The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-10-07
THE ARTISTS STORY.

artist, "a fortune teller showed me the
image of my wife two years before /
ever saw her in the flesh and thou
sands of miles from the place / first
met her."
"You are the last man in the world
whose mind 1 would think obscured
by the clouds of mysticism, replied
the rich Mrs. Austyn, his friend and
patron. "You have never shown any
patience with the charlatans who pre-
tend to expose and expound the Sc
crets that n wise Providence has or
dained we should not fathom. And
yet you are taxing our credulity with
a statement that would be marvellous
if true"
81 must insist upon my veracity in
this instance" smiled the artist.
snow don't stop to argue, mamma"
urged tho elder of the Austyn girls.
"There is story in this, and after
Mr.. Robeley has told it You can re-
claim him from the darkness of his
superstitions and air your theories.
Now do tell us all about it ;"and three
pretty sisters sighed their curiosity in
chorus.
"Just so, you don't ask me to ex-
,>Io;r so;d tba art;at NTH n nni11iool
look. 81 shall give you the remark
able facts and leave you to wrestle
with them. Eight years ago 1 was in
Paris pursuing my studies, and lived
the life of Bohemian from choice,
rather than from necessity. We fell
lows held the responsibilities of life
very lightly and laughed at all human
phenomena that would not yield to
the test OF materialism. I was chief
among the scoffers, and found bare
faced fraud in everything from clair
voyancy to the piercing of the future
through the medium of tea grounds.
''Then as now occasionally broke
entirely away from my usual sur
rounnings and was one day sauntering
alone through Rue de Bouges. As 1
passed one OF the most pretentious
houses / was startled by scream for
help and dashed through the open
doorway to find woman battling with
flames that with great leaps and fash
es were consuming the white draper
les of what struck me as consecrated
altar out of place. Our combined
efforts soon mastered the incipient
coufagration. As the woman anoint-
ed my hands with some soothing To-
ton saw that she was as dark as a
gypsy. Her hair rippled back from
her forehead in waves of blue black,
her eyes were brilliant in the same
deep coloring, and her strong, even
teeth suggested polished ivory. She
was an amazon in size, yet the sweep
ing curves of beauty were such as to
fascinate the artist while her motions
we're supple and graceful as those of Q
tiger.
You are gentleman, ant
there is but one way in which
can offer return for your services,
she said as l turned to leave. Hel
voice was soft as the notes of n lut'
and her accent gave unsuspectet
charms to my mother tongue. Il wa
born of royal blood in India
Through study of the sacred Veda
and the pure doctrine of Karma / ut
tanned the power of divination. You
, people would classify me among for
tune tellers; but am poles apart iron
the vulgar humbugs that trade upol
ignorance and superstitution. Prom
ise you will come tomorrow. 10
am upset by this accident. Then
will be both your historian and you
prophet. shall count on you
m'seur.
'Though mentally sneered at tn
woman's pretensions and lay awak
half the night assuring myself this
would never seek her out, was 9
her door ten minutes before the az
pointed time next day. I will nc
describe the Inner Temple of N.Y.
teries' to which she conducted m,
but in the weird effect Of its hanging
mirrors, grotesque carvings and mytl
ical symbols it challenged the mo-
hardened skeptioism. Throwing I'll
white light OF golden lamp upon m
face with powerful reflector, 81
generalized upon my past life a. AZ
shrewd judge Of human nature migl
do Then suddenly knitting her bro'