The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-16

to, and Sally, with an embittered
smile for the unconscious irony OF
that parting Injunction, moved
slowly on. glad to fall back upon
the comparative quiet and soliture
of the moon-drenched gardens.
Whereupon her destiny grinned
a heartless grin and arranged to
throw her to the lions that, all
unsupported, ragged in the maiden
bosom of Mercedes Pride.
The tireless Ingenuity with
which that rampant spinster de-
vised ways and means of render
ing herself a pest had long since
won the ungrudged admiration Of
Sally, who elected to be amused
more than annoyed by the imper-
tinences, the fawning adulation
and the corrosive jealousy of Mrs.
Gosnold's licensed pick-thank.
And when she had first OWNED
the woman beneath the disguise
of the witch Sally had wondered
what new method of making q
sprightly nuisance of herself Miss
Pride had invented to go with her
impersonation.
1t proved to be compulsory for
tune telling with the aid of cards,
and den" rugged up in corner
of hedge.
Within this lair, the sorceress
squatted and practiced her unholy
art upon all corners. And when
trade slackened las inevitably it
did when 1.-THE young people" for
whose amusement" this num-
merry ostensibly was staged assert
ed their ennui by avoiding the
neighborhood). Ecstatica, moth
ing daughted, would rise up and
go forth and stalk her prey among
the more mature, dragging them
off forcibly by the hand, when
needs must, to sit at her table and
humor her nonsense.
Thus she inveigled Sally when
the latter unwarily wandered her
way.
Miss Pride knew her victim per-
fectly, but for the sake of appear
ances, kept up the semblance of
mystification.
Sit you there, my pretty" she
gabled vivaciously, two hands on
Sally's shoulders, urging her to
rest on one of the stools. Don't
be afraid of my simple magic. Just
show me your rosy palm, and l
will tell you your fortune.
"Ah. yes, yes," she grunted,
you have an amiable and affec-
tionate disposition; you love pref
ty things to wear and every sort
of pleasure. There is your greav-
est danger-pretty; love of clothes
and pleasure and-forgive the
wise old woman's plain speaking
false ambitions.
81 see danger in your path" she
resumed in accents of awe; 1.-The
shadow of something evil-and a
window barred with iron. | can
not say what this means, but you
should know. Look into your
heart, my pretty; think. If per-
haps you have done something
you would not have done, and If
you would suffer shame for it, you
must make all haste to undo that
which you have done"
Miss Pride," Sally interrupted
hotly, snatching her hand away.
You"
mo, no. have no name," the
other protested in the falsetto she
had adopted to suit her imperson-
alton; II am only the wise old
woman"
you know very we'll what you
have seid," Sally told her In a low
voice ,.brant with indignation.
you know who / am and what
your insinuation means. after
what has happened here tonight.
Miss Pride! Do you dare accuse
me"
"Oh, no-please!" Mercedes
begged, aghast, quaking in realiza-
ton of the enormity of her mis-
take. 81 didn't think didn't
know you'll didn't mean"
That" Sally cut in tensely, "is
q daIiharofa folaabopd Won in