The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-25
By
John
Breckenridge
Ellis.


The moon kept making big eyes a
line. and the brook sounded like
death-call down there In the dark.
But you mustn't stay here" h'
said imperatiyely. Let us go
once"
Just as soon as | tell the fortunes
or course | wouldn't so TO all this
trouble for nothing Now look. This
card is Frantic Queen OF Hearts
This one is Simon Jefferson-anc
this one is Bob. And you-but it's
no use telling all OF them. Now
we want to see who's going &c
marry.
Abbott spoke in his most authori-
tative tone: Fran! Get up and
come with me before somebody sees
you here. This is not only ridicu-
llous. it's wrong and dreadfully I'm
prudent"
Fran looked with flashing eyes.
IL WON'T" she cried Not till Eve
told the fortunes. I'm not the girl TO
go away until she's done what she
came to do" Then she added mild
iy, Abbott, | just had TO say II In
that voice. so you'd know | meant ~.
Don't be cross with me.
| She shuffed the cards.
"But why must you stay out here
to do it," he groaned.
Because this is new bridge
I'd hate to be a professor, and not
know that IL has to be In the mid
die Of a new bridge. at midnight
| In a
light Now you keep still and ot
nice; want TO see who's going &c
get married. Here Is Grace Noir
and here Is Fran
And where am II" asked Abbott
in an awed voice. as he bent down
Fran wouldn't tell him.
He bent lower. 'Oh. | see, see!'
he cried. This Is me-"he drew
card from the pack-'the King OF
Hearts" He held IL up triumphant
IIy. We'll And you are the Queen
Of Hearts. you said.
Maybe am" said Fran. rather
breathlessly, but whose hearts are
we king and queen OF? That's what
II want 10 find out" And she showed
her teeth at him
1--WE can draw and see" he sug-
gested, sinking upon one knee. And
vet. since you're the queen and I'm
the king, it must be each others
hearts"
He stopped abruptly at sight Of
her crimsoned cheeks.
THAT doesn't always follow,
Fran told him hastily; mot by any
means. For here are other queens
See the Queen OF Spades? Maybe
you'll get her Maybe you want her
You see. she either goes to you, or
to the next card"
But I don't want any Queen ot
Spades" Abbott declared. He drew
! the next card. and exclaimed
dramatically. Saved, saved! Here's
Bob. Give her to Bob Clinton"
"Oh, Abbott" Fran exclaimed.
looking at him with starlike eyes
and roselike cheeks. making the most
fascinating picture he had ever be-
held at midnight under a silver
moon. do you mean that? Re-
member you're on new bridge
over running water"
Abbott paused uneasily She
looked less like a child than he had
ever seen her. Her body was very
slight-but her face was
Il Is marvellous how much OF a
womans seriousness was to be found
In this girl She seemed inclined to
give her words about the foolish
cards a woman's significance. He
rose with the consciousness that for
a moment he had rather forgotten
himself.
He reminded her gravely-"We
are talking about cards-just cards. >
mo" said Fran, not stirring, I'VE
are talking about Grace Noir. You
say you don't want her; you've al
ready drawn yourself out. That
leaves her TO poor Bob-heH have
to take her. unless the Joker gets
the lady-the Joker Is named the
Devil So the, game isn't
Interesting any more" She threw
down all the cards. and looked up.
beaming. MY but I'm glad you
came"
He was fascinated and CoIld not
move, though as convinced as at the
beginning that they should not lin
ger thus. There might be fatal con-
sequences: but the charm OF the lit
tie girl seemed to temper this chill
knowledge 20 the shorn lamb. He
temporized: why don't you go on
with your fortune-telling. little
girl?"
II lust wanted to find out IL Grace
Noir is going to get you" she said
candidly; ut doesn't matter what
becomes Of her. Were you ever on
this bridge before7'
Fran, Miss Grace Is one OF the
best friends have, and--and every
body admires her. The fact that you
don't ike her, shows that you are
not all you ought to be.
What does the fact that she
doesn't like me show7"
at shows that you ought to be
changed. II was a fatal mistake
when you left school. but It's worse
for you 10 refuse persistently TO 90
to church"
"And she told you that, did she?"
81 want your hiRher nature TO be
developed. Take Miss Grace for your
model know you have noble I'M
pulses; grow up TO be a noble wo-
man-try to be like her"
He was sorry TO strike these neces-
sary blows, she seemed 30 pitifully
defenseless as he watched the mo-
Il