The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-01-15

"Do You bslisys Il it,e


~ don't know, - 10 answered doubtful.
", II never had opportunity Of Judging. =
"Then III read your hand"
"whatl Your"
"Yes, really" she replied, podding her
pretty head. eve been studying 1t; books
and all that sort Of thing, you know.
Come over by the light"
He rose and followed her to the corner,
where softly shaded lamp diffused
mellow glow Outside the wind was
bowling bitterly, but an old fashioned
wood fire blazed comfortably in an old
fashioned CRATE, for this was am old fash
Toned house.
He had never noticed how round and
white her arms were until the loose sleeve
fell back when she took his hand. The
touch of her cool fingers thrilled him.
II thought SO, she began. "You are a
dreamer, and you do not want the world to
find 1t out. It's been rather hard life in
some ways You haven't always had all
that you wanted. 4"
He shaded his eyes with his other hand
and rested his elbow on the table. "Safe
observation" he remarked.
For the tiniest part of a second ha gazed
into pair Of reproachful brown eyes.
Don't chaff, please, p" she said. II can't
do anything If you do"
: IAN right. little GIRL" he responded,
half caressingly. go on"
"Your palm Is elastic. That shows
hopeful nature and a strong one. Your
lines are deep. You will get the full of
liying-in suffering and Joy"
Tho piano sounded softly in the next
room. Her sister was playing-half to
herself and half to her father, who sat
nodding In the library.
The mount Of Jupiter is well devel-
oped," she went on. "That means pride,
ambition, desire for power--not a snob-
bish pride, you know, but that which will
not let you stoop to baseness."
He smiled to himself. She was reading
him very well.
Saturn Is rather weak I'm afraid
you're not very fond of quiet or study.
Yet you have an ideal of home which
you have not yet found. Apollo Is good.
You like music, pictures, books. Religion
appeals to you from the standpoint Of the
scnses-it's the stained glass windows,
the organ and the vested choir with you,
not the doctrine" e
How we'll you know meP' he began.
But she paid no heed to the interruption.
The girl in the next room drifted In the
opening bars Of the "Serenade. 1t sound
ed like some faroff melody.
lyon like money, but not SO we'll as
you do some other things. Books and pic
lures and travel and your own way ooIhe
first" He colored and her lips twitched
temptingly.
"This is Mars. You know there are two
mounts Of Mars. This one under Mercury
means passive courage, self control resig
nation and strength of resistance against
wrong. The other one over by your thumb
means temper. I'm glad to see that it is
less prominent than this" She looked up
at him with an adorable mischievousness
that made him feel queer tightening
around his heart q
Here's Luna down here. This means
romance, ideality, imagination and Inys-
ticism. If it swells here it means rover
cnce for-well for tho eternal womanly.'
That's the best part Of you. You want to
put woman on pedestal and keep her
there"
The bcwildering sweetness of the "Serc-
made" sounded dimly through his con-
sciousness and mingled with the breath Of
the rOses-his roses-on her breast.
"You are sympathetic and charitable,
generous to fault. Friendship means
much to you All, know that!' she said
to herself. "But this line of heart It's
too far down in your hand. Feeling is
your court of first and last appeal. See
how deep 1t lies. How it dominates your
hand! There's marriage line, too-only
one-theres only one woman in the whole
world for you"
The lamp flickered. at must need fill
ing" she said. II must hurry or II be
loft in darkness"
Woven In with the "Serenade" her voice
vibrated on his heartstrings-now merry,
now serious, now so wholly sweet and
tender that'it sounded like the vision Of
Schubert in tho room beyond.
"She will DO all the world to you, she
said wistfully. There will be no room
for your old friend then. That ideal home
you have dreamed of will be yours and
hers" Her eyes rested full upon his, and
almost in whisper she added, at is not
far away
For moment he searched her face in
tently, but the lamp was almost out now.
Then something that he saw there gave
him courage, and he slipped swiftly out Of
his chair and knelt beside her, taking dar-
ing possession Of her.
as that little home to be truly mine?"
no whispered. "Ah, sweetheart Don't
you know
Pale and frightened, she tried to slip
away from him, but he held her fast.
"Oh, no, mol" she cried, half sobbing.
please, darlingn' He tried to draw
her down to him, but she resisted, and he
wisely waited for her to come to him.
Cant we go on just as we were, " she
ycntured, friends and all thatY You will
find some one else for-the other-but no
such friend as | !"
There's no going on, DEAR" he said
gently. This is the parting of the ways.
There is only one woman in the whole
wide world-and the little homer Why,
my life, it wouldn't be home without
you, don't you know"
The roses were scattered on the floor
among their drifted petals, and even in
the shadow she saw his face, tense with
appeal His arms were drawing her closer
The lamp flickered and went out She
could feel his heart throbbng against her
She fancied sho could hear it too. The
"Serenade' was almost finished now, and
thoroughly humble in her surrender, yet
wholly womanly, she bent down and
kissed him in the dark. New York Truth