Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-06
QUEEN OF
DIAMONDS
By MARGARET
RIG H RDS

cclNeu tDe ANXIOUS seekers after wis
dom shared in the peryading gloom
A crudely drawn hand covered with
cabalstic signs had become detached
from the wall and lay UNDECIDED in one
corner, the cards by whose aid coming
events were evoked were pushed care
lessly aside. 1t was evident that mis-
fortune had fallen upon this faithful
priestess of the future.
Nora McCabe had always been u
wonder ut "cuttin' the cards" aud Ii
was when Pat McCabe died IAN event
which the cards neglected to nentlonl,
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
turc, Nora had prospered and as Nine
Fontaine she avoided tragedy and
dealt mostly In romantic and glowing
gencralities.
But of late the fates had not shown
madame the consideration due so faith
full follower. There had been a fall
ing off in the number of people who
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.
Though It isn't always We can ex-
pect to be havin the luck sighed
Nora, STOPPING to pick up the hand that
pointed mutely protesting finger AT
her from the corner
Quite unconscious of the radiant pic
ture she made against her dull sur
rounding. girl. tall, graceful. tailor
made, came swiftly along the shabby
street II her courage almost failed
her, she made no sign as she walked
steadily on. All the girls had been to
Nine. Fontaine Had she not told Mar
garet Boane that she would be married
within 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
an 0dmrer in Lou'~ horizon: but. then,
every one makes mistakes sometimes,
and Louise always was hopeless. She
did not really believe in il. 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 Carstalrs.
With flushed face and trembling bat
determined fingers she pressed the but
ton under the card bearing the legend
Mime Fontaiue" ana soon stood quak-
ing inwarlly. but outwardly serene.
before the door Of the modest little fiat.
prettiest girl In the Westchester set,
and more critical eyes than madame's
would have frightened ut 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 maaame's expert
enced fingers had already placed the
queen of diamonds.
That's yerself" explained the wo-
man as she deity shufled the cards,
land this laying heart above 1t. lis
good luck 10 yersef an yer wish, an
here's an offer, an folne offer II is,
with money too II looks like n mar
riagc offer. an It's from But whom
1t was from must forever remain Il
mystery, for shrll voice from the
next room called madame, and in her
anxious haste Nora overturned the lit
tie table, and the fortunes of the queen
of diamonds came to an ignominlous
ending ON the floor.
I'm that worried don't know what
I'm doin'." said madame as she came
back, and. half crying, stopped to pick
up the cards My Jimmy has his leg
Mr.. Fleetwood sayin' his wages should
be raised this Saturday comm"
Mr.. Fleetwood" interrupted the girl
In n strained voice. And madame's keen
eyes noted the warm wave OF color
that flooded her face.
YES. MISS" she returned. Mr. Chet-
wood, the lawyer. 1t was folne place
for Jimmy. an him llkin' it an gettin'
into Mr.. Chetwood's ways. An now
his legs broke. an no KNOWN when
hen cit another place. she added de
icctclly, and in spite of herself tear
splashcd on the recovered queen.
The girl rose II don't believe | care
10 have my fortune told today" she
said ncrvouSly live changed my
mind but | shall come 10 see you
9gaiu." she said her blue eyes sweet
with sympathy she took a bill from
her bag and laid il on the table.
Take these, 100, for Jimmy she
said loosening the vioets from her
turs Aud with smile and quick lit
lie nod she was gone
1t was hours later that tall. broad
shouldercd man knocked at madame's
door and inquired for Jimmy McCabe.
\ few minutes later John Chetwood
was holding Jmmy's grimy little haml
and smiling down ON the little frccklsd
face that griunel back at him sheep
iShly
I'VE cannot do without Jimmy Mrs,
NcCahe." he sad pleasantly. so ! shall
depend on you 80 send him back Is
soon as possible" lie took some bills
from his pocket and continued: 4 want
you To take good care Of him. No No
- 4 e.. 4 .sstta q.