The Press., 1898-11-24
ON THE CARDS.

"Can you tell fortunes?'' she asked, .eaning her elbows on the table and shuff1ing the cards.
 "Some peoples. Shall try your mother 's?' Her mother was dozing in the armchair by the fire.
 "Oh, don t be sillyl Mum 8 fortune is told J
 "Poor mammal
 "Well, you know what I mean-all that's worth telling. She refused the fair man and married the dark one wasn't very rich and wasn't very poor quite poor enough!" She shrugged her shoulders and made a dainty gri- mace-alas, unnamable. Had two tire some boys and one very nice girl-voila moi!'
 "Who was an incorrigible little flirt and tease, suggested bitterly.
 Fortunes don't go into such details about secondary persons. even if they happened to be true, which they aren t.. ;
 ''Oh, yes, they do.
 "Since you know so much about it, you can tell mine. '' She scattered the cards toward me with crash. "It's all right, mum; I'm only throwing the cards at Cousin Harry" Her mother gave sleepy smile and returned to her slumbers.
 "You mustn't blame me if the cards are unfavorable. ''
 ''I shall know you've made it up if they are.
 II wouldn't dream of testing upon such subject, assured her. "For- tune telling follows certain essential principles, which are imlaSltable and ''-
 "Should be practiced, not preached. Go on"
 'To start with, then, you are the queen of hearts D
 "Why?"
 Because the queen of hearts repre- sents feminine beauty and charm.
 "OhP She leaned back and laughed. elf you are only going to flatter me, won't listen. :"
 'I merely state fact. You are the queen of hearts. y
 "No, I'm not. I'm spades or clubs because Pm dark.
 Excuse me, it is not a matter mere- ly of complexion, but of general appear ance. Spades represent plain people, diamonds passable people, clubs nice looking people and hearts very nice looking people Therefore you are the queen of hearts. ;
 Lots of people wouldn't t consider me good looking at all.'' Her tone invited contradiction.
 'Very likely not" She flashed an indignant glance at me- But the for tune teller is the sole judge on these oc- casions. :
 "I'm glad the fortune teller is SO ap- preciative. Of course I know you Ire only pretending She looked at me for denial. Lut l busied myself with the cards. ''Go on!' she cried.
 First l shuffle the cards-so. Then I cut them-eo Now place my hand on them-so. You place your hand on top of mine. :" She did. ''Now place my other hand on top of yours-so- and you put your other hand on top of mine.
 "I never heard of this before, '' said she doubtfully. Neither did l, but it had occurred to me as an improvement.
 "Now you must sit quite still and silent for full minute. ''
 ''I know I shall laugh.'
 ''Then the fortune will be spoiled
 ''I don't believe it's necessary.
 ''Yes, it is-to place the teller and the tellee en rapport.
 "But we aren't, you know. We all ways quarrel-at least you do.
 "'Couldn't we be just for minute, Milly?" l didn't mean to speak serious ly, but l did.
 She nodded gravsly, and sat looking at and watching the pink color steal over her pretty face. l think it must have been two minutes that we sat like that, during which I forgave all her lit. | tie wickednesses.
 tThere F said 1 reluctantly. "Now for the fortune. Cut the cards, Milly. The fortune must be your own making. 2
 "You have made me feel quite seri- ous, ' said she, with nervous little laugh.
 It is going to be a serious fortune. '' l meant 1t to be-
 ''Then-then won't you cut, too, Harry? To represent other people? ] don like all the responsibility. Please v' So cut too. It didn't matter, you see, because looked at the cards before put them down in the shape of an opened fan round the queen of hearts. Of course 1 don know anything about fortune telling really.
 "The disposition of the cards ,'' said gravely, indicates many possibilities of happiness and good fortune, if you take your opportunities, but much is left to your oNn decision.
 "W hat nulsanee! Don't they say | l,.,-- l-os id,> l Sh nll my hp:,.