Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-07-27
QUEEN OF
DIAMONDS
By MARGARET
RIC ARDS
Copyright, 1905, by K. NJ Doane


Ceiyed the anxious seekers after wis
dom shared in the peryading gloom.
4 crudcly drawn hand covered with
cabalistic signs had become detached
from the wall and lay unheeded 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 th@future,
Nora McCabc had always been
wonder at "cuttin' the cards." and it
was when Pat McCabe died ian event
which the cards neglected TO menuon),
leaving her with five little children,
that Mime. Fontaiue 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.
Foutalne she avoided tragedy and
dealt mostly In romantic and glowing
generalities.
But Of late the fates had not shown
madame the consideration due so faith
full q follower There had been 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 10
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 ye can ex-
pect to be hayln the luck sighed
Nora, stopping to pick up the hand that
pointed a mutely protesting finger at
her from the corner.
Quite unconscious Of the radiant pie
ture she made against her dull sur
rounding 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 10
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 admlrer In LOUIS horizon; but, then,
every one makes mistakes sometimes,
and Louise always was hopeless. She
did not really believe In 1t. oh, dear,
no, But she did SO want 10 know II
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 but
ton under the card bearing the legend
Mime. FOntaIne" and soon stood quak-
Ing lnwardly, but outwardly serene,
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 lit
tie room and with shining eyes bent
eagerly forward over the well known
! table upon which madame's expert
enced fingers had already placed the
! queen OF diamonds.
That's yerself." explained the wo-
man as she deftly shuttied the cards,
"and this" laying a heart above IT, is
| good luck to yerself an yer wish, an
| here's an offer, an a foine offer 1t Is,
with money too. 1t looks like mar
| riage offer, an 'tis from But whom
1t was from must forever remain q
mystery, for n shrill 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 10 an ignominious
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
broke, an him gettin' along 50 nice an
Mr.. Chetwood sayln' his wages should
| be raised this Saturday comm"
"Mr. Chetwoodl" 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 a foine plo &c
for Jimmy, an him likin' II an gettin'
into Mr.. Chetwood's ways. An now
| his legs broke, an no KNOWN when
he'll git another place" she added de
1ectedly. and in spite of herself tear
| splashed on the recovered queen.
The girl rose II don't believe | care
| to have my fortune told today" she
said nervously 1--we changed my
| mind, but | shall come to see you
again." she said, her blue eyes sweet
with sympathy She took a bill from
her bag and laid it on the table.
Take these, too, for Jimmy" she
said, loosening the violets from her
| furs. And with a smile and quick lit
I, tie nod she was gone.
1t was hours later that tall, broad
shouldered man knocked at madame g
door and inquired for Jimmy McCabe.
was holding Jlmmy's grImy little hand
| and smiling down on the little freckled
face that grinned back at him sheep
ishly.
I'VE cannot do without Jimmy, Mrs
McCabe," he said pleasantly, so l shall
4 AltI'tllI OA4 = VI W NNlAN AAAAil Jun tt7
soon as possible" He took some bills
from his pocket and continued: Il want
you to take good care of him. No! No.
That's all right" as she tried to thank
him You may pay it back when
Jimmy wins his first case, or you might
tell my fortune" He laughed good
humoredly, looking qulzzically at the
weird hands decorating the little room
| beyond
Madame gaspcd. Her warm Irish
heart was fun Of gratitude to the two
who had been so good to her. If only
she could do something for them!
He watched her with amused inter
est as she slowly spread out the cards
on the little table,
"Yc have success to ycrsclf an yer