The San Francisco call., 1905-03-28

HE usually CHEEKY face Of Nine.
Fontaine, "Palmist and Card
Reader" was overcast. Even
the invitingly clean little room
where Madame received the anxious
seekers after wisdom shared In the
pervading gloom. A crudely drawn
hand covered with cabalistic signs had
become detached from the wall and
Law unheeded in one corner: the cards
by whose aid coming events were
evoked were pushed carelessly aside
It was evident that misfortune had
fallen upon this faithful prlestess Oh
the future.
Nora McCabe had always been a
wonder at "cuttin' the cards" and 1t
was when Pat McCabe died Can event
which the cards neglected to mention),
leaving her with five little children,
that Mime. 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 gen
eralities.
But Of late the fates had not shown
Madame the consideration due so faltn-
full follower. There had been fall
ing off in the number of people VINO
came to explore the misty paths OF the
future under her expert guidance. Four
of the children were too young TO 90
much besides consume unlimited sup
plies 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 ye can ex-
pect to he havin' the luck" sighed
10 mir 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
roundings, a girl, tall, graceful, tailor
made, came swiftly along the shabby
street. If 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 Doane that she would be married
within a 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 admirer in LOUIS horizon, but
then every one makes mistakes some
times, and Louise always was hopeless.
She did not really believe in It, Oh.
dear, noi 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
determined fingers, she pressed the
button under the card bearing the le-
gend Nine. Fontaine'' and soon stood
ouaking inwardly, but outwardly Sc
rene. before the door of the modest
little fiat.
Eleanor Robinson was called the
prettiest 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
little room, and with shining eyes bent
eagerly forward over the well-known
table upon which Madames expert
enced fingers had already placed the
queen Of diamonds.
That's yourself explained the
woman, as she deftly shuff1ed the
cards. and this laying heart above
it, "is good luck to yourself an yer
wish, an here's an offer, an foine
offer it is, with money, too. 1t looks
like a marriage offer an tbs from
But whom 1t was from must forever
remain a mystery, for a shrill voice
from the next room called Madame and
in her anxious haste Nora overturned
the little table, and the fortunes of the
queen of diamonds came to an igno-
minious ending on the floor.
I'm that worried L don't know what
i m QOln. SdlQ MdUdIue as SilS Cdilc
back, and half crying stopped to pick
up the cards. My Jimmy has his leg
broke, an him gettin along so nice,
an Mr.. Chetwood sayin' his wages
should be raised this Saturday comm"
Mr.. ChetwoodH' interrupted the girl
in a 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 foine place
for Jimmy, an him likin' 1t an gettin'
into Mr.. Chetwood's ways. An now
his legs broke, an no KNOWN when
he'll git another place. she added de-
jectedly, and in spite of herself a tear
splashed on the recovered queen.
The girl rose. II don't believe I care
to have my fortune told to-day" she
said nervously. 1--we changed my
mind, but l shall come to see you
again." she said, her blue eyes sweet
with sympathy. She took bill FROM