St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-26

around the door of a little log cabin,
which had been used by charcoal burn
erS a quarter of a century ago.
1t was a picturesque place, hung with
dark purple cloth, and at table in the
center sat an old woman in violet WraD-
pings, fastened at the throat by the
flash of real diamOnd-an old woman.
whose face was concealed by q violet
velvet hood, and whose black, elf-like
locks Streamed in wild disorder down
her back.
WELL" said she brusQuely as the
Saratoga belle entered her presence,
what seek yOu?"
Il want you to tell my fortune, Nine.
MOrel," said Miss ST. Savin, hesitatingly
laying down bright piece of gold.
1T is easily told,' said that old dame.
Shutfilng a pack of delicately clean
cards, "You have dark-haired lover,
but he is not all your own. You love
OctaYia cOlored and then grew pale.
"There must be some mistake" said
she.
Il never make Mistakes" said Nine.
More Oracularly. go back 10 your
false-hearted cavalier. Tell him he is
villain, and whistle him down the wind.
and this gold piece will be the best in
veStment that you ever made. Enough!
The vail of the future is closed once
more"
Octavia St. Savin went out into the
golden afternoon sunshine dizzy and
Stupefed.
"Well?'' cried Mr.. Durocque, flinging
away his half-SmOked cigar.
at is yonr turn now" said Miss st.
SaVin sVasively, and the male flirt en-
tered the fortune teller'S sanctum with
the careless air of superiority that char
acteriZed most of his movements.
Nine. MOrel had risen by this time,
and stood tall, weird figure, with the
diamond at its throat blazing through
that dim half light of the darkened
place. Mr.. DurOcque threw down
half-eagle.
"Well, old prophecies" said he, jOcu-
lariv, '.Pll trouble you to rattle OFF my
fortune as quickly as practicable, for
there's young lady waiting for me
outside, and my time is precious"
Nine. MOrel'S glittering black eyes
transtiXed him, as it were, with their
SeOrnful ray.
There's but one fortune in store for
villainy," said she, land that is defeatW
Lifting the purple curtain that sepa-
rated the adjoining apartment, she re-
vealed slight, bowed figure sitting
with face buried in its hands.
''FranceScar
Mr.. Durocoue had grown pale as he
recognized his plighted wife.
"Never Francesca 10 you any mOre!"
said the girl, with shudder. "My
heart can brook no divided empire. Go
back to Miss st. Savin. and tell her
what a perilous business it is to WOO
two women at once"
And Mr.. DurOcQue, who had meant
nothing except sub rosa sort of tiirta-
ton. and whose last idea was that of
losing the Madison avenue heiress. crept
out of the Mystic LODGE with no very
enviable feelings.
'But she doesn't really mean It,"
said he. IL can easily make it up with
her when the first blaze of her anger is
over.''
He found. however, that Miss Harper
really did mean it. She never spoke to
him again. And Miss st. Sayin, who
might have been the next best card to
play, flung him Off with equal decision.
'You never told me you were en-
gagged to another young lady," said the
fair UctaVia with spirit.
And pretty little marble drinking
fountain, with crystal cup chained to
its side, marks the spot where once
stood the Mystic lodge"
81 didn't know what else to do with
all the gold pieces l got" said Nine.
Morel.