Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-02-06
THE TAL|SMAN
By HARRY lie CLAIR.

as sne walked DOWN the street. EVERY
little while she had to take out her
handkerchief to wipe away the stupid
tears that filed her eyes,
How could Richard ever have the
heart to talk to her as he had done
They had been married only a year.
and now he already behaved as II he
were the master and she his slave.
She had never thought that they
would be unkind to one another, but
of course she would not remain ST.
lent when he came home from the Of
flee in bad humor, so her replies were
sharp and biting.
Again she wiped the tears away, for
coming toward her at the next corner
she saw her late mothers friend. her
own godmothr Mrs. Berner.
Come home and have cup OF cot
fee" she said. Mary has just baked
some cakes"
"Oh, l am SO unhappy! Richard
does not love me any more!"
mo, am sure he doesn't, or he
would not talk to me as he does" And
she told about several of their latest
quarrels.
But you are quite sure that you are
not to blame a little bit YOURSELF"
Il know l am not" said Julie with
determination, but of course can
not always be gay and jolly when he
sulks and is unreasonable. There
will be no >happiness for me in lie
any more"
Now. that is nonsense, my dear
am sure your husband loves you as
much as ever. but you are running
your own happiness quarreling over
trifles."
But what do you want me to do?'
4 viii help you, dear said Mrs
Berncr. will send you a talisman.
"A tailisman?"
Yes, here it is" said Mrs. Berner
and handed Julie an old.fashioned
bracelet.
What do you mean when you say
1t is a talisman?"
II will tell you. When | had been
married about year, | too imagined
that my husband did not love me be
cause We sometimes quarreled. Their
my mother gave me this bracelet and
told me to wear 1t always.
Julie thanked her very much. but
put no faith in the bracelet.
When Richard came home for din
uer he had unfortunately brought 8
friend and as the dinner was rather
spoiled, his humor was not the bes1
when he was alone with his wife after
ward.
1t was disgraceful to offer Miller
a dinner like the one you served to
night" he said angrily.
Il am very sorry, Dick, but l Ihal
be very careful not to let 1t harper
again"
One morning few days later whel
Julie entered the dressing room she
found her husband standing at thu
closet looking very much annoyed.
You have not had my gray sui
sent to the tailor to be pressed" h
growled. Why have you not dom
so?"
Because | am not your slave" IN
! lie was about to answer, but again sh'
| remembered the bracelet and alss
that Richard had several times aske'
her to send out the suit, but she hat
thoughtlessly forgotten It.
DO not be angry, Dick. dear" sh'
said, II know it Is q shame that ! hav'
forgotten It, but l shall send 1t to tn
tailor today"
Richard again looked at her, greatl
surprised, but, she pretended not t.
notice 1t.
well, 1t really does not matter 81
very much. dear. Today will do JUS
as we'll"
week later Julie visited her god
mother. She looked as happy as dul
ing her honeymoon and Mrs. Berne
told her so.
We'll, godmother, do feel as II
were having a second honeymoon.
know that Dick loves me as much a
| he ever did
! "And how did you discover that"
1T was the talisman you gave me.
Then 1t has brought you luck:"
Indeed it has. have brought
back, as l do not need 1t any more"
Are you quite sure?'
Quite. ! have discovered it's sc
cret. Julie laughed. "One OF my owl
bracelets will do just rs we'll. now tina
| | know the truth of the old words
A soft answer turneth away wrath
but I thank you all the same, for
was really your talisman that brough
me happiness. "-Chicago American.