The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-06-11

| wltn0uG Gnem. This troubled me; / pre-
ferred to keep my mittens on, and found
myself hiding my hands in my lap as
much as l could. He managed to get Ernest
to pass him a good many things, and scru-
tinized his hands carefully as he did so. 1
was glad when supper was over and l
escaped to the drawing room. The doc
tors earnest Investigations oppressed me.
But there vas no getting very far away
from him; he followed me, n l saw his
face light up as he noticed the piano.
"You sing, Miss Fox, l am sure" he said.
"Win you not give us the pleasure?"
So have brought only two songs" l
stammered, land 1 have already sung
them"
at don't believe any one will notice if
you repeat one; please do"
81 would much ~ But here Mr.. Welsh
came up to say that they were getting up
| a game of "person and thing" would we
play? I consented only too readily, and
the doctor was bafled once more.
OF course, as was unavoidable in Stoke
bourne, there was always a super
abundance of ladies at parties, but this
fact was never openly admitted. The
subject was scrupulously avoided, and on
occasions when "person n thing" was
the game selected, it was carried out quite
as though there had been an equal supply
of both sexes. Gentleman and lady always
went out together, and when every GENTLE
man had had his turn, some one suggested
that the amusement should be changed.
L OuCo d always given w ohO "
ladies or more honored guests, SO l was
not at all surprised to find myself passed
over. To be sure, I should nave liked to
AVE gone out with Ernest, but there was
always a sort of innate modesty in Stoke
bourne with regard to engaged couples,
and I had feared a tete-a-tete with the
doctor.
Ernest yawned ali the way home and
pronounced himself fearfully bored. In
dutiful sympathy I also tried to imagine
-axr.,l - H,f O4tr1lnf Hnnf fhinHirnn
of DIR. Brownies expressive face, and
wondering what was passing through his
mind. Ernest's thoughts were evidently
much on the same track.
"And the worst of all, Trixy,o he mutt
tered, twas that confounded doctor, with
his sharp eyes forever taking stock of your
paws. Can't make it out. His are nothing
to boast Of"
The winter wore on. I had a great many
letters from Ernest and wrote q great
many to him. He was getting on splen-
didly, he said. and wrote enthusiastically
about next summer.
My father was fond of scientific sub
jects, and had struck up quite a friendship
come over to our house in the evening and
have a chat n a smoke. l rarely saw him
unless I happened to come across him as
he passed in or out; he sat in the study
with my father. One evening, however, l
had to go in about the weekly tradesmen's
books, and found the doctor there. I had
not known he was in the house, or perhaps
should not nave ventured near the study.
"Sit down, Trixy, said my father. CDR.
Browne has been telling me most interest
sure you would like to hear them also"
Iobeyed, and soon forgot my dread of
the man in listening to his grave sweet
voice as he simply explained many things
hitherto unknown to me. There was a fas-
c~ination about him. ! watched the large,
L Gr.. r,Dt,fh 1aopAcot oync ond Shnrf rnr0-
jecting nose, and could not find the face SO
plain as I had imagined it. He rambled on
and on; 1 sank dow into the recesses OF
the armchair before the fire listening with
eyes off him. Electricity rave way to
other subjects, all equally interesting, and
all equally well understood by the doctor,
it would appear.
"They are curiously superstitious and
yet Intelligent people," he said of the
Egyptians. 81 have picked up many
strange things from them. Do you know
anything of palmistry, Mr.. Fox?"
Ny father shook his head and l felt my
self getting hot.
tinued. "There are certain points con-
nected with character to which common
credence is given. 1t is generally q
mitted that there are hands whom no one
should trust"
He dropped his voice and his eye-lids as
he spoke, but I felt that he was looking al
me, and l hid my own hands hurriedly
under my apron.
My father rose and went to the book.
case and took down a packet of pamphlets
"There's something about it in one Of
these" he said. "I've mad it for years."
"There are a great many systems" re.
sumed the Doctor. "They vary much il
the details, but in the main believe then
to be the same"
My father stretched out his hand towards
him smiling.
"Can you tell me anything about that?'
he asked.
sits rather old and worn for character
replied DIR. Browne, "and you surely have
no need of a gypsy. AT your age, ont
would say your fortune was made"
"Come, Trixy," exclaimed my father
'let us hear the sage expound. Put on
your hands,"
"Miss Fox will suit my purpose to per.
f~ection,n said the Doctor, bowling with
old bachelor, I believe, to interest himsel
in the future welfare of young people
about to take an important step in life. AT
any rate, it is a special fad of mine. The
sympathy of hands-y0u understand Mr.
My father did not understand; he was
totally ignorant of the subject.
81 fancy few people would agree with
me-" continued Doctor Browne, but
firmly believe that a wider knowledge o.
Nv IUu "ohio DO VI v LII
At the same time, ignorance of these sign!
saves the dread of approaching unhappi'
ness; for there always must be a want Of
sympathy between people when there ex'
lists an utter dissimilarity in the funda.
mental formation of their hands. 1t is my
hobby" turning towards me with a grave
smile. 81 fear I annoyed Mr.. Crofts thu
first time we met. 1t was indiscreet, 1 ad'
NIT; but you were the onlyengaged people
present, were you not?"
ua ctrofchoA nrf hiS hand fo roooir,
mine for inspection. 1 drew back.
NONSENSE" said my father; and I wa.
obliged to obey.
DIR. Browne took my hBnd. His was
firm, strong hand, rather feshy; a some
what clumsy hand to look at, though tn,
ticed a few things about mine; then sud
denly, with a start, let it drop, rose ant
walked towards the bookcase.
cts rather an ordinary hand" he STAN
mered; "there isn't much to say. And it,
getting late, l think; must be of. Coco
night" He took his hat and was rome.
!, / was terribly troubled that night. TIL
only conclusion 1 could arrive at was tina
the false land he spoke of was mine; tina
he had suspected it from the beginning
and was now convinced of it. + could ge
} no rest; 1 was miserable. Towards morn
: ing 1 sneaked down. to the study, and seiz
} ing the packet of pamphlets, few up
, stairs again.
Duh L COulu mdko uOUnluS OIL bQo mdGGeI
I studied my hand carefully, according t
: the instructions given, but found nothin
5 that should have caused the Doctor t
3 start. My failure made me more wretche
| still.
Several days passed without my seein
! DR.. Browne. l was glad, for 1 somewha
resented what 1 imagined to be his unfai
3 judgment. But one dull afternoon as
. entered our back gate and was proceedin
t across the garden, I ran against him leav
/ l to- kha 1o,.o o~,~4 b ---, -
/, with a bow and an exchange of "good even
t ings," but he detained me.
, "Miss Fox" he said, 81 frightened yo
the other night; let me explain myself"
r "Smooth down the fact as much as yo
s will, you a nevertheless tacitly admit
: ted the existence of an odious characters
t tic in me-"