Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-22
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
The Potency of POtairo
Nv SADIE STULL

"Jane Emma Lane, what De you
loIn In thet rubbish heap ,,,s
lane Emma Strengthened up so SUD
lsnly she almost dropped her precious
sY "You threw Potaro away" she ac-
nIsed with quivering lips.
bid heather has disfggered tn ,parl0r
0mantel since yer Granfather Jareds
That's why I loved him-why be-
leved in him. -
sular form disappeared from the porch:
II moment later her tart voice reminded
from the kitchen: Them peas ain't
|shelled yet an it's nigh 10 o'clock !!
Jane Emma gave Potario's ugly bronze
yisage a final rub with corner of her
|apron. Then. with a quaint little obei'
sance she placed the ancient idol atop
The gatepost. The incongruity OF IT
made her laugh aloud.
From the temples of Isis and Osiris to
presiding oracle of Aunt James prlm
cry!
As she surveyed the effect from the
porch steps Jane Emma laughed again
this time more softly. The spell the
strange talisman had cast over her since
early childhood seemed more potent
than usual this bright June morning.
As though touched by flower magi-
clans wand Aunt James prize holly
hooks became queenly iris bordering the
sluggish Nile. The rattle of the peas in
he brightly secured pan seemed tho
echo of tnkling cymbals, while above
the weird strains of Egyptian music
sounded n voice of beloved memory
Superstition and Jared Lane never
parcel O slIck-tongued natives spun
their good luck yarn about Potairo.
Though one o. the lesser gods they
vowed he wus a mighty powerful one.
pertickly in affairs O. tn heart
chuckle invariably punctuated the old
salts narrative at this juncture. "Ye
see there was a mighty important ques-
ton I wus goin' ter ask certain lass
when we reached tn homo port--so I
up an shipped the queer little cuss-
st their own price,
Dear, anxious lover of the past! His
important question had been answered
favorably The threads woven BY love
were pure gold and remained unbroken
10 the long journeys end.
The dream shadows deepened in Jane
Emma's winsome brown eyes. Would
per own budding romance fare as hap.
ply? Slower and slower the peas
Cropped into the pan. At length the
nlmhlc fingers proved wholly truant to
passcd-then the sonorous voice OF the
old town clock shattered the golden day
dream simultaneously sounded the
monk of an approaching motorcar. AS
huSillltC DtSstu tllp Lane COHtdEt WIN
more or less frequency, Jane Emma did
not even look up.
honk-honk-honk''
Jane Emma realized this particular
norm was being blown to attract her
attention
A big black touring car had stopped
arectly in front of the gate. Its occu-
pant handsome woman Just past mid
ee age, beckoncd to Jane Emma. In
ner haste to respond the latter nearly
upset the pan Of peas.
MY dear. how came you by this an
clent idol?"
The voice was the sweetest and sad
Gest Jane Emma had ever heard. 1t
impressed her even more deeply than
ne strangers somber dress. 1t inspired
er TO tell Potairo's story as she had
PeVer told 1t before.
Like some rare mosaic she pieced to-
fether bits of her dream journeys to the
tle @ gods far country-Cap'n Jarcd's
Plugged romance--Aunt James unbelicf
Anu hcr own romantic faith.
When she had finished there was a
Geni'nicent light In her listeners eyes
uat hanShed years from their pain
fhadowed depths
My dear I was reared mid Just such
sarroundtngs, That's why your idol in.
antIy caught my eye In my girlhood
;"n!e was "A very similar one which my
oear sailor father brought from n far
Eastern port, Despite scoffing relatives
REGARDED i in the same romantic light
you DO fotairo-"
k,snner m her eager interest Jane Emma
Tpbod close to the big car.
koiti"S. iad1y smiled as she concluded
asT NY faith was richly rewarded
thero now now pray yours may be! All, is
~ some one already"
Emmo, elltaIe color deepened in Jane
Ehe haG cheekS, Ere she was aware,
fT sr "Sd boa confded to this kindly stranger
h0non,e" n,e"rt most guarded secret the
bor By, ntLle romance of which Neigh
~ 'tr wayne was the hero.
mist hi' vs. tWenty-siH, you say?" The
band on U'uS e, eyes rested on the mourning
n" 80 @n inc chauffcur's arm. Just the
Sy s. my own dear boy -
souId' d''nething net in Jane Emmas throat
mnmTs,not not let hcr speak She turned
ker dof, TO the garden. In a thrice
bouoIot, llngers gathered wonderful
bgisten me most delicate blossoms all
Tbo with the morning dew.
rrant me rare smile with which her fra
Janc EpIlns was received gladdened
Ear a+i'lnaS heart long after the big
bone 'u slued away from her humble
kespitcc ec" so the evening shadows brought
Tam from household duties, she stole
lve o,,oor T." nor faVorite garden retreat-to
1t EN- seo,, me scene OF the morning
ler hTeouued even more wonderful un.
pultc c moon S siivery sheen. And then
hing baa"nncnly still more wonderful
NegbIhe me sound of familiar step and
nonthss sscouraged Peter of the last few
Whom e., put tho eager, carefree lad TO
With sts had first given her heart
ne aovane INC old teasing laugh he shook
'aaen boughs above her head,