The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-10
WHAT THE HAND SAID.
BY MIRIAM CRUTSCHANK.


 As hostess Mrs. Mccormick was a success.
 passed into the great unknown. nearly eight years before my story com mences, leaving behind him the only two things that eYer' crept into ms heart-hIs young wife and his millions Mrs. Mccormick had socially re!gned in L. supreme.
 L. was a college town-old, se- date, select. To have belonged there for generations was guarantee or re- spectability; to be new was ddmnatlon. Society was as its forbears had made it-then came Mrs. Mccormick.
 Old akJe had started life as black smith; later he made millions i'll oil. Mrs. Mccormick never told her family history. She was young, pretty. rich and widow; who could ask more! The patriarchs of L. looked on her coming with indifference; one day they awoke to find her their bright particular star. Her dinners were tri- umphs in the culinary art, her decora- tions were perfection, wall-fowers were unknown at her dances, ana happy the fraternity tea or college ball that secured her as a patroness.
 Today was one of her Saturday functions to which the elite of L. was bidden and gladly came. and, de- spite pouring rain, the rooms were filed Mrs. Mccormick, fair. gracious smiling, moved from group to group and then paused near the dorway where a tall man was standing ab- sently watching the bright scene.
 50 you did come. after all?" she said, giving him her hand for the hriefcst possible moment. Ut was very good of you.
 Yes. and now am going to claim my reward: let me talk to you for few minutes" She laughed as she sinks down on a small sofa and draws her skirts aside to make room for him. Just five minutes. then: I am due for you?'
 Tell me the attraction, Recitation, Spiritualsm. Theosophy, Punch and Judy or what2"
 Nonsense" says Mrs. Mccormick, coloring: "only palmistry."
 Only palmistry!" he repeats. "Well?'
 For a moment there is silence and the woman is watching him under her long lashes keenly. Most women like John Radnor and Mrs. Mccormick Is very much of a woman. Every detail of an old story that had gone the rounds of L. just after her coming is clear in her mind, and She is won dering just how much of it is true. John Radnor hardly looks like man disappointed in love--blighted-a wo- man. hater. as some people say he lis. True. he is 3S and unmarried. The hair on his temples is very gray and there are deep lines about the stern mouth that can soften wonderfully at times. Mrs Mccormick has. however, little faith in the one-love theory, still less in village gossip. She Is reused by Radnor repeated his last word and plunges In without more ado.
 Do you remember the Comptons? thought so," as Radnor makes ges- ture of assent You know the son got into some trouble, disgraced him self. and the blow killed Professor Compton. The family moved out Wes: somewhere and we all lost sight of them"
 She paused and again watched him | narrowly. Again Radnor makes the same assenting gesture, his face ex- | presses polite interest that is all. and | she goes on: well, to make long story short heard by the merest chance that Mrs | Compton and the daughter were back | here, supporting themselves by coach ing boys for the Preparatory School; they were always popular with the faculty, you know. I went to see them and discovered that Adele was a good amateur palmist; indeed. she Is a veritable little witch. I persuaded her | for a conSider-9t tion of course to come here this afternoon and read palms. '
 Indeed. this is very interesting. but palmistry-don't you think it is little absurd?"
 Mrs Mccormick laughed and there was a world of relief in that laugh. Sunday "STGN OF THE LAST CHl