The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-02-18
ON THE CARDS,

Can you tell fortunes?" she asked,
ling the cards.
Some peoples. Shall I try your moth
er's?' Her mother was doing in the
armchair by the fire.
''Oh. don't be silly! NUNS fortune is
told"
"Poor mamma!'
| 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 Shout
ders and made dainty grimace-alas! I'M
namable. Had two tiresome boys and
one very nice girl-voila moi!'
WHO was an incorrigible little fiirt and
! tease" l suggested bitterly.
Fortunes don't go into such details
about secondary persons. even if they hap
pened to be true, which they AREN'T
"Oh, yes, they do
'Since you know so much about it, you
can tell mne.'' She scattered the cards
! toward me with a crash. Its all right,
num- mum; I'm only, throwing the cards at
| sleepy smile, and returned to her slum-
| bers.
You mustn't blame me if the cards are
unfayorable.''
Il shall know you've made it up if they
| are. y
II wouldn't dream Of jesting upon such !
| a subject l assured her. "FOrtune-tell-
| ing follows certain essential principles.
which are immutable and''-
Should be practiced, not preached.
Go on
ITO start with, then, you are the
Queen of Hearts,
"Why?"
Because the Queen of Hearts repre-
sents feminine beauty and charm
"Ohw she leaned back and laughed.
| IF you are. only going to f1atter me
Il merely state fact. You are the
! cause I'm dark"
'EXcuse me, it is not matter merely
| of complexion but of general appearance.
Spades represent plain people, diamonds
passa BILE people, clubs nice-looking people
and hearts very nice-looking people:
fefr efs you Deo a5s nens c of
good-looking at ALL Her tone invited
! contradiction.
every likely not" She flashed an in
dignant glance at me. But the fortune
teller is the sole judge on these occa
sions.''
'I'm glad the fortune-teller is so apprc-
ciatiye: Of course, know you're only
| pretending She looked at me for de-
NAL, but l busted myself with the cards
"Go on!' she cried.
First. shuttle the cards-so Then l
cut them-so: Now l place my hand on
mine" She did: "Now place my other
| hand on top of yours-so-and you put
| your other hand on top of mine.''
Il never heard Of this BEFORE said
she, doubtfully. Neither did I, but it had
| occurred to me as an improvement.
tent for full minute"
Il know l shall laugh
'Then the fortune will be spoiled"
Il don't believe it's necessary"
Yes, it is-to place the teller and the
tellee Ell rapport
"But we aren't, you know. We always
quarrel lat least, you do
"Couldn't we be, just for minute,
Milly" ! didn't mean to speak serious
ly, but did.
She nodded gravely, and I 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 l forgave all her little wick
edness.
"There!' said 1, reluctantly. "Now
for the fortune. Cut the cards, Milly.
The fortune must be your own making"
You have made me feel quite Serious
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?
10 represent other people? l don't like
all the responsibility. Pleaser' So I
cut, too. 1t didn't matter, you see, be-
cause l looked at the cards before 1 put
them down in the shape of an opened
tan round the Queen of Hearts. OF
tune-teling, really.
The disposition of the cards. l said
gravely, Indicates many possibilities of
happiness and good fortune, if you take
your opportunities, but much is left to
your own decision.''
ho "Wha to3 9 9uisan Sc Don't they say
1.-The hearts near the queen show that
mired." ~ '>'
Il believe you're making it up'
|, The three kings, next. to her Indicate
three admirers-perhaps lovers
Whoever can they be?''
clubs close by: [ take to be soldier
good looking, dashing, and, from the dia-
monds in the same line, not badly off. The
hearts at the end of the line denote that
you have given him some announcement.
Pm sure I haven't" said she with
some warmth G OF course, she knew I
meant Capt richards. 1.-THE cards are
wrong"
.Perhaps they mean that you will do
so,' suggested, inquiringly; but she
twisted up her handkerchief and made no
answer.
The King of Diamonds, with spades
following, means an elderly sutton who
the diamonds, ending with the knave, to
nave made fortune and retired, handing
over the business to his son. I meant
old Parsley.
Il call it very unkind of you, Harry"
Her lip dropped little, and 1 fastened
to apologize.
~. 1T isn't my doing: It's the cards."
.".Well, you know it isn't true. It's on
ly''-she looked over her shoulder to see
that her mother was still asleep
mammals Stiffness. Why, he's as old as
dad, and l wouldn't. You know |
wouldn't"
1.-The cards leave it to you, Milly."
quite hurt.
"Of course-if you say So" 1 patted
her hand, which was lying on the table,
but she drew it sharply away and rubbed
the TOUGH off with her handkerchief.
doo W that The i King of Hearts? What
I considered a moment. 1.-THE King of
handsome young fellow who paid you a
great deal of attention when you were
staying with the Queen of Clubs, dark
relative-probably Your aunt
II won't listen to another word!' she
cried, Indignantly. Its nasty, horrid
fortune, and quite untrue. There!'
VERY WE'LL l made as if + would.
sweep the cards together.
"Don't be disagreeable.'' She looked
at me responsibility, with one of her
Kaleidoscope changes. II want to hear
tiny proper fortune-not nonsense
"Well. isn't this .true?"
mo. it isn't"
ton \. e a. -.
Young Jephsons