The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-10-12
CHAPTER XIX,
In the Mneic Mirror.

- AAS Ass@sS
When her daughter tainted at the
mention Of the name, Shirley Austin,
Mrs. Martin carried Bertha to the bed,
and tendcrly laid the slight form on
that resting place.
what can it mean?' she asked her.
self.
''What is it, Bertha?" Mrs. Martin
asked, with affectionate solicitude. She
vas kneeling at the bedside. Inc she
ienderly caught her daughters hands
md kissed them as she drew them from
her blushing face. Tell your mother
what it is that distresses you. darling"
Promise not to be angry, mamma"
Bertha pleaded, taking her mothers
hand beteen both her own and softly
pressing her cheek against 1t. II have
lone nothing really wrong, but I can
never find courage to confess all my
foolishness unless o promise me not
TO be angry"
IT PROMISE" Mrs. Martin answered,
gloomily.
The reason I was so overcome, nam
nla when you mentioned his-name is
that love hint"
You love Shirley Austin!" Mrs. Mar
tin echoed, u there was little surprise
in her tone. for she had felt what was
coming, and only wondered that h
could SO long have been blind; for now
that h reflected, she saw plainly that
to any watchful eye Bertha's secret was
an open secret from the first. "You
love Shirley Austin, Bertha? But how
can 1t be possible, child? o never
saw him until the unlucky evening
when we toe him in here to nurse him
back to health. Would he had died on
the doorstep first!" she added, bitterly.
Don't say that, mamma! Oh, you
don't know how dearly I love him! You
think it hopeless love because he was
once engaged to Clarice; and she is so
beautiful! But I can't dare not
think it hopeless. I. would die If I
thought so. No, don't interrupt me,
mother. Listen! 1t is fate itself that
made me love him, and fate will give
him to. me. I must believe that, or I
cannot live.
"But let ME tell you my poor, silly lit
tie story-only don't laugh at me, for
that would break my heart! One day
last spring when Lefty and I were out
walking, we found ourselves, quite by
chance as it seemed (but It was our
fate, as I have always felt ever since)'
in front of a celebrated fortune-teller's
Madam Durand's. We stopped and
read the sign, and just for fun. we
thought we would go in and have our
fortunes told.
.'Something seemed to pull me back,
and, turning about I said: Come, Let
ty, I will have my fortune told. It's
~ryoit{n~ xy1p1or forr mo md TIM OO}nQ.
back to know just what 1t is. Gomez
I hurried back toward the house of the
fortune-teller as If my life depended on
It. and Lefty had to almost run to keep
pace with me. q.
LAS Lefty and I walked into the
room, q heavy silken curtain al the far
thest end was slowly drawn apart, and
beyond it, seated in a magnificent chair
on a raised platform, sat the magician.
like a queen on her throne.
"'And what do O wish to know, my
pretty child?' she said, addressing her
self to me; but why need I ask? All
girls wish to know whom they will mar
ry, and when, and where. But these
questions I cannot always answer.
Sometimes there are clouds upon the
horizon which even my prophetic Vision
fails to pierce. I can only show you
what the mirror chooses1to reveal. One
thing it always reveals, ~however-that
is, the face of the man you love, If he
is already your lover, it will be easy for
you to recognize him; but If he is yet
unknown, he sure you will W forget
his face, and you will know 1t again for
that Of the man who holds your future
destiny, wherever or whenever you may
see it. Lean only show the face to one
of you, young ladies. My fee -, look
ingtin the magic mirror is $500. The lit
tie tribe contributed by both Of you
scarcely amounts to one-fiftieth part Of
that sum; but at first sight Of your
fresh young faces I made up my mind
that you should not be wholly disap-
pointed. Come. now-whose sweet
heart iss to be shown? Yours?'-andd
she nodded her head 1t me----'or yours?
and she turned toward Lefty.
.sshe pushed q small, square seat.
Bhich moved ~onyrollerS WA me,