The Lamar register., 1916-02-23
LOVES WITCHCRAFf
BY CAROL HAINEs.

tiful Russian dances and make Tor
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 Tillie, the little
Dlack-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 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 a penny left, she had given
It to Title to dispose of, and Tillie
went unwilllngly up the stairs into the
shop on the second floor. There was
one other customer bending over a
case in a 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 | work for. She
don't want her name used"
And she wishes to dispose OF this;
yes2"
Right 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. II we don't sell this
she'll be a charity case next week. oh,
won't you buy 1t, please?"
He walked around the cases to
where the other man stood and spoke
in low but audible tone. for Titles
ears were sharp.
1T has come to US OF its 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 gern 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 | will make her a
loan on 1t, for have no right to take
advantage of her circumstances, and
ii is worth far more than she realizes.
will give you a check for five thou
sand now. II she needs more you will
come back here and tell Stoll what
you require. That is ALL
What's your royal highness'
name" asked Tnlie bravely She'll
want to know"
He detached a seal charm from a
black silk fob and gave it to her.
You may give this to her in surety
for her gem"
Title never forgot the face OF Sonia
Laviloff when she looked upon the
charm
Take 1t back to him. she ordered.
And the check. | might have known
where the gem came from. Wait,
Tillie, l will tell you something, for
you have been kind to me. and my one
friend here. l danced by royal order
before the Persian court. and there
was one. Prince Affair Cassam Boy"
Her eyes closed as she spoke softly.
You have seen him, so you will not
wonder that cared for him, but l re-
turned to Russia and came straight to
America. fleeing from my own love
for him. Now he has followed me. 1
cannot accept his charity. tell him
And the gem is his. He should not
have sent 1t to me-"
But Tillie, being from the East side
and wise in her own generation and
hour. went downstairs to the public
telephone and called up Mr. Stoll. Til.
lie waited in the reception room nerv-
ously. but before the street lights
flashed in the gathering dusk closed
limousine rolled up to the curb and
the prince alighted.
You did right, little maid he told
her, with his rare smile. You shall
choose your own gift at the bridal OF
your lady"
Tillie followed him upstairs timidly
and sat on the edge of hall chair
while he went into the little private
room in response to Sonia's faint call
at his rap. The silence seemed filled
with song and beauty and high hopes,
and the tears fell happily from Titles
eyes as she felt herself to be herald
of happiness to her lady. Finally the