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

"Can you tell fortunes?'' she asked, leaning her elbows on the table and Ehufiing the cards
 "Some peoples. Shall I try your mother's?'' Her mother was dozing in the armchair by the fire.
 "Oh, don't be silly Mum's fortune is told"
 "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 dainty gri- mace-alas, unnamable. Had two tire some boys and one very nice girl-voila moil''
 "Who was an incorrigible little fiirt 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 a 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 a subject, assured her. "For- tune telling follows certain essential principles, which are inn Ia.ltable and'-
 "Should be praotioed, 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"
 "Ohr She leaned back and laughed. eff you are only going to fiatter me, I won't listen."
 "I merely state fact. You are the queen of hearts.
 "No, I'm not. I'm spades or clubs, because I'm 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 consider me good looking at all.n 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 busted myself with the cards. "Go onI' she cried.
 First shuttle the cards-so. Then I cut them-Ao. 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 doubtfulIy. Neither did l, but it had occurred to me as an improvement.
 "Now you must sit quite still and silent for a full minute. "I know 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 t, you know. We al ways quarrel-at least you do." "Couldn't we be just for a minute, Milly?'' didn't mean to speak serious ly, but 1 did.
 She nodded grav'ly, 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 forgave all her lit. tie wickednesses
 "There l'' said l reluctantly. Now for the fortune. Cut the cards, Milly. The fortune must be your own making. ''
 "You have made me feel quite seri- ous, " said she, with @ nervous little laugh.
 Ut is going to be a serious fortune. '' I meant it to be. "Then-then won't you cut, too, Harry? To represent other people? don t like all the responsibility. Please r' 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 don t 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 lett to your oN Ii decision"
 "W hat nuIsante! Don't they say l l.,-. t'"s id.+ ! sh oli urv ht.:,.