Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-11-11
73se
cWagic Wand
By ALDEN CHAPMAN

As summer boarder Marcus Dale
was general fsvorite. He was about
| twenty-five years Of age and rather
| pale and delicate looking, bat that,
the Mortons understood, was due TO
nervous breakdown from overstudy.
They say he is going TO become
great lawyer and is very rich." Mrs.
Morton told her nearest neighbor.
| Wanda Bruce.
Wanda had noticed the young man
when he arrived. He took to the Nor
ton children. and these latter invited
over the Bruce brood of five, who came
back TO Wanda with marvellous stories.
Honest, Wanda" declared her
brother Willis, "he made balloon out
OF tissue paper that went clean up out
Of sight!
YES" added little Idalia. excitedly,
and he'll go up to q tree and say,
Give me some chocolates. Mr.. Tree
and they'll fall right of into his hand"
And he picks gum drops off of
blackberry bushes" affirmed wonder
eyed little Martha.
Wanda smiled, pleased and admiring
this stranger who was willing to de-
vote his time TO entertaining the chill
dren. 1t showed good, kind heart,
and one day when this amateur magi-
clan and lover of children came DASH
ing through a downpour of rain, lit
tie one in each arm, Wanda saw him
close at hand for the first time and
realized how manly and handsome he
was.
After that, Marcus Dale divided his
time between the two houses. Wanda
hoped that with the garnering of the
crops her father would see his way
clear to provide her with a new pretty
summer suit like Alma Trevor wore.
There was spice of Jealous rivalry in
this conception, for Alma had made q
determined set at the handsome stran-
ger, although he did not seek particu-
larry to notice her.
81 am anxious TO have you do some
thing for me. Miss Bruce" spoke Dale
one day. 81 have always dabbled in
an amateurish way with so-called
magic. and my ordinary tricks of leger-
domain have so fascinated the little
ones that | have sent to the city for
my parlOr outfit in that line, and /
want you to gather in all the juveniles
in reach and give them a party. !
will provide for the ice/cream and the
like and we will try to give the tots
The time of their lives"
Wanda liked that "we" and diligent-
ly carried out her part Of the program.
Some older folks came to the enter
tainment and were as pleased as the
little ones. Dale made quite a pro-
gram with his magic wand" He lured
numberless rabbits from an empty
bag, made cake IN q silk hat, found
dozen eggs In the clothing OF little
Willis, turned stick of firewood into
a bewildering pot of roses, and caught
shower of bright, pretty toys. appar-
emily falling through the air from no.
where
Little Willis got possession of the
magic wand later, and amused them
all by trying to bring sweetmeats from
trees and doves from all kinds of
places. 1t was about q week later
when Wanda's father, who had driven
to the county seat on business. re-
turned, bringing into the house long,
deep pasteboard box. He had picked
1t up on the road, where it had doubt
less fallen from some touring autOmo-
bile.
you take charge Of it. Wanda" he
said. 'Tt seems to be some kind of
feminine fiummery;" In which he was
correct, for when Wanda opened the
box there was revealed a complete
bridal trousseau. She sighed as she
wondered If the time would come
when she could glow and gladden. over
like finery of her own. Mr.. Bruce had
sent word to the county seat Of his
find and doubted not that the owner
Of the box would sooner or later ap-
pear.
One afternoon all the folks had gone
away from the house except little VIII
lis and Wanda. Willis was amusing
himself with ribbon-decorated wand
Dale had made for him. Wanda had
given way to temptation she could
not resist She had brought the trous-
seau outfit down to the sitting room,
where there was large mirror, had
donned the attire and was surveying
herself at full length when, unnoticed
by her, Mr.. Dale came into the hall.
"Why, hello, Willisl" he hailed, in
p c III fal oil
working away with the magic wand?
I'm afraid / have put lot of nonsense
in that bright little head of yours"
II tapped the chicken coop with 1t
this morning" Wanted Willis, land
four rats ran ont. See me! Appear!
Appear" shouted the little NEGRO
mancer. Shaping the door with his
wand and repeating the summons he
had heard Dale employ when conjur-
ing material presentations from odd
places. ooh, see-it's fairy!"
AS the door went open there was the
blushing, beautiful Wanda, fairly
caught in the wiles Of her folly. Her
loneliness exaggerated. the dainty
vanitIes of dress and decoration fairly
electrified Dale.
willis, my boy" he said, with an
emotion that thrilled Wanda. you
have evoked the most beautiful crea-
ton the magic wand ever summoned"
and coming forward, he took Wanda's
hand, drew her to his side and said.
simply, but ardently:
Wanda, ! love you'll"