Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-06-13

udFe al appointment. MOI!
The girls followed him into a small
darl.ened room hung in purple tap
estry. The ceiling, draped with the
same tapestry, seemed like the top Of
a tent and came to point in the cen
ter, topped with gilt tassel of i'm
mense proportions. Several high
backed chairs of carved ebony, with
purple seats, were arranged around
the room, and on the high. elaborate
ly wrought mantlepiece crouched an
immense golden Buddha. In the fire.
place a sea coal fire cracked and
threw violet flames on the floor of
dark wood. strewn with rugs in black
fur. At intervals on the wall lights
were placed behind brass shades
studded with amethysts. The girls
sat huddled together on one chair
Letitia on the seat, and Peggy and
Constance on the arms, they waited
but few minutes when the page re-
turned and said:
Master regrets, but he can see but
one lady, that is you." pointing to
Letitia.
"Oh!" gurgled the girls. "Letitia,
hurry in and find out about him."
Timidly Miss Penn rose and follow
ed the tiny purple clad figure; he
thrust aside the heavy velvet curtains
for Letitia to pass him, and turning
she lightly blew kiss to the two
bewildered half-frightened girls who
clutched each other in the big chair
Suppose she doesn't come back
again, what will we do?" cried Peggy.
"Oh, do you think we'd better run
out and get policeman? You stay,
and I'll CO." said Constance.
mo, no! you stay I'll go, and I'll
come right back" whimpered Peggy.
"Oh-oh-ooh! What's that?"
Nothing, you goose; it's trolley
car. Here we are in our own neigh
borhood; lots of people walking, and
hear the ears now!" said Constance
well, thank God for trolley cars"
said Peggy. Il have always hated
them. but somehow they do sound
home-like, don't they? / suppose we
are foolish"
On the other side of the curtain Lee
titia was sitting on velvet stool be-
fore black velvet table waiting for
the seer. Around her glittered a
heaven Of planets, and weird signs of
the Zodiac in silver on the black vel
vet walls. From the high ceiling
twinkled hundreds of tiny stars with
the crescent moon at one end. Heavy
black velvet carpeted the floor, and
from antique silver braziers around
the room came an intoxicating per-
fume of the East.
A strain of music, like from silver
pipes, and as if he had floated in,
stood the tallest man Letitia had ever
seen. Dark he was as the night. Black
velvet robe over cloth of silver, COW
cred him, and on his head silver
gauze turban, from the center of
which cleaned an immense opal dart.
| ing fire.
He salaamed three times, then,
seating himself opposite Letitia,
asked for her hands.
young you are and beautiful, my
daughter, also wise, too wise for a
woman. Great force of will, good
sense and warm, loving heart, you
will marry-once. Will you gaze into
the crystal?"
Letitia nodded. The seer drew q
silken cloth from an object on the
table, and the twinkling stars grew
dim, subtly the eastern perfume stirred
her senses; she heard again the silver
pipes and she saw red and green fires
dart from the opal on the turban Of
the seer-it seemed to be the only
thing in the room-so bright and fas
cinating. She swayed, then COO
touch revived her and calm voice
said: Gaze, little lady; gaze into
what 1t is given few to see, and see
ing, to behold Alright"
Letitia looked down and down. i
seemed to her, into the depths of {
clear crystal ball on the table. Lont
she gazed and saw strange people ant
cities, and herself. Then she saw twt
men, one with dark eyes and tawn.
hair, a sweet, boyish face, and thel
the crystal clouded.
Trouble" whispered Astra. "Gaz
once more, my daughter"
She obeyed, and in the ball she saw
once more the all-compelling gra
eyes she knew SO we'll.
"You will travel far and long, bu
you will return" said the seer. an
faded away
The tiny page ushered her out, an
at the door. waiting for her. wer
Peggy and Constance, all smiles; bu
Letitia walked home between them a
in a dream. In her ears soft, silve
music sounded, through her sense
the heavy perfume Of the East, and !
her eyes the flashing red Ares OF q
: immense opal.