Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-07-28

CclNcl lHc uu%lOuS seekers ullef WIS
dom shared in the peryading gloom
y crudely drawn hand covered with
| cabalistic signs had become detached
from the wall and lay unhecded in one
| corner; the cards by whose aid coming
events were evoked We're pushed care
| leSsly aside 1t was evident that mis-
| fortune had fallen upon this faithful
| pricstcss of the future.
Nora McCabc had always been Il
| wonder ut "cuttin the cards" and 1t
| was when Pat McCabe died tan event
which the cards neglected to mcntionl,
| leaving her with five little children,
| that Nine. Fontaine had sprung into
| existence. Having an average amount
of quick Irish wit and more than an
average understanding of human ma
ture, Nora had prospered and as Nine.
Fontaine she avoided tragedy and
dealt mostly In romantic and glowing
generalitics.
But OF late the fates had not shown
madame the consideration due so faith
ful follower. There had been fall
came to explore the misty paths of the
future under her expert guidance.
-Four OF the children were too young to
do much besides consume unlimited
supplies of bread and butter, and the
day before Jimmy, the eldest, had been
brought home with a broken leg. In
short, the outlook was serious.
a.
pcct to be havin' the luck" sighed
Nora, STOPPING to pick up the hand that
pointed a mutcly protesting finger at
her from the corner
Quite unconscious of the radiant pie
ture she made against her dull sur
rounding. a girl, tall, graceful, tailor
made. came swiftly along the shabby
street. If her courage almost failed
her, she made no sign MS she walked
steadily on. All the girls had been to
Nine Fontaine. Had she not told Mar
garet Doane that she would be married
within II year, and was not Margaret
even now on her wedding Journey? To
be sure. she had told Louise Henderson
the same thing and there was not even
IL
every one makes mistakes sometimes,
and Louise always was hopeless. She
did not really believe In ii. Oh, dear,
no! But she did so want to know If
John really were very angry. He might
have known she did not care for that
stupid Captain Carstairs.
With flushed face and trembling but
Jnt Il.
ton under the card bearing the legend
Mime. Fontaine" and soon stood Quak-
ing inwardly, but outwardly serene,
before the door of the modest little fat.
Eleanor Robinson was called the
prcttlest girl In the Westchester set.
and more critical eyes than madame's
would have frightened at the radiant
vision she made as she entered the lit
tie room and with shining eyes bent
eagerly forward over the well known
table upon which madame's expert
cnced fingers had already placed the
queen of diamonds.
That's yerself," explained the wo-
man as she deftly shufiied the cards,
"and this laying heart above 1t, "is
here's an offer an n folne offer IL Is.
with money too, 1t looks like a mar
rlage offer, an ills from But whom
it was from must forever remain a
mystery, for shrllI voice from the
next room called madame. and In her
anxious haste Nora overturned the lit
lie table and the fortunes of the queen
of diamonds came TO an IgnomInious
ending on the floor.
I'm that worried I don't know what
Pm doin'" snId madame MS she came
back. and. half CRYING. STONED to pick
I'M the cards. "Ny Jimmy has his leg
broke nm him pottin' along so nice nm
Mr.. Chetwood savin' his wages should
he raised this Saturday comm"
"NIr Chetwood" Interrupted the girl
In strained voice. And madamc's keen
eyes noted the warm wave of color
that flooded her face.
"Ycs, miss" she returned, "Mr Chet-
wood, the lawyer. 1t was folne place
for Jimmy, an him likin' it an gcttin'
into Mr., Chctwood's ways. An now
his legs broke, an no KNOWN when
he'll cit another place" she added de-
jectcdly, aud In spite of herself tear
splashcd on the recovered queen.
The girl rose. Il don't believe | care
To have my fortune told today" she
said nervously. live changed my
llihu' pu' sila!! come 10 see you
hsall' she Said' her Dlue eyes sweet
"'''i s'"iI'"ll!' she tooh piIi irolh
her Dag ana i"io II on Tue tapie'
i"ne 'hese' ZOO ior Jimmy she
saia' ioosehihe the Floie's from hef
lurs. Ana Win smile anu quick lit
''c hou sue was gone
IL was hours later that tall, broad
ShOuldefcu man Knocked at madame'S