The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-11-24
LOVES WITCHcRAFT
BY CAROL HAINES.


Sonia was twenty-three, and it had
only been four months since she had
come to New York to dance her beau
tiful Russian dances and make a for
tune. Then one night, as she had been
returning from the theater, her car
had crashed into another and she had
been injured. And, after slow months
of pain, her money had gradually
slipped away, like her new found
friends, until only Title, the little
tlack-eyed East side maid, remained
faithful. Now, to her hands, Sonia
intrusted her last treasure. She had
held it back from sentiment, and yet
she did not know the donor.
1t had come to her the first night
in New York-sent without a card.
The curious gem was rounded on one
side and conceived On the other, some
thing like reducing glass. And it
changed color almost constantly.
Without penny left, she had given
it to Title to dispose Of, and Title
went unwillingly up the stairs into the
shop on the second floor. There was
one other customer bending over
case in dim corner. An old man
came forward slowly and took the
case from her hand.
Where did you get this?" asked
the man, after a pause.
From the lady l work for. She
don't want her name used"
And she wishes to dispose of this;
yes?"
Right away. She amt got any
money for anything. And she'll never
dance again. She broke her ankles,
l guess, and something went wrong
with her back, too, When the car
smashed up. If we don't sell this
she'll be charity case next week Oh,
won't you buy it, please?"
He walked around the cases to
where the other man stood and spoke
in a low but audible tone, for Titles
ears were sharp.
ct has come to US of it's own Volt
ton, prince"
The other took the case and re-
garded the gem in silence, but Tillie
! caught a glimpse of his face. Surely
it was very handsome, she thought,
and the old man had said prince.
1T is the same, is it not, sir?"
The prince bowed his head, looking
at the gem as it lay now in his palm.
Il will purchase it from her. he
said Il will not buy this gem, tell
you mistress, but l will make her a
loan on it, for l have no right to take
advantage of her circumstances, and
it is worth far more than she realizes
! | will give you q check fer five thou
| sand now. II she needs more you will
come back here and tell Stoll what
| you require. That is ALL
Whats your royal highness
name" asked Tillic bravely. Shell
want to know"
He detached a seal charm from {
black silk fob and gave it to her.
You may give this to her in surety
for her gem"
Tillie never forgot the face Of Sonia
Laviloff when she looked upon the
charm
Take it back to him. she ordered
"And the check. might have know
where the gem came from. Wait
Tillie, l will tell you something, TO
you have been kind to me, and my on
friend here. | danced by royal crGe
before the Persian court, and Their
Nas one, Prince Affair Cassam Bey.
Her eyes closed as she spoke softly
You have seen him, so you will no
wonder that l cared for him, but / re
turned to Russia and came straight t
America, fleeing from my own low
for him. Now he has followed me.
cannot accept his charity, tell hin
And the gem is his. He should no
have sent it to me-"
But Tillie, being from the East sid
and wise in her own generation an
hour, went downstairs to the publ
telephone and called up Mr. Stoll. Tt
lie waited in the reception room nerV
ously, but before the street light
flashed in the gathering dusk close
limousine rolled up tC the curb an
the prince alighted.
You did right, little maid" he toll
her, with his rare smile. you sha
choose your own gift at the bridal {
your lady"
Tillie followed him upstairs timidl
and sat on the edge of hall chat
while he went into the little rrivat