The Washington herald., 1915-09-30
LOVES WITCHCRAF
By CAROL HAINES.

The little curio shop vas on the uptown
| side of the street. Sonia had said. about
| five doors west of the elevated. She had
| looked so beautiful and fragile lying on
the hospital bed. Tillie thought sorrow
| fully 1t made no difference how little
cash might be on hand. every morning
| Tillie went up to see her to make sure
| she was cared for and tended properly
and find out if she wanted any errands
done
You dear, silly old Tillie." she had
said tcnderly. her arms claspcd back of
| her head, '.you can't do anything for me.
I'll be here months. they say. and even
| then I'll never be abe to dance any
| more"
Don't you care. Miss Sonia, Tillie had
said stoutly. There's lots of folks
| whose souls have to limp on crutches all
, their earthly lives. and yours has
wings"
Sonia would be. silent. but smile that
| rare smile Of hers that fairly stole the
heart of You. She was %. and II had
+. oaIy been four months since she had
come to New York to dance her beautiful
! Russian dances and make fortune
| Then one hight. as she had been return
ing from the theater, her car had crashed
, into another and she had been injured.
And, after slow months o; pain.
| her money had gradually slipped away,
like her new found friends. until only
| Tilie. the little black-eyed East Side
maid remained faithful. Now, to her
| hands, Sonia intrusted her last treasure
She had held ii back from sentiment. and
yet she did not know the doIcr.
1t had come to her the first eight in
New York-sert without a card III bou-
quet of aardenias, heavy with fragrance
Often she loved to open the ivory vel
vet case. with its corners o. god. anc
look at the curious gem. 1t Was rounded
on one side and conceived nu the other.
something like reducing glass And It
changed color almost Consistently. IL was
q superstition, of course. :rJi SJnia came
to fancy that on the days Win she was
happy the gem was clear and rose tinted,
brilliant and perfect, but whra she was
unhappy or i'll il ,.lOuded and duilcc into
a pearl .cne, deeper and deeper like twi-
light.
Without penny LETT. she had given It
to Tiliie to dispose OF. and Tiiiie went
unwilliagly un the steep. narrow stairs OF
the old-fashioned building into the shop
on the second floor. There was one oth-
er customer bending over case IN aim
corner. At desk In the back sat all old
man. working with delicate tools at
hand-chased bracelet. He came forward
slowly and took the case from her hand.
Il want to sell it. said Tiliie IN ner
most business-like way.
Where did you get this?". asked the
man, after a pause.
From the lady ] work for. She don't
want her name used
He walked around the cases to where
the other man stood and spoke In low
but audile tone, for Titles ears were
sharp.
1T has come to US Of its own volition.
prince"
The other took the case and regarded
the gem In silence, but Tillie canght a
glimpse of his face. Surely 1t was very
handsome. she thought. and the old man
had said prince. Titles East Side heart
began to dutter excitedly. Her voice
trempled when he came to her ana aues-
toned her In his deep rich voice. as
courtly and kind as could be. But stiii
she was stubborn. No. she would not tel,
the isdy's name. She was sick. ana u
was not right
And she wishes to dispose OF this.
yesy'
Fright away. She amt got any money
for anything And she'll never dance
again. She broke her ankles. ! guess.
and something went wrong with her
back. too. when the car smashed up