The Van Buren press., 1898-04-23

"Some peoples. Shall l try your
mother's?" Her mother was doing
in the armchair by the fire.
"Oh, dont't be sillyl NUNS fortune
is told"
Poor mammal"
"Well, you know what | 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 a dainty grimaee-
alas! unnamable. Had two tiresome
boys and one very nice girl-voila moi! :
"Nyho was an incorrigible little firt
and tease" suggested, bitterly.
Fortunes don't go into such details
about secondary persons, even if they
happened tobe 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 a sleepy smile and returned to her
slumbers.
"You mustn't blame me if the cards
are unfavorable."
81 shall know you've made it up il
they are"
81 wouldn't dream of testing upon
such subject" Iassured her. Fortune
telling follows certain essential prinei
pies, 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"
"Ohl" she leaned back and laughed
"If you are only going to flatter me
won't listen"
81 merely state a fact. You are the
queen of hearts"
"No, I'm not. I'm spades or clubs, be
cause Pm dark"
Excuse me, it is not a matter mere
~ 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 thu
queen of hearts"
Lots of people wouldn't consider mi
good looking at ALL" Her tone invited
contradiction.
every likely not" She flashed an in
6ignant glance at me. "But the fortune
teller is the sole judge on these oc
casions."
"I'm glad the fortune teller is so ap
preciative. OF course l know you ar,
only pretending" She looked at me TO
denial, but I busted myself with th'
cards. go on" she cried.
First I shuttle the cards-so. Thel
l cut them--so. Now l place my hant
on them-so. You place your hand OF
top Of mine" She did. Nov | plac
my other hand on top of yours-so-
and you put your other hand on top o
| mine"
81 never heard OF this before" salt
| she, doubtfully. Neither did I, but i
had occurred to me as an improvement
"Now you must sit quite still ant
silent for full minute"
81 know I shall laugh
"Then the fortune win be spoiled"
az don't believe it's necessary"
eyes it is-to place the teller ant
tellee en- rapport
"But we aren't. We always quarre
at least you do"
Couldn't we be just for a minute
Milly?" l didn't mean to speak seri
ously, but | did.
She nodded gravely, and sat looking
at and watching the pink color stea
over her pretty face. I think it mus
lave been two minutes that we sat lilI
that, during which I forgave all he
| little Weaknesses.
"There!" said 7, reluctantly, NOV
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 Gttl
laugh.
at is going to be a serious fortune.
! meant it to be.
"Then-then won't you cut too, HaI
ryP To represent other people?
| don't like all the responsibility
Please" So | cut too. 1t didn't matter
YOU see, because | looked at the card
before / put them down in the shape o
an opened fan round the queen o
hearts. OF course, / don't know any
thing about the fortune-telling, really
"The disposition of the cards" said
gravely, Indicates many possibilitie
of happiness and good fortune, if 20
take your opportunities; but much /
| left to your own decision"
"What a nuisance! Don't they sa
how I shall decided" shook my head
"The hearts near the queen shoV
that you are and will be much ad
mired."
81 believe you're making it up"
"The three kings next to her indicat
three perhaps lovers"
"Whoever can they be?"
"The king of clubs with the othe
clubs close by, take to be soldier
good looking, dashing, and, from tn
| diamonds in the same line not badly of
The hearts at the end of the line denot
that you have given him some encoui
agement."
Pm sure I haven't" said she, wit
warmth. of course she knew | mean
| Cant. Richards. THE cards are wrong.
"Perhaps they mean that you will d
so, I said, inquiringly; but she twiste