The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-09

taken so completely unaware by &
woman's hand. / wished my bed had
been made up the other way, then
would be directly under the little hand
and could study it, from distance, to be
sure, but more minutely.
The light grew in volume, but not fas;
enough to suit my Impotence. l watch
ed the hand as it hung there, limp and
motionless, with increasing interest |
was fearful every moment it might be
Withdrawn, | sat up in my berth, but
my view was not insufficiently compen-
sated. / tossed my pillow to the other
end Of the berth and changed my posi-
/ ton. A closer view Of the hand showed
me also wee bit of well rounded wrist
/ protruding from black sleeve trimmed
with lace. The hand was a beautiful
one, small. pearly white, and looked as
soft as a baby's. The veins were marked
only the faintest under the most trans
parent skin. The nails we're beautiful,
we'll rounded, daintily kept and polished.
My inquisitiveness would not stop
where the hand left off. was not now
satisfied with the closer inspection | had
obtained, but wanted to know if the
owner of the hand was as comely in per-
son as the little sample had of her led
me to believe was the case. / argued
that such a white skin must belong TO a
fair complexioned lady; Il brunette's
would be creamy in color. /, of course,
wondered how old she was, coul not
see a wrinkle; she must be yoang. Was
she married or single? / never gave
much of my attention to ring fashions,
but knew that young lady was at
least engaged if she wore ring on her
first finger. II gave me Pleasure to know
the ring did not betoken a sweetheart.
Had the ring been placed on the second
finger she must have been n married
lady but then, if married, where was
the plain band wedding ring? 1t was
wanting. The ring being on the third
finger did not argue anything.
l next tried TO recall all that had ever
heard in regard to palmistry. had Civ
en- the matter some little attention years
before and could only recall the cardinal
signs. The hand vas partly closed this
was against me, but by twisting my neck
found the hand was clearly marked
with dainty lines. which | could see but
indistinctly The line that is first consid-
cred is the line running around and en-
circling the base of the thumb, called
the vital line, if remember correctly
The line was Sc marked that it betoken-
ed a good constitution aud fair lease of
life. Its course was nearer the base of
the thumb than is usual, showing her to
be of warm, confding nature firm but
sympathetic.
Some other zines showed love of in
and sound Judgement; 9TH
ers coquettish, roguish nature Others
that she was tender of others feelings
This much found: That | was uncon-
sciously taking as much interest in the
tale of the hand rs if l expected my
own hand to be crossed with silver
piece when had finished the exami-
nation. A few markings in the centre
Of the hand | desired to zee that the /
half light in the apartment did not re-
veal. never knew how it happened, I
but can only remember that was so
earnest in my endeavor to trace out |
those markings that | forgot the hand |
to any one-forgot where WIS,
Or the situation, and turned the hand /
around to the light.