The times., 1898-12-04
On the Cards.


.Oh. don't be silly. NUNS fortune is
, tod
Poor mammal"
We'll, you know what ] mean-ali |
that's worth telling. she refused the |
fair man. and married the dark one; |
wasn't rich. and wasn't very roor-q; lite |
poor enough She shrugged her shcul- |
ders and made a dainty gfimace-aias.
unnamab.e. Had two ,ire=ome Toys and |
one very nice girl-voiia mol"
Who was incorrig b c little fiirt and
tease" / suggested, bitterly.
Fortunes don't go into such details |
about secondary persons. even if tey
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. Its all right.
mum, I'm only throwing the cards at
Cousin Harry" Her mother gave
sleepy smile and returned to her slum-
bers.
You mustn't blame me II the cards are
unfarorable."
u shall know you've made it up If they
are
Il wouldn't dream of jesting upon such
subject" 1 assured her. Fortune tell
ing follows certain essential prime pies
which are immutab.e, and
Should be practiced, not preached. Go
on
.'To start with. then, you are the Queen
OF Hearts,
why"
Because the queen of hearts repre-
sents feminine beauty and charm"
"Ohi" She leaned back and laughed
'If you are only going to fiatter me,
won't listen.''
II merely state a fact You are the
Queen of Hearts,
mo, I'm not I'm spades, or clubs.
because I'm dark"
Excuse me; it is not a matter merely
of complexion but of general appearance
Spades represent plain people, diamonds
passabie people. clubs niee-looking peo-
pie. and hearts very nice looking people.
Therefore you are the Queen of
Hearts"
Lots of people wouldn't consider me
good-looking at ALL He tone invited
contradiction.
VERY likely not" She flashed an indig.
nant glance at me. But the fortune
teller is the sole judge on these -occa-
sions.'
Am glad the fortune-teiler is SO ap-
preciative. OF course, / know you re only
pretending She looked at me for de-
nial, but | busted myself with the cards.
go on she cried.
FlTSl, the caruS-SO. tnen L
cut them-so; 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 top of mine
II never heard of this before" said
she, doubtfuIiy. Neither did l. but it had
occurred to me as an improvement.
You must sit quite still and silent for
q full minute
81 know ] shall laugh"
'.Then the fortune will be spoiled"
81 don't believe it's necessary"
Yes, it is-to place the teller and
the teilee en- rapport
But We aren't, you know. We always
ouarrel-at least, you do"
Couldn't we be, just for minute.
Milly?" l didn't mean to speak serious
ly. but / did.
She nodded gravely, and 1 sat locking at
and watching the pink color steal over
her pretty face. think it must have been
two minutes that we sat like that during
which 1 forgave all her little wicked
nesses.
'Therer' said I, reluctantly Now for
the fortune Cut the cards. Miiiy. The
fortune must be your own making
You have made me feel quite serious
said she, with a nervous little laugh
IT is going to be a serious fortune"
! meant it to be.
.'Then-then won't you cut, too, Harry?
To represent other people? l don't like
the responsibility Please,'' SO 1 cut, too.
1t didn't matter. you see because | look
ed at the cards before L put them down
in the shape of an opened fan round the
queen of hearts. OF course. l don't know
anything about fortune telling really.
IT ne disposition of the cards. l said
graveiy, Indicates many possibilities of
happiness and good fortune, if you take
your opportunities, but much is left to
your own decision
What a nuisance, Don't they say how
/ shall decide?" / shook my head.
The hearts near the queen show that
you are and will be much liked and ad-
mired.
Il believe you're making it up
THE three kings next to her indicate
three admirers-perhaps lovers"
whoever can they be-"
The king of clubs, with the other clubs
close by, i take to be a soldier-good-
looking, dashlng, and from the diamonds
in the same line, rot badly off. The hearts
at the end of the line denote that you have
given him some encouragement
I'm sure / haven't" said she, with
some warmth. OF course she knew 1
meant Capt. Richards. The cards are
wrong"
Perhaps they mean that you will do
So, l suggested. inquiringly, but she
twisted up her handkerchief and made no
answer.
The king of diamonds, with spades fol-
lowing. means an elderly suitor who has
prospered in trade. He is shown by the
diamonds. ending with the knave, to have
made fortune and retired, handing over
the business TO his SON. l meant old
Parsely.
II call 1t very unkind of you, Harry"
Her lip dropped little, and FASTENED to
apologize.
.It isn't my doing. It's the cards"
We'll. YOU know it isn't true. It's on
iy-'' she looked over her shoulder to
see that her mother was still asleep
mammals Stiffness. Why, he's as old as
dad and / wouldn't. You know l
wouldn't -
.,rAe cards leave it to you, Milly.''
Don't you believe me2" She looked
quite hurt
.'Of course-if you say So patted her
hard, which was lying on the table, but
she drew il sharply AWAY, and rubbed the
touch off with her handkerchief.
Well? The King of Hearts? What
does he mean?"
l considered a moment. The King of
Hearts, | pronounced slowly. means a
handsome young fellow who paid you a
great deal of attention when you were
staying with the Queen of Clubs, proba-
bly, your aunt"
Il won't listen to another word.'' she
cried, indignantly. ITS nasty, horrid
fortune. ard quite untrue. There.'
VERY well" made as If would sweep
the cards together.
Don't be disagreeable." She looked at