more did she feel It q
necessity to 80 out every night Of her
life. In short, her every habit had
been changed to please this exacting
man. IL.
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.
10 the great discontinue Of custom
ers: the one, In short. whom, next to
Jim, she most loved and trusted.
What wa 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 she! 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 a new and more attractive place
every day az soon Al work was over
while the deserted Name was hourly
forced to watch the glow Of triumph
In the eye Of the now despised Bes-
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
attention.
II would like something to give a
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.
90 cents!" she remarked.
"She doesn't wear hatpins yet"
meekly suggested the would-be pur-
chaser.
mo, Of course not" agreed Name.
There's those po~cketbooks, genuine
german silver, marked from 81. We're
selling a lot Of these: and there's
these little opal rings. real opals,
$4.ss."
Il think I'll take one of the little
purses. Opals are SO d~readfully 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 a
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 60
together"
Bessie, rather overwhelmed at this
peaceful overture after a week Of
conspicuous snubs. assented with alac.
rity. The die was cast.
At lunch they chatted over every
known subject except Jim.
What are you going to do for a
hat this winter, Bessie? I'm afraid
I've got to wear my last winters
black one"
Il thought I'd get a lavender one.
It goes sc we'll with my hair. don't
you think SOL" Bessie replied in
what seemed to Name snug satisfac-
Ition.
EYES," said Name, gritting her
teeth, you go put 50 much you really
ought to get q new one. It's your
birthday next week, isn't 1t. I'm 60
ing to send you Just . little something
to show you I'm sorry I've been so
NNo~ov @t .Ey