The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-10-19


Iisntly lighted by strings of multi
rolored lanterns which the soft
summer breeze tossed gracefully
in the air. The red, blue and yell
low twinkling lights cast mellow, fanci-
ful shadows across the faces of the
people as they walked under the trees
and made gay dashes of color on the
woncn's hats and gowns.
Giles picked his way leisurely over
the velvet turf between rows of daint-
ily appointed tables, where In white
pretty frocks were some of the girls he
knew. indefatigably serving straw
berries and ice cream and cake to the
patrons of the fete. A carriage whirled
suddenly behind him along the drive
way. and he stepped aside to let the
horses dash by. recognizing as he did
SO the naughty raising of the occu-
pants head as she coldly bowed to him.
Her feeble tolerance of him almost de-
cded him to leave the place altogether
but he concluded that such an action
would be conceding her a visible adj
vantage which she would not hesitate
to interpret in way that he had not
intended. At all events. he would not
be required to patrOniZe her booth and
have his palm read. There were other
attraCI1OnS WHICH would SuHlce 10 ul-
vert his thoughts for the while
He stumbled against Dolly Ashton
staying her rush through the aisles of
chattering visitors. with arms gingerly
holding aloft a tray on which reposed
two towers of ice cream.
you're not going?" she cried re-
rroachfully, casting copuettish glances
at him from under her long dark
lashes. There was good-loolting youth
in her wake. summoned to her aid for
the sake of a plate of cake. which he
held away from him as If it We're some
thing to be afraid of. 1t was symbolic
of his attitude toward Dolly.
mo; I've just come" Giles said. with
his slow smile. as a burst of music
rang out on the air from the orchestra
screened from curious gaze by tubs of
pink oleanders.
Pretty nice here. Aren't you making
lots of money for the fund.-"
We'll no." she smiled gayly at him:
1--WE haven't yours yet. | suppose you
will have your ice cream and cake al
my table after you've been to the flower
booth and the pamistry booth. won't
you?"
"Yes--of course" he laughed at her
He moved on idly stopping now and
then to greet passing acquaintances.
His desultory wanderings brought him
finally to the flower booth. where he
pretended an intense interest in sweet
peas and June roses until he found
himself the possessor of ten dollars
worth, and then he returned them to
the young matron in charge, to he sold
again for the object in view He did
not want the flowers and they did want
his money. Giles turned and walked
under the dense LEAKAGE of the beech
trees. where Il Chinese dragon hung
fantastically over Il red-and- white
awning whose entrance was concealed
by thick tnsel-wrought curtain. \
scni-circle of little palms prevented
ono from seeing within under the can
"pN 1t was the palmistry booth. and
in the fat inky letters of the sign he
recognized the facetiousness of Dolly
.\shton-"Hands read (white and blue)
while you wait" it ran in sprawling.
generous characters on a placard which
the red dragon supported in it's mouth
land no extra charge for waiting
For the sake of the fund"-and one |
other reason-Giles determined that he
would go in and hear what the palmist
would tell him before the rush began:
inwardly he experienced IA feeling of ,
malicious delight that she would have |
TO talk to him under the circumstances.
since he was Il mere patron of her |
booth. and. leaving all sentiment aside. |
he would treat her as if he had been |
totally unaware of the frigidity of her |
bow AS he saw her in the driveway. He |
boldly showed the heavy curtain aside |
and stepped into the place. a thin blue |
snok" from Il copper urn occupying jhe |
entire of the apartment filed the air |
'edoently; softly shaded red candles |
darkened the light. and huge Turk
ish divan made high with red silk |
cushions stood against the side. a |
black cat ran toward him and famil- |
arly p,lrred against his knee: it WAS |
er pet.
Giles glanced eagerly around the
oom and was disappointed to find that
ae was alone she had evidently NOT
ad time to reach the place from the
ouse. where the carriage had possibly
deposited her with the other girls in
attendance. He sank onto the couch,
,esitating as to what he should do. A
gorgeous stack of clothes attracted his
gaze in one corner of the divan, and he
'arelessly handled them and decided
nat they We're evidently the costume
If the fortune teller who would pre-
side over the booth. Giles had the pro-
verbal small and dangerous knowledge
VI palmistry; IA sudden whim struck
i'm that he would don those flowing
.arments and employ his art for the
und's cause, and if she came she would
simply think that her place had been
filled because of her delay.
lie deftly drew ON the scarlet slken
kimona, Enthusiastically embroidered with
:il' ,torks, and draped the white tunic
Ner his Iann and head. Since all of his |