Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-09-09
A PEERLESS PALMIST.

Il dislike her." said Roland Keith.
81 dislike her and distrust her."
Il wish" said his wife, you would
get me some more tea. Who Is 1t you
dislike and distrust, dear?"
Mrs. Lorraine" answered Keith, as
he took her cup obedlently. She's
she's-never mind what she is. l wish
to heaven Archie had never seen her.
That's ALL"
Millicent Keith's eyes wandered over
the room and its occupants till they
rested on a woman's face. A face like
a painters day-dream; fair and pale.
and clear as a cameo; beautiful beyond
words, with the artistic beauty Of dead
gold hair, and the marble regularity Of
chiselled features, and the dreamy
glamour of almond-shaped eyes. All!
those eyes-dark as night and soft as
velvet beneath the long sweeping lash
es that overshadowed them. To gaze
into their lustrous depths was good
for no mans peace Of mind.
"She has a lovely face" said Mill
cent, with little sigh, ''and she seems
awfully nice and charming and all the
rest of 1t, but II you say she isn't
good enough for Capt. Lennox, why, OF
course, she isn't. You must know"
The Keiths had been married for two
years, but Millicent still looked up tc
her husband as the best and wisest be-
ing in all the world. Which shows
that she was a wonderful woman-oI
that he was wonderful man.
Keith looked at her and smiled.
Good girl" he said, indulgently
you deserve some more tea."
AS he sauntered across the room to.
ward the teatable everybody looked al
him, not only because he was a very
well-known and even famous man, ano
worthy as such to be looked at on
every occasion, but also because he ha6
a curious faculty of drawing all eyes
to himself and becoming instantly the
central figure Of any group that he
might Join. Yet there was nothing
very remarkable about him. A dark
clean-shaven face, keen, watchful gray
eyes, a quiet, reserved manner, a gen.
eral air Of suppressed power-that was
all.
The men who had gathered rOuno
Mrs. Lorraine's chair gave way at his
approach, and made room for him tc
enter the circle.
Come and join the discussion
Keith" one of them called out. Were
talking about palmistry."
A slight smile crossed Keith's i'm.
passive face.
"Palmistry? he repeated, while his
keen eyes wandered from one to an.
other. Does anybody believe in it?'
Mrs. Lorraine does" answered the
man who had spoken before At leasI
she says she does"
Again that slight smile fitted ovei
Keith's face.
''Is that the weak spot in your armol
OF proof, Mrs. Lorraine?" he asked, IL
his cool. level. tones. Il hardly fancieC
you had one. thought" He brokI
of abruptly.
The woman whom he addressed
raised her eyes and flashed him {
curious look from beneath her darl
lashes. Was 1t fear, or defiance, or /.
strange mingling of both?
What did you think?" she asked.
His eyes hardened as he looked
down at her uplifted face, thrown int
brilliant relief by the sombre back
ground OF the dark plush pillow OIL
which her head rested. He hated he
as she sat there-hated the !ndolen
grace Of her perfectly poised figure
and the haunting beauty OF he
cameo-like face. and the name
less charm that attached itsel
to her lightest word or actor
and was as much a part OF her beinl
as its scent is a part OF the rose. witt
all his heart and soul he hated tn
woman who had won his best friend
love, and whom he felt instinctively I,
be unworthy Of that love.
He answered her question with an
other.
do you believe In palmistry?" h
asked.
Again that eurious look flashed in
to her eyes. but in a moment It was
gone and she was laughing lightly.
How can tell you what believer"
she answered. Sometimes l believe
one thing and sometimes another.
have no fixed creeds. Am / not q
woman2"
The men standing round laughed,
too, but Keith's eyes grew harder. his
face sterner.
"You do believe in IT," he said, with
sulet lnslstence. y am rather good n