Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-03-19
like glass before them. They see into his
very soul. They look : gilt through him."

very soul. They OOH 7 gilt through him."
ssIf the lady who founded the family hAb-
posed. with a scientific air. that's not 20
remarkable; for fortune-teliers must always
be quick-witted people. keen to perceive
the changes OF conntenance in the dupes
who employ them. and prompt at humor-
ing all the fads and fancies oftheir custom
ers. mustn't they?"
.sQuite so," the Colonel echoed you've
hit it on the nail. And this particular lady
-Esmeralda, they called her, SO hat
Elma, which is short for Esmeralda, un-
derstand. has come to be the regular
Christian name among all her woman des-
cendants-this particular lady belonged to
what you might call a caste or priestly
family, as it were, of hereditary fortune
~tellers, every one Of those ancestors had
been specially selected for generations for
tie work, till o kind OF t~rans,Missible
mesmeric habit got developed among them.
And they do say the Colonel went on,
lowering his voice a little more to a conf
Dental whisper, that all the girls descend
ed from Madame Esineralda--- Lady Ewes
OF Charlwood, as she was in England---re-
tain to this day another still odder and an
cannier mark of their peculiar origin; but
of course it's a story that would be
hard to substantiate, though I've heard it
discussed more than once among the friends
of the family
Dear ne! What's that9s the manager
asked, in a tone of marked curiosity.
"Why they do say. the Colonel went on,
now fairly launched upon a piece of after
dinner gossip. that the Eastern snake
dance Of Madame Esmeralda's people is
hereditary even still among the women of
the family, and that. sooner or later, it
breaks out unexpectedly in every one of
them When the fit comes on. they shut
themselves up in their own rooms, I've
been told, and twirl round and cound for
1y..u, -, ,,.-- ~ -vxA L.. -
thing they can get in their hands to repre-
sent a serpent, till they fall exhausted with
the hysterical effort. Even if a woman
OF Esmeralda's blood escapes it at
all other times, it's sure to break
out when she first sees a real live snake;
or falls in love for the first time. Then
the dormant instincts Of the race come over
her with a rush, at the very dawn o
womanhood, all quickened and aroused,
~ it were, in the general awakening"
That's very curious" the manager said,
leaning back in his chair in turn, and twirl-
ing his thumbs, Every curious indeed; and
yet, in its way, very probable, very prob
able. For habits like those must set them
selves deep in the very core of the system,
don't you think, Colonel Ifthis woman,
now, was descended from a whole line of
ancestresses who had all been trained for
their work into a sort of ecstatic fervor. e
&c stasy and all that went with it must h e
got so deeply ingrained-'
II beg your pardon" the Colonel inter
rupted, consulting his watch and Selling
his hat, hastily-:or, as a kelmscott, he re-
fused point-blank to be lectured-"I'ye an
appointment Mt my club at half-past three,
and | must not wait any longer. Well.
you'll get these young mems address fori
me. then, at the very earliest possible OPP
p%ortunity?"
The manager pocketed the snuh, and
bowed farewell. "Oh, certainly" he an
swered, trying to look as pleased and
gracious as his features would permit.
"Our confidential clerk will hunt them up
Immediately. We're delighted TO be OF use
to you. Good-mornlng. good-morning."
And as soon as the Coionel's back was
turned. the manager rang twice on his
sharPlittle bell for the confidential clerk to
receive his orders.
Mr.. Montague hewitt Immediately pre-
sented hin.selfi in answer to the summons.
NJ hewitt" the manages said. with "a
dry, small cough, here's u bit OF business OF
the most domestic kind--strict seal of Sc
crecy; not a word on any %scconnt. Colonel
kelmscott of Tilgate a to ~ where
two young men, named Guy and Cyril
Warning, keep their banking account, if
any; and, as soon as he knows, he wishes
to pay in a substantial sum, quite privately,
to their credit"
Mr.. Montague hewitt bowed a bow ofas-
sent. without the iaintest sign Of passing
recognition. Guy and Cyril Warning he
repeatcd to himself, looking close at the
SCRAP OF paper his chief had handed him;
"Guy and Cyril Waring. Staple Inn, Hol-
born. | can find out today, Sir, il you at
tach any special and pressing Importance
to promptitude in the matter
-M