The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-06-01
ON THE CARDS.

leaning her elbows ON the table and
shutting the cards.
''Some peoples. Shall I try your
mother's?" Her mother was doing in
the armchair by the fire.
"Oh, don't be silly Mum 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
moip'
"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 Its 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.
II shall know you've made it up if
they are. 4"
Il wouldn't dream of testing upon
such a subject, assured her. For
tune telling follows certain essential
principles, which are immutable 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.
"Oh!" She leaned back and laughed.
eff you are only going to flatter me,
won't listen"
Il 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" 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 &C.
casions "
I'm glad the fortune teller is so APP
preciative. OF course l know you re
only pretending" She looked at me for
denial, but busted myself with the
cards. go on = she cried.
First shuttle the cards-so. Then
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 on top of
mine
u never heard of this before, said
she doubtfully. Neither did /, but it
had occurred to me as an improvement.
Nov you must sit quite still and
silent for full minute.
Il know shall laugh"
"Then the fortune will be spoiled.
81 don't believe it's necessary. +"
Eyes, it is-to place the teller and
the tellee en- rapport.
"But we aren't, you know. We al
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 gravely, and l 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.
"Therel' said | reluctantly. "Now
for the fortune. Cut the cards, Milly.
The fortune must be your own making"
"You have made me feel quite seri-
Gus, " said she, with nervous little
laugh.
1t 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 { like all the responsibility. Pleased"
So cut too. 1t didn't matter, you see,
because looked at the cards before l
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.
1.-The disposition of the cards" said
gravely, indicates many possibilities
of happiness and good fortune, il you
take your opportunities, but much is
left to your own decision.
What a nuisancel Don't they say
how shall decide?" / shook my head.
1.-The hearts near the queen show that
you are and will be much liked and ad-
mired. T"
81 believe you're making it up.
1.-THE three kings next to her indicate
thraa oI,pirarc ,o~k.re 1o.yors