The Somerset reporter., 1897-04-08
LEADING HEARTS.

IA disapl ointment connected with
something near your heart, aud-let me
see!'
She turned the cards up mcditatively
on the shining oak table and put heI
hands to her head in pretty affectation
of wisdom.
"That means love, " laying her finger
on the five of hearts, eternal love-the
love of some woman. 1t looks like an
old friend, and she runs in hearts,
think. Yes, she is quite light Can you
place herr"
"As far as the coloring goes, " he
laughed. Il know any number of light
women-yoursclf, for instance. "
ooh, I'm not in it! My hair is toe
yellow. This one is more Of the demi.
blond; something like Miss Maitland
bronze hair and blue eyes "
My dear girl, Miss Maitland ism a
blond at all. If you can't do better than
that for me, I'll throw up the whole
concern.
She smiled and ran off a few more
a professional manner.
"Well, if it's not Miss Maitland, E"
shaking her head, you will have to fill
in the name yourself. There is the ace
of spades. That's bad luck and a death
and Oh, there's your wish Have you
made a WISH"
He shook his head. "You didn't tell
me- "
well, l tell you now. Make it right
away, and good one, toe, for believe
it's going to come true. "
But, . he protested, leaning forward
and resting his arms on the table, eff
make such an important one | want a
guarantee. Are you prepared to give it
to mo?a
Don't be absurd, Jack; this is seri.
GUS. Now, wish something good. "
Must l tell you what it is?'
"No, doubtfully. you don't have
to, but you can if you want to, "
"Well-I will tell you if | get it.
Now, mind, this is very important "
"Select three cards then. Does it con-
Germ won4in"
eyes.
~ might have known it. Is she light
Or dark
"That would be telling"
ooh, you are too proyoking!" petu-
lantly picking up the cards 1T would
serve yen right if | said you didn't get
your old wish at all.
But you won't do that"
GGI2, etil1 | will - 80, Io4 1.o
of my hands Seel You are making me
drop all the cards "
NONSENSE III help you pick them
up. Just tell me if l get my wish. F."
"Well, III see. There's that ten of
diamonds, and the deuce, and-ah, the
ace of heartsl You will have it, sure,
but there is a little disappointment just
at first Isee-dear me, jack What are
you doing? Let 90 my hands. "
"Not until you have given me guar
antee for my wish. ="
"What do you mean?"
81 mean-oh, well, you have known
it all along. You are my wish. No, no,
don tmo1e. Come, dear, be serious with
me Ter once.
But | don't want to be serious, " she
cried, trying to draw away from him.
"You have spoiled all my fortune.
Look! Here | see IA gift coming"
''What do | care for the cards or any
thing else i'll the world but you? Come,
Nell! Give me an answer You must
have some feeling of kindness i'll your
heart for NE, your old friend.
"That's it, " she Whispered faltering-
ly, for the first time letting her eyes
meet his. 1--WE are such old friends. 1
have known you all my life--I -" rub
bling her hand ON the table ncrvously,
81 am fonder of you than almost any
one, but how can tell ii that is love?
Jack, dear, can't we go on i'll the old
way? | don't want to marry. Her fin
gers closed pleadingly. Why should we
spoil it all by getting married.
He made a quick, impatient gesture
"Oh yes know il is different with
men, but would be contented to live
on just as we are for years. Why, seel
We would never know what it was to
tire of each other. We would not have
all the romance brushed off our love by
the monotonous intimacy Of married
life. We would have all of the delight
with none of the despair | don know
why marriage should be regarded as the
height and pinnacle of earthly bliss, 1t
seems to me it is the one great institu-
ton that destroys love y
She gave a restless sigh and let her
chin sink into the soft palms of her
hands. Tie pink light from the lamp
tel upon her yellow hair where it lay
III babyish rings on her forehead.
He stood looking at her a moment
his heart smothcred with pain and long
ing and love hen he leaned slowly
forward and took both her hands from
her face and held them in the firm clasp
of his.
"Nell. DEAR" he said softly, "you
talk this way because you don't know
what love is Why, do you suppose for
q moment that mere pleasant compan-
ionship would satisfy man who loved
you? He would be only half a man to
accept what you suggested As for me,
l cannot go on with our friendship.
will not take crust when | have asked
for bread You cannot help it, dear, and
! must drop out of your life and live my
own as best | may.
He dropped her hands, and, turning
away, began to finger mechanically the