The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-21
A FORTUNE TOLD
BY VIRGINIA NICHOLS.

A spring sun with early flowers, and
a sky overhead like the deep blue Of q
Delft plate, may be very attractive to
one attuned to the loneliness of nature:
but to a young man with wealth of
love in his heart and a lack Of ready
money in his pocket, the beauty of the
scene, so out of accord with his feel
fngs. comes with a sensation that jars.
He had been revolving the situation
in his mind, had carefully considered
every point Of the question, and the
outlook vas anything but encouraging.
The letter that he held in his hand de-
manded an immediate reply It was
short business note from firm IN
distant city. offering him position at
a very small increase Of salary Ordi-
nariIy he would have despatched the
matter after scarcely a moments &c
liberation. To accept the offer would
mean no appreciate rise in the world,
and II would sever certain cherished
/ associations But that was just the
thing. Was it not the part Of wisdom
to put distance between him and an
object that was unattaiuable2 To see
the woman he loved, to be brought into
almost daily contact with her beauty
and her thousand charms. was simply
to live in a FOOLS paradise.
To know that other men wooed her,
laid their hearts secrets before her,
and at least stood a chance Of winning
/ her. was maddening TO him whose lips
were sealed. How could ne ask her to
share his Iot2 Oh, the bitter irony of
it WHAT had he to offer her but a
heart overflowing with tendeTness2
And could not other men give her that
and wealth besides2
He thought of her wilIowy grace, Of
/ her little white hands. Shielded from
poverty and the sordid side Of life. her
spirit had grown straight and free as
fresh young flower How unsuited
she was to endure priyation- Could he
ask her to give up all that she had been
accustomed to, and endure hardships
/ for his sake? In imagination he could
almost see her dear face losing that
/ look of careless happiness, growing Sc
rious day by day with the cares of life,
/ with anxiety about unwonted details.
He had heard that love gIorined all
| things, but was it not sel1shness even
to think of winning her hearth Per
haps. if he went away. in years to come
he might learn to think of her as only
a gracious memory,
But why torture himself with
| thoughts of the future? AS for the
present, his mind was made up He had
written his letter accepting the posi-
| ton offered him. and his preparations
for departure were concluded. There
was nothing left for him to do but to
bid some of his friends good-by-
He was usnered into the little studio.
where she elected to paint when it suit
ed her fancy, but oftener to receive her
guests of honor as she called them.
This mark of her favor had ben vouch
safed to him before, but there were
others. he knew, who enjoyed the same
privilege
She was sitting near the bay window,
her hands clasped loosely in her lap,
and in her eyes a dreamy expression
which showed that her thoughts were
far away. She rose when she saw him.
and came forward to meet him.
Z am glad you have come" she said
''I think I was about TO give way to one
Of my moods I don't like moody peo-
pie, do your
He looked at her. Could she not guess
that, whatever phase Of her character
might be turned to him, he loved her
aIways2 But they were treading on
dangerous ground. If he would leave
hn4- with E.ic secret still bie own ba
must turn the conversation into other
channels; but when he proceeded to do
IT, it was with a half-heartedness that
was very apparent.
He told her that he was about TO go
away, that he probably would not re-
turn for many years; and he tried to
speak lightly of the many changes that
might occur before they would meet
again. Was it imagination that made
him think she paled slightly at his
words2
Perhaps you viii be married them
he said Wont you promise to send
me your wedding eards?"
She did not seem to be listening to
him rs not this q sudden determi-
nation?" she asked. why are you go
ing?"
She had turned her face away. and