Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-11

"But man must be something" protested Margot
"I suppose he must" answered Phoebe. Yet CONT
want the man marry to be anything but man. NO.
a professional man. not medical man, not lawyer
man. or soldier man, sailor man. not man OF
letters-not man of anything only man.
"TIow about nobeman-living on his rents, SO to
sayasked Margot making her escape into the garden
with Phoebe in pursuit
But whatever Phoebe's opinions ON the subject of
poets and poetry, it is remarkable tact tnat as sne
went to sleep that night she was saying to herseif'
always keep the dream,
Though all else may go,
Never part with thai
Never lose the dream
II was a recognized institution among Margots
friends that every Friday evening she told fortunes
by "the cards." s0ee
USUALLY looks askance is regarded by card sorcerers
particularly favorable for the practice of their art So
after dinner Fridays Margot often the centre
of little group of young, and even old, people anxious
TO consult the sybi-for it is strange paradox that
old people are less interested in the future than the
Young Marquis solemnity OF manner on these occa-
sions was almost ndescribabe and she was not only
firm believer in her gifts dviner. but she had
to her credit many weauhenticated stories OF her
skill that could not well escape certain serious
ness in consulting her She had way of reading ones
past that made the least superstous listen with in
voluntary respect to her prognosticaons OF the future
Phoebe always affected certain bantering sceph.
cism they sat down to the table and Margo nanoed
over to her the twentyegh cards, bidding her shuttle
and cut three times
Suppose we assume the preliminary moves she
would tease, the skirmishng of fate, so to say ! am
shortly to have letter That is perhaps not unlikely,
all things considered. Then I'm sure small present
is coming to Of course. am going to take short
journey-to buy a hat in London, perhaps-and you
mustn't forget that I am to have a surprise- ST
BE quiet Phoebe; how you expect the cards 20
tell anything when you approach them IN such spirg
Now, listen and Margot would begin
On this particular Friday, Margot was than
usually impressive and though she wouldn't have con-
fessed it for the world, Phoebe little less scorn-
full
Some one is going to tell you lie' began Margot,
impressively pointing to the three knaves
"Never mind that Tell me about the Fair Woman
and the Dark Man." said Phoebe.
did you remember to wish?" asked Margot disre-
garding her friends fippancy. Yes Phoebe had
wished she said with smile but Margot was so abb
sorbed in her friends future hardly to heed her
swer. Presently she came out OF her study.
your cards are wonderfully bright tonight Phoebe,
she said soemnly. you hold your wish, whatever st
is" and with a rapid gesture she indicated the for
tunate conjunction of the cards Then she went on
reading the mystic scheme of hearts and diamonds and
pictured kings and queens.
Look" she said presently pointing again TO the
cards "Do you see those three aces? That means
hasty news. And WE'LL Did you anything like
that Phoebe, listen. A dark man is coming across
deep water-to your wish"
Look here, them, continued Margot, what else can
this mean? The king of clubs, you can see is next
10 the nine and ten and ace OF clubs That means p, thar
than that the of hearts close means that ne -
coming the house. and the three of hearts means that
he is coming to your wish. There are you, the queen
of cubs-and he is club-man, toothe king OF clubs
Do you see?"
-My wish!" protested Phoebe again "Nonsensel"
well there are the cards. said MargotA
"Come into the garden, said Phoebe rising from the
table. Look how the moon is shining through the
Eyes! Let us go and if it is shining on your
wedding-rng" assented Margot wickedly, and they
went into the garden.
The ring gittering with dewdrops m the
moonshine.
"Oh, the ring is covered with tcarsw exclaimed
mo, only diamonds" said Margot reassuringly.
Next morning at breakfast Mr.. Somerset looked up
from letter he was reading.
I'VE to have visitor, girls, he said; our land
lord, Mr. Staniforth-wfy, what's the mater--
The sudden jump of surprise of the two girls had
"Why nothing father; only he has seemed so mys-
FERROUS that one hardly thought of him real
person"
have struck Mr.. Somerset before. Nor did he seem
quite to realize it now 4a.g .
Mr. Somerset handed the letter over to Phoebe, and
Margot and she read it together. Yes it the
small fascinating hand" Naturally, the girls looked
at each other
that one visit did suffice for his researches
his old papers In fact they necessitaed several visits,
in the course of which he and his tenants soon dis,
covered natural liking for each other which relieved
those occasions of their formal character Indeed.
very soon the Somerset household had almost forgotten
that Mr. Staniforth was the landord and by the time
that Spring had again Phoebe knew all about
the two butterflies and indeed, such terms of
intimacy with her mysterious landlord that one bril-
liant morning she had even dared to tell him about
her crocus wedding-ring
On this OCCASION he had taken her into his arms
in az most unlandordly manner, and told her that so
long as he lived that ring should be kept pure gold,
a perfect unbroken emblem of the perfect love to
which he thereon pledged the rest of his days.
IF have to buy up all the crocus-bulbs in the
world" he had added, laughing.
"Oh, yesl l think my heart would break, said
Phoebe "if any year it should come up broken the
tiniest bit the least bit Thin.
Don't fear" her lover answered. "Our wedding
ring is not only made of flowers, but it is rooted in
the warm. faithful earth The universe has it in its
keeping. and all the laws of time and space watch
like guatdan angels and tend with visible hands
For, sweetheart, it planted hv the strongest Of
the elements that element which all the other elements
bow down, and give their willing servcef Others may
thunder and threaten and seem much power
full but as the sap is stronger than the thunder and
the influence of the more irresistible than the
stormiest sea, is love, seemingly fra in power
SO soft Of voice, the mysterious king of ali the ee-
ments--"