Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-07-22
THEFORTUNE TELLER

"Da-w
''Oh papa, pfui. how can you?"
The old high bailir Of Krohn pushed
away the pretty little hand that bis
eldest daughter sought to place over
his mouth
NO" he said. II will not keep quiet
! repeat that the whole custom of send
ing New Years cards is a d-n bad
one. and 1t is time to put an end to 1t.
What are the results of such nonsensef
First. 1 get my mail bag later than
usual, and, secondly, il is crammed so
full with the stupid stuff that l can
hardly get it open?'
At length the old gentleman's efforts
were rewarded, the bag sprang open,
and he emptied its contents with i'm.
patience on the breakfast table.
To Fra ulein Katharine Won Krohn,
ne read. My God! are they all
for you. Kathinka:"
Don't be so unbearable, papa. and
please don't call me Kathinka."
The old gentleman replied to his
daughters request with an uninteIligi
Bile growl and went on drinking his cof
fee.
'Just look what lot there are for
me!' cried Katharine, piling the letters
upon the table in front of her and her
face lighting up with pleasure.
Are they all for you?"
Yes. all. Now you can see what 1t is
to be known as beauty"
And an heiress," added the father.
Yes, and an heiress, she repeated.
thoughtfully.
But is there nothing there for my lit
tie Lili?' asked her father.
Katharina shrugged her shapely
shoulders impatiently.
.'Why, Of course not. If girl ex-
poets to be shown much attention she
must be n little more pushing and i'm
pOrtant"
And an heiress. too" was the faith
er's laconic addition to the sentence.
Il really should be very grateful.
father, II you would not allude so much
To my money" was the rather curt pro-
test
Il can't help 1t Iatharina, when see
my little Lii here. as beautiful as the
Hover that gave her the name. and
well she is not an heiress, do you un-
derstand? That's the whole thing"
katbariHa made no answer She
was busily studying the handwriting
on the envelopes.
A young girl who had hitherto sat op-
posite Ia ler ia silence left her seat.
went up to the high bailiff, and putting
her fair young arms round his neck,
gave him a kiss.
4 world Of love shoHe in his eyes is
he looked at her with pleasure and
stroked her soft cheeks
Never mind. Lili," he said, slowly,
81 am glad that you don't get such a
pile of letters. I'm grateful, too, that
you're not an hefress. Perhaps then
no one will take you away from me-"
Tears came into the girls eyes, for,
though she said no word, yet the
thought that no one had remembered
her or cared enough for her to send her
a New Years card made her sad But
she forced herself not to cry and tried
to conceal the few tears that would
not be kept back by kissing her father
again lovingly on the eyes and lips.
The high bailiff of Krohn. the father
of these two girls, had married twice
His first wife, Il lovely, proud, but vain,
woman. died soon after the birth of n
little daughter, and left her the whole
Of a large fortune. His second wife.
the daughter of a country clergyman.
brought him no wealth but a sweet and
beautiful disposition. When she, too,
died after two years married life he
felt overwhelmed and had never since |
wholly recovered from the blow
Katharine. the elder Of the stepchil- |
children, had just finished her twen- |
tieth year, and, as she was as proud, |
pretty. and just as vain as her mother,
had already laughed a many proposals
,Ui ne'a nhIi'i-auu money. no one nau
80 far been able To take her fancy.
LII was in almost every respect the
opposite of h sister. Small Of figure,
quiet and retiring, 1t happened that she
was often entirely overlooked 1t GER
tainiy was not right of father to love
Me daughter more than another.
Still he did so. and II was plain to
everybody that II WAS the soft, sweet,
patient Lii who was his fnvOrite.
1t made Katharine feel annoyed to
Bee her father so gentle and afrectionate
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