The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-06-13

A note requesting me to dine at the
mousse of my friend, Charles Holds
worth. lay on my study table. It also
contained the surprising news that
Harry Lidderdale had Unexpectedly re-
turned to New York, and would be
present. The latter was an old chum
OF mine who had n day suddenly left
the country. From the day of his de-
parture he had not written a line to
anyone; not a soul knew where be
had gone, and to all intents and pur-
poses the man might as well have been
dead. There was, however, a story
which in some measure accounted for
Undertakes disappearance. In the
days of his early manhood he had fall
en- desperately in love with a singu-
larly beautiful girl named Alma Ram.
say. The latter had loved him in re,
turn, but there were no tidings of
an absolute engagement, and suddenly
l heard that Alma had married a Ger.
tain General Colthurst, and that Lid.
derdale had left the country. Colthurst
turned out a cruel husband, mean sus.
picious and jealous, but fortunately fol-
his young wife, he did not survive the
union more than a few years. Now
Mrs. Colthurst was a wealthy widow,
and L%idderdale had come home,
arrived in due time at Holdsworth's
residence, but failed to see Lidderdale
among the guests present. My host
approached.
Il am sorry to say that Lidderdale
will not be here, Halifax" he said.
EARLY this morning 1 saw his card
lying on my hall table with the ad.
dress of the Hotel Metropole scrubbed
In one corner. There was also
some writing on the back saying that
he would call later in the day. I was
unable to stay in, but left a note in,
Wiling him TO dine here this evening
and telling him that Alma Colthurst
was to be n of the guests. When
returned home, I found that he had
not come back, and a few moments
later l received a telegram stating thai
he would call tomorrow, as he had
been prevented from doing so today
And now I suppose you will like tc
Sc your old friend, Mrs. Colthurst-
she is present"
Does she know Of Lidderdale's re
turn?" I asked, curiously.
Eyes, I told her. She was muct
agitated; you know how attached she
was to him in the past. Well, she is
wealthy and free now, and I hope they
will make a match of it. Alma was
greatly disappointed when l told hel
Lidderdale would not be here after
all. l have arranged that you are tt
take her down to dinner"
A few moments later I found myself
seated beside Mrs. Colthurst, whom
had not met since her widowhood.
noticed as I glanced at her, that hel
beautiful face Vas thin to emaciation
and she seemed to be laboring under {
severe nervous strain. I mentioned
Undertakes return home, and bel
cheeks flushed as she spoke of his long
absence and her desire to see hin
again. l was about to say something
more, when a lady who was seated
across from US bent forward ant
said:
MRS. Colthurst, I have great news
for you. Mrs. Holdsworth had in
duced Haridas, the famous chiroman
cist, to come here after dinner-we
can all have our fortunes told!"
"Haridas!" cried Mrs. Colthurst
SIS 1t possible? I have longed to gt
to him, but have been afraid"
DO you really believe in chiro
mancy?" I asked.
"Emphatically," was the reply. &c.
intend to submit my palm for Haridas
inspection, and whatever he tells me
shall believe"
Soon afterward, in response to {
summons from our host, we proceeded
to the drawing room, which was al
ready crowded. Presently a Brahmin
attired in a rich Oriental costume, en-
tered. He was accompanied by
handsome young woman of his owl
ationality. Mrs. Holdsworth conduct
ed the pair to a little platform ar
ranged to receive them, and then in
troduced them to her guests.
The lame of Haridas," she said
sis of course we'll known. He doe.
not speak English, so his assistant
Mungela, will act as his interpreter.
Several Of the guests took advan
tage of the fortune teller's arrival
and declared themselves astounded BY
the knowledge he possessed of theil
past lives. His prophesies of the flu
ture also gave much satisfaction, ant
presently Mrs. Colthurst touched my
arm.
1T is my turn now" she said. ant
went up to the platform. I saw Hari
das take her hand and examine thu
palm closely. He glanced at his as
~sistant, and it seemed to me that ther,
was CONSERVATION in his bronze fea
lures. He talked rapidly in his music
al Hindustanti, and Mungela trans
lated the meaning of his words to Mrs
Colthurst. When the young widow re
turned to my side, her face was ash,
gray and she spoke in nervous &C
cents:
HE told me all my past, and acct
rately, too," she said. "But he won
say a word about my future; I believe
he knows something terrible. Go, DR.
Halifax, and ask him for the truth;
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