Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-09-10
A Queen Of PaImistry.

There was a church fair in the old
skating rink and half the town OF
Highland was in attendance. Seem
ingly not a chance to swell the treas
ury of tho society had been over
looked, and tempting maidens, with
rosy cheeks, were everywhere hypno-
tizing the male portion of the audi
ence into taking chances" on every
thing, from a baby-cab to "the hand
soonest man in the house."
In a remote and darkened corner OF
the great building, a large placard
announced in large, flaring letters that
Madame Forenselli, the queen of
palmistry, having come all the way
from Chicago, would "analyze life
through the language of the hand"
for SO cents an analysis.
The black curtains were drawn
closely about the Madame's adyta,
within which a small oil lamp, the
flame almost extinguished and COW
cred with a smoked chimney, cast a
weird, uncanny light. Madame Fo-
renselli, her face masked, was dressed
in a long robe of black and red, and
from the garment ornaments of for
eign black-art hung like fetiches of
magic. About her neck was suspended
fingers she wore strange gems that
glistened.
Seated on a chair before Der was
a young man of twenty-six years, dark
and handsome. Bending over his hand
she scrutinized the lines sharply.
You have large and strong hands,
hence are capable of Details" she said
in low, pure voice, with foreign
accent.
The Madame drew her chair bit
closer and placed a well-shaped hand
over the fingers held in her left palm.
Bending low over the hand she said
with an effort: you are in love-"
The young man started perceptibly,
while a blush mantled his dark cheek.
But do not marry the small wom-
an with pointed fingers. She is beau
tiful and accomplished, and you may
think you love her, but your natures
are not compatible. Your heart is
large and knows no boundaries. She
will fret and worry you-and you will
tire of her.
The Madame felt the hand within
hers twitch nervously. Her voice
| trembled perceptibly as she continued
| rapidly:
This long line bespeaks an excess
| of tender love. Some ideal you think
you have lost, but you are in error.
| She has not passed from your life.
| She loves you with a pure and lasting
| love that time cannot efface.''
AS the Madame spoke thus a ire
! NOR passed through the body of the
man opposite her, and the woman felt
the warm blood surge even to his fin
| ger tips. -4r
| Proceed, Madame" he said, striv-
ing to be calm, his voice harsh and
| strained.
This beautiful love crossed your
| path and set all nature to singing
when you were just passed into man s
estate. The parting almost broke your
| heart and hers,
| For neither ever found another
To ease the hollow heart from pining.'
You have tried to be manly,
sought to forget the past and to blot
from memory with pride and false af-
lection the image of one toward whom
your love will never die. You have
not forgotten, you can not forget.
There is only a deceit of self, for
without Anita"
Enough! Enough" cried the
young man in agonized tones. MY
| God, woman, enough" He sprang up
| like one stricken with some sudden
| grief greater than human can endure,
| while the pain in his heart was por-
trayed in his face, set and CHASTITY.
| Quickly tossing Madame Forenselli
a coin, he hurried from the booth and
the building. Memory was pouring
aloe into the old wound. Hurriedly
he slipped into a side street and
walked as in a dream toward the
/ river. Down on the grassy bank he
threw himself. his face buried in his
hands. In his brain there surged a
| ferment of regret. Fool that he had
| been to lose the pleasure of his life
ere that life was scarce begun, Now
she had gone from him; for three
long years he had not seen her. She
had traveled-and yet she loved him !!
No, she did not love him. Why
| should this woman, this Madame Fo-
| renselli, know aught of the love of a
heart so chaste? No; it was only a
ghost of the past to destroy his peace
again, when he was striving so hard
to forget her.
Voices aroused him. Two glowing
Goals of fire apprised him that stroll
ing smokers from the fair were wan
dering on the rivers brink. He al
most hated them for breaking in up
on his grief. He could hear their
voices plainly now. They were near