The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-04-22

only mana reading or the Worldfamed
Professor Franklin! Come Income
In! Don't miss the marvellous oppor-
tunity-'tis the chance of a lifetime
This way, this way!"
Thus cried Pierce, stationed outside
the tent, while Barker, within, puck
cred his brows, looked wise and pro-
phesied marriages. fortunes and Jour
neys abroad with the ease and assur-
ance Of professional.
The task, once begun, was amazing
ly easy. Barker found himself wonder
ing at the astonishing credulity Of the
human mind.
But his confidence was destined to
receive a severe blow
There entered the tent a young wo-
man so supremely different from the
credulous country maidens whose for
tunes he had told so glibly that he
stood for the first instant abashed and
at loss.
"Well?" she Intercepted coolly, as
Barker continued to hold her hand in
troubled silence.
She had beautiful, impenetrable eyes
and disdainful smile. Something in
the smile gave Barker his cue
You are not happy" he hazarded,
with sudden attack. In fact, you are
quite dissatisfied at present. The ac-
tons OF some other person are respon-
sible for your distress"
This shot, certainly could not hit
very wide of the mark.
He stole a swift glance at her face
for confederation of this guess. The
other victims had each given some
encouraging sign, either a nod or smile
or a tell-tale blush But this maiden
was aggravatingly serene. Graphing
with his oozing courage, he made an
other reckless plunge.
Some one is trying to coerce you
into a-into an affair-a love affair,
let us say. Your father or mother
perhaps both parents-have set their
hearts upon your marriage with-ah
-er-with a young man whom they
favor on account of old family ties"
Barker paused, groaning inwardly.
I'm up against it this time, sure,
giving her that old-time, worn
out spiel But there's no help for it
now, so here goes"
Truly it was a hackneyed theme,
but as he continued to elaborate upon
it the story did not sound SO stale,
after ALL Such things, he reflected,
were happening every day in real life.
Did he not himself figure in just such
chosen for him a young woman whom
he had never even seen-one, indeed,
whom he never wished to see?
The recurrence of this fact to his
mind stimulated him afresh. Uncon-
sciously his sympathies, stirred thus by
the same line, kindled into increasing
warmth over the imaginary troubles
of the fair maid before him.
Not until the reading was finished
did the inscrutable look leave her face.
Then, to Barker's amusement-indeed,
to his undoing-she flashed upon him
a sudden bewildering smile as she
said impulsively,-
ut is wonderful! Do you mean to
say that you actually saw all that In
my hand? Why, it's the exact truth,
professor-every world"
Barker, murmuring incoherently, &C
companied her to the door, where the
sight of Professor Franklin, fastening
toward the tent, caused him to bid the
young woman a precipitate good day.
Franklin accepted the explanations
in good-natured gratitude, thanking
both young men for their friendly spir-
it in the affair
Pierce was hilarious over the expe-
rienca, but Barker scarcely heard his
jovial remarks and iests. He was
thinking of a certain pair of eyes.
Later, as he strolled down the street
for cigars, he found himself looking
about in the hope of again encounter
ing those eyes.
The sound of hearty, familiar voice
accosting him broke upon his reverie.
Hello, my boy! Never thought to
run. across you up here! Bless me, I'm
glad to see you!"
1t was the father of the girl whom
Bankers parents desired as a daugh-
ter-in-law
"And Grace is here!" chuckled the
old man. Blamed if this isn't the
greatest luck. We're both stopping
with friends in town for a day or two.
Come! You must take dinner with us"
Barker submitted resignedly. AS he
accompanied the old man up the steps
to the house slender figure in blue
came out from the shade of the vine
hung veranda.