New-York tribune., 1898-01-23
ON THE CARDS.

fire. ,
ooh. don't he silly! NUNS fortune IS 'o'd'
Poor mammal"
"Wsu YOU know what 1 mcan-all that's
worth telling. She refused the fair man ana
married the dark one; wasn't very rich and
wasn't very poor-quite poor enough! H"e
shrugged her shoulders and made a dainty
grimacc-aIas. unnamablc. Had two tresoHe
boys and one very nice girl-voila moi
"Who was an incorrigible little nirt and tease.
l suggested bitterly.
'ror uncs 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 a crash IT'S all right mum; I'm only
throwing the cards at Cousin Harry. Her
mother gave a sleepy smile and returned to her
slumbers.
you mustn't blame me if the cards are un-
favorable"
II shall know you've made it up if they are"
II wouldn't dream Of jestng upon such a sub
jcct" assured her. "Fortune-telling follows
certain essential principles, which are immuta-
be and"-
should be practised. not preached. Go on"
ITO start with, then you are the Queen Of
Hearts"
"Wny?'
Because the Queen Of Hearts represents femi-
nine beauty and charm"
"Ohw She leaned back and laughed. IF you
are only going to natter me won't listen"
II merely state a fact. You are the Queen
Of Hearts"
mo I'm not. I'm spades clubs, because
I'm dark"
Excuse me, it IS not a matter merely OF
complexion but of general appearance Spades
represent plain people. diamonds rassable peo-
pie, clubs nce-looking people, and hearts very
nice-looking people. Therefore you the
Queen Of Hearts"
Lots Of people wouldn't consider good
looking at all" Her tone invited contradiction.
"Vory likely not" She flashed indignant
glance at me. But the fortune teller is the
sole judge on these occasions"
Tin glad the fortune-teller is so appreciative
or course I know you're only pretending" She
looked at me for denial. but I busted myself
with the cards "Go on" she cried.
First l shuttle the cards-so Then ! cut
them-so Now l place my hand them-so
You place your hand On top of mine" She did
Now place my other hand top Of yours
so-and you put your other hand on top Of
mine"
Il never heard of this before" said she, doubt
fully. Neither did l, but it had occurred to me
ns Improvement.
Now you must sit quite still and silent for a
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 tellee
en- rapport"
"But We aren't you know. We always quar-
rel-at least you do"
Couldn't I've. just for a minute, Mily?"
didn't mean to speak seriously but did.
She nodded gravely, and sat looking at and
watching the pink color steal her pretty
face. | think it must have been two minutes
that we sat Ike that. during which l forgave
all her little wickednesses.
"There" said l. reluctantly. Nov for the
fortune Cut the cards Milly. The fortune
must be your own making"
You have made me feel quite Serious" said
she with "A nervous little laugh.
1T Is going to be serious fortune" | meant
It to be
"Then-thcn won't you cut too. Harry? To
represent other people? don't like all the
sponsibility Please So / cut too. 1t didn't
matter you see. because looked at the cards
opened fan round the Queen of Hearts. OF
course don't know anything about fortune
telling. really
1.-The disposition Of the cards" said gravely
sindcates many possibilities Of happiness and