The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-10-06
ON THE CARDS.

mother's?' Her mother was DOING
in the armchair by. the fire.
"Oh, DON'T be silly! Nuns fortune
is told"
"Poor mammal"
"Well, you know what 1 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 grimace-
alas! unnamable. Had two tiresome
boys and one very nice girl-voila mol
"Who was an incorrigible little fiirt
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
ooh, yes, they do"
"Since you know so much about it.
YOU can tell mine." She scattered the
cards toward me with a 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 il
they are"
II wouldn't dream of testing upon
sucha subject" Iassured her. Fortune
telling follows certain essential princi-
pies, 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.
"If you are only going to fiatter me
won't listen"
81 merely state fact. You are the
queen of hearts"
mo, I'm not. I'm spades or clubs, be-
cause I'm dark
Excuse me, it is not 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.
every likely not" She flashed an in
Gignant glance at me. "But the fortune
teller is the sole judge on these &C.
casions."
''I'm glad the fortune teller is so ap-
preciative. OF course know you are
only pretending" She looked at me for
denial, but busted myself with the
cards. go on" she cried.
First I shuttle the cards-so. Then
I cut them--so. Now place my hand
on them-so. You place your hand on
top of mine" She did. snow I place
my other hand on top of yours-so-
and you put your other hand on top of
mine"
II never heard of this before" said
she, doubtfully. Neither did I, but it
had occurred to me as an improvement.
"Now you must sit quite still and
silent for full minute" -
II know shall laugh" {
'Then the fortune will be spoiled"
II don't believe it's necessary"
eyes it is--to place the teller and
tellec en- rapport"
'But we aren't. We always quarrel
at least you do"
Couldn't we be just for minute,
Alilly?" I didn't mean to. speak seri-
ously, but l did.
She nodded gravely, and sat looking
at and watching the pink color steal
over her pretty face. 1 think it must
Lave been two minutes that we sat like
that, during which I forgave all her
little wiclednesses
"There!" said I, reluctantly. "Now
for the fortune. Cut the cards, Milly.
The fortune must beyour own making .
"You have made me feel quite seri-
ous," 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, Har-
ry? To represent other people? 1
don't like all the responsibility.
Please" So cut too. Itdidn't matter,
you see, because looked at the cards
before put them down in the shape of
an opened fan round the queen of
hearts. Of course, / don't know any,
thing about the fortune-telling, really.
"The disposition of the cards." said,
gravely, indicates many possibilities
of happiness and good fortune, if you
take your opportunities; but much is
left to your own decision"
what a nuisance! Don't they say
how shall decide?" shook my head.
"The hearts near the queen show
that you are and will be much ad-
mired."
Il believe you're making it up"
THE three kings next to her indicate
three admirers-perhaps lovers"
Whoever can they be?''
'The king of clubs with the other
clubs close by, l take to be soldier
good looking, dashing, and, from the
diamonds in the same line not badly off.
The hearts at the end of the line denote
that you have given him some encour-
agement."
Pm sure I haven't" said she, with
warmth. OF course she knew meant
Capt. Richards. "The cards are wrong. +"
Perhaps they mean that you will do
So" | said, inquiringly; but she twisted
up her handkerchief and made no an
swer.
The king of diamonds. with spades
following, means an elderly sutton who
has prospered in trade. He is shown
BY the diamonds, ending with the