The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29

4
! being no exception to the general rule, told
me about her love affair
"She said her sweetheart was plumber
/ who earned good money. but that most OF
! il went for drink Az he did not listen TO
her she asked il could not do something
TO induce him to change his course. ]
asked: Is he superstitiousY and she
answered
II don't know whether that's his religion
or not
when | asked II she were really fond OF
him She naiNely said she liked him real
well when he was sober. adding, az a chief
reason for her preference, thai he could
earn in one day as much as she did In e
week
Being assured that he was OF the sort
that demanded to have the elephant painted
proceeded accordingly 1t happened that
my two friends were with me the evening
had arranged to see the plumber. When
he was announced | hustled them into
closet and slipping into a white bath robe,
wrapped turban fashion, a yellow silk
scarf about my head and lighted an incense
stick
When had astonished the young fellow
by telling Of things he supposed no one
could possibly know save himself
tackled the drink question The picture
| drew OF direful results, should be continue
his excuses. would have done credit to the
most fiery eloquenoe OF Father Mathews
society orator
TIC grow NillAt rs DIOCttutu. W men
reached n climax told him he must sign
a pledge which | had ready | had red
ink in quaint little cloisonne pot and
handing him pen, said;
You must sign this pledge in blood
sacred blood in which ia the life of men and
beasts II you break pledge 10 signed
You will be damned here and forever
after
while the reading had been going for
ward there were occasional weird sounds
xph Iph | yaH attr lam tor
in the closet where my friends were wait
ing, but to him they seemed not of the
earth, and he was not only convinced but
converted. for the last | knew OF him he
and the little waitress we're happily mar
ried and he had not broken his pledge
signed in blood red ink.
Il shall not soon forget the character
reader continued. my first visit to New
port II happened that not long after |
became a professional read for a woman
who had recently acquired riches and a
place there. She had invited a party Of
friends and included me among them
Greatly impressed by what | had told
her Of herself she seemed to think that
anything God knows I could find ont.
Shortly after arrived she sent for me to
come to her boudoir and handing me a
little blank book bound in fine morocco
said
In that book you will find the names
OF the people | have here. Following each
name are questions ttat lnuChte what
want 10 know about the person. | have
left blank space after each question for
you to fill in, after you have read for the
person whose name IL above the ques-
tons.
They all know you are character
reader and are wild to have you read for
them. want you to read for Mrs b -
this morning, as ! am anxious to know If
she IL really in love with c.. and il he
pretends to care for her, and also il she
Is just using me or will introduce me into
her set. as she has promised.
I wish you would do them all as soon
as you can. knowledge IL power, you
know. and the sooner have it the better
or course. | will pay you for all the read
ings and you can stay here as long as you
like
Did you do it, asked the playwright's /
sister. with fame of color rising in her
face.
MY stay at Newport on that occasion
was brief, answered the character reader |
with just a touch Of resentment.
OF course Won wouldn't do Il, said the
woman In a conciliatoTy tone, as she settled
back with a little sigh of satisfaction
Do you, ever read for people you do not .
know anything about?" asked the engineer
Frequently. | had something like an
adventure in that line few nights ago.
! was returning from the theatre. when,
as ] was opening the door OF my house
an automobile stopped and man asked If
knew III the character TeAQer D lNeN ]
there | said was the character reader
and he then asked II ! would be willing to
go without knowing where or asking why
and read for four people. ] said that |
would.
at was long ride. and know only that
it was uptown. The house was spacious
and handsomely appointed and the people
] read for we're evidently cultured but |
did not recognize the street and in passing
in and out Of the house did not discover
number.
The small library where did the read
ing opened into one that was larger and was
so dimly lighted that ! could not see dis
tnctly the faces of those for whom | read
and would not be able to recognize them
were TO meet them again.
when ! had finished the readings and
had been served a delicious little supper
| was told that the automobile was waiting.
and | was taken home
You should write q book and call IL
The Confessions Of a Character Reader.
Do you not think such a book would be a
go?' asked the woman. turning to the writer,
Il do not think I'm much Of Judge Of
what books will do before they are written,
he answered. But IL might be permitted
10 use my judgment az TO another matter,
] should say the time had come for you
to finish and serve those banana sand
witches. | have for some time been whit
ng for one or more before lighting my
cigar.
The woman laughed. and taking the thin
slices Of banana she had been cutting,
inserted little pieces Of Camembert cheese
between them and passed them on the point
IF a knife.
"A queer combination" said the civil
engineer taking somewhat gingerly the
small circle of banana and cheese offered
MIN nicely balanced on the knife blade.
Queer, yes but very good as Josephine
ng a second po rtion as a reward OF appre-
,iaton.
COAL NINE IN TIE SAND