The San Francisco call., 1904-11-30

just like that
Can you tell me her name?"
asked, slowly regaining my wits.
Madame Zouff1e consulted the stars
bit and then the lines of my palms.
1t starts with a P" she said at
length P-Ph- 1t looks IKE
Phyllis
very serious quarrel? 1 think very
great deal of her, you know. Can
you tell me if she's deeply offended
L think she is said Madame Zouf-
file. AT all events. she ought to be;
you have treated her very badly.
What have 1 done?"
Madame Zouffie studied the lines
very carefully.
You have practically given her 10
understand you don't care for her at
all. You have told her you don't care
ii she holds the hand of as many men
as she wants to. That sounds as
though you were giving her liberty TO
firt with as many men as she
pleased"
"Yes?" 1 said it with the rising
infection. didn't give assent to any
thing And is she doing it?
She has held the hands of great
many of the gentlemen present this
evening"
There was a suspicious little culver
III Madame Zouffies voice. 1t sounded
almost like a suppressed laugh.
1 assumed the most dignified air.
And the men-did they like it?"
I queried.
Madame Zouffie could not tell. The
lines were not sharply enough de-
They'd better be careful 1 said.
fiercely. IN jolly we'll punch their
heads if they don't. Besides, it's the
last chance they'll have"
Now, for a mere outsider and just
common fortune teller, | must say
that Madame Zouff1e took quite a re-
markable interest in my affairs.
Why she asked. Why is it
their last chance?"
Because I'm going to tell her to-
morrow that she must stop" re-
piled. grimly.
There was an odd glitter in Madame
Zouffie's eyes.
And will she do anything you
trained to obey your Lie down,
Carlo, every time"
She'll do it if she loves me-" |
said. by the way, 1 haven't asked
you: does she love me?'
Either the light was very dim or
there was something wrong with
Madame Zouff1es eyes. The question
necessitated her bending over and
making a very close scrutiny of my
palm before she was able to answer.
The warm. soft folds of her hair were
directly in front of me. and kissed
them, ever so slightly. She didn't
feel it,
Il don't know" confessed Phyllis
l mean Madame Zouffie-at last. 1t
looks partly as though she does and
then again just the least little bit as
though she doesn't. II think she
does-Sometime es."
Madame Zouffle was not looking at
me. She was still examining my
hand ever so carefully. So l ventured
again.
What is there about me-" asked.
that she does not like-sometimes ?"
You don't always treat her very
WELL said Madame Zouffle. Your
hand shows that you are very selfish"
'Stingy?"
mo: not that But you always
think of yourself and your own per-
sonal convenience first"
Now. you know Just as we'll as 1
do that this was a libel. Ever since
1 have know Phyllis-but what's the
good of arguing about 1t? Phylls
knew II, too.
IF Phyllis we're here" 1 remarked,
'if she could only hear you say that,
you would have an opportunity or
knowing how utterly false it is. It's
true" | went on. magnanimously, Il
may have my faults; but I'm quite
convinced that the dear girl would
not say that was one of them.
Madame Zoufffe did not reply. She
seemed to have worse eyeSight than
ever.
"What else can you see?" 1 ques-
toned. Perhaps you can tell me II
| love her"
You think you do" answered
Madame Zouff1e.
When I really do not?"
when you really do not" The
fortune teller was very positive In her
tone.
Wrong again" I replied. you're
a very poor hand at your business. III
you've told the others here this even
ing no more truths than you've told
me 1 actually think you ought to be
up for obtaining money under false
pretenses.
on your hand" argued the fortune
teller.
l laughed.
Excuse me, please" 1 murmured;
but 1 do a bit of palmistry myself.
Now, right here in your hand
turned her palm overt can see any
number of heartless flirtations. There
seems to be one in progress now, in
fact
The palmist looked up into my face
and 1 guess she must have seen that
1 knew her. But she wasn't very GER
tain. 1 never winked an eyelash.
Now" l went on, this dimple
shows-why, how very odd that you
should have a dimple just like that.
But l think that clinches my argu
ment, for 1 know a girl like that, and
she's"
And then some one boxed my ear.
looked up and saw that Phyllis eyes
were twinkling.
You're such an old stupid, Jack,
dear" she said.
Copyright, 1904, by Hubert Mclean
Johnston.)