Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1913-05-02
THAT CURSED OPAL
X Made Donor Of GIFT Uneasy
When Her Friend DISAPPEARED.
IDy GENE WILSON.

~ GENE WILSON.
NAME was out Of sorts. She felt
Aa4 shs had every . to Be. and
anxsed her wrath accordingly.
The floor walker, at other times
Aer beau ideal Of manly perfection.
ritter casting her . smile Of conds-
oosnding affability which passed nm
noticed. walked on down the aisle n
ressntful establishment Who. pray,
Wa Name, to ignore one Of his stand
hg. and-er-good looksf
a customer. whose station In life
md whose question afforded excellent
opportunity for repartee. received
msrely m absent-minded Two alsles
down." ~ Name stared rosentfuIly
= Besides massive golden pompadour,
which rivaled IN luster the silver she
was selling 1t the wan counter.
And had she not every reason 70 b
tnoensedf II ri the same old story.
vof two years she had gone with Jim.
During that time she had made her
eelf over into the kind Of girl no pro
essssdly admired.
Had she not left on ct least ha1f
bor pufIs at his requestf Had she
net lowered her cherished pompadour
b quite common and unnoticsable d.
msnsionsf Her earrings had been
sacrificed 1t the altar Of love. one By
enc her n~ear-diamond rings had fol
lowed suit, and. last. Oh, browning
grief. her purple hat!
She no longer 1irted with the other
fellows; no more did she feel Il .
nsosssity to 80 out every night Of her
NE. In short, her every habit had
been changed to please this exacting
man.
What had happenedf Two weeks
aeo she had introduced him to her
vsry best lady friend. the girl to
whom she daily laid bare her heart,
- the great discontinue Of custom
efs; 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 che had ceased to be ct Jim's
tequest, and then some, instantly At
tracted that individual's tickle atten-
t1on to the exclusion Of an else.
Would Bessie give mp her Jewels
and pompadour? Not she! She
shone more r~esplendent each day IN
IL things-bitter thought-with
which Jim presented her. Would she
stay 1t home evenings? Jim took her
70 ! new and more attractive place
every day a. soon ~ work was over,
while the deserted Name was hourly
forced to watch the glow Of triumph
IN the eye Of the now despised Bes.
0ie.
At this point IN her reflections she
was interrupted BY q customer who
che was dimly aware. had spoken sew
eral times. She forced herself to pay
attention.
II would like something to give q
little girl Of ten on her birthday. Car
ycu suggest something's" asked the
1oung woman.
Name tore her glance from tho wall
counter and turned it on her wares.
Those hatpins are awfuly swell
% cents!" she remarked.
sShe doesn't wear hatpins yet,
meekiy suggested the would-be pur
chaser.
mo, Of course not" agreed Name
there's those pocketbooks. genuine
german silver. marked from 81. We'rt
selling . lot Of these; and there's
these little opal rings, real opals
ass"
Il think III take one Of the littl,
purses. Opais are 20 dreadfully nm
lucky. you know"
Names interest wal at last awat
ened. In . dase she made out th,
check and handed over the change.
Unlucky, were theyf She cast
baleful glare At the unconscious Bea
sie. which changed to = smile Of pur'
hypocrisy ~ she happened to turl
around.
"Say. Bessie" she called to heY
when do You 30 to lunchf Lett g
together"
Bessie, rather overwhelmed ct thi
peaceful overture after week o
conspicuous snubs. assented with ALAG
Yity. Tho die was cast
!, At lunch they chatted over ever,
Known subject except Jim.
What Are you going to do for
hat this winter. Bessie? I'm afrai,
I've got to wear my last winter
black one.s
II thought I'd get . lavender one
It goes 90 well with my hair. don
you think sol" Bessie replied Il
what seemed to Name snug satisfa<
, tion.
YES" said Name. grftting he
teeth. 'you 60 out 20 much you reall
ought to get = new ona. It's you
birthday next week, isn't It. I'm <
ing to send you Just . little somethin
to show you I'm sorry rye bscn .
cross.
On the morning Of her birthda
Bessie was surprised and much Z,
fected at receiving . little boa CO..
tanning . dainty opal ring from h
loving friend. Mary.
Name was on hand very early Mon
day morning. though she Wa % nsr,