The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-01-11
|"WAAT THE CARDS TOLD,
BY N. s. ZARICk.

one attuned to the loneliness Of nature. |
but to a young man with wealth of
money In his pocket, the beauty Of the
scene, so out Of accord with his feel
ings, comes with sensation TINT Jars.
He had been revolving the situation
In his mind; Ind carefully considered
every point Of the question, and the
outlook was anything but encouraging.
The letter that he held In his hand
demanded an immediate reply. II was
q short business note from u firm In
q distant city, Offering him position
at q very small increase of salary.
Ordinarily be would have dispatched
the matter after scarcely moments
elaboration. To accept the offer
would mean no appreciable rise In the
world, and 1t would sever certain cher
ished associations. But that was just
the thing. Was It not the part Of wis
dom to put distance between him and
an object that was unattainable? To
see-the woman he loved. to be brought
into almost daily contact with her
beauty and her thousand charms, was
simply to live In fools paradise.
To know that other men wOOed her,
laid their hearts secrets before her,
and at least stood a chance of winning
her. was maddening to him whose lips
were sealed. How could he ask her
to share his lott What had he to offer
her but heart overlooking with ten
derness2
But why torture himself with
thoughts Of the future? AS for the
present, his mind was made up. He
had written his letter accepting the
| position offered him, and his preparn-
lions for departure were concluded.
| There was nothing left for him to do
but to bid some of his friends good
by.
He was ushered into the little sudio,
where she elected to paint when 1t
suited her fancy.
She was sitting near the bay win
dow, her hands clasped loosely In her
lap, and her eyes dreamy expression
which showed that her thoughts were
far away. She rose when she saw
him, and came forward to meet him.
II am glad you have come" she said.
II think was about to give way to
one of my moods. l don't like moody
people, do your"
He looked ut her. Could she not
guess that whatever phase Of her
character might be turned to him, he
loved her always? But they were
treading on dangerous ground.
He told her that he was about to &c
away, that he probably would not re-
turn for many years, and he tried to
speak lightly of the many changes that
might occur before they would meet
again. Was it Imagination that made
him think she paled slightly at his
words?
"Isn't this a sudden determination? p
she asked. "Why are you going?"
She had turned her face away, and
he could not catch the expression that
had suddenly stolen over 1t.
! "There are many reasons" he said
~ doubt If you would be interested In
a recital of them. l am afraid an
growing egotistical. Let us talk OF
something else." And this they at
tempted to do, but the conversation
Jagged perceptibly.
She, too, was unusually silent. Al
length he grew desperate. His eyes
fell on a pack of cards that lay In q
table near her.
"Why, I do believe" he said, laugh
Ing, that you were playing solitaire
before I came In. You must have beer
very much bored"
'"That Is your own conclusion" she
replied. II was not playing solitaire
/ can explain the presence Of those
cards by telling you that was trying
my fortune, When you appeared II
the doorway, had just discovered tn,
pleasing fact that I had friend, {
foe and a journey TO go. It's reall!
u most edifying way Of spending tn,
time"
He handed the pack to her. "Tel
me my future" he said. II am goin,
away. I should like to know what Il
before me-"
She smiled. II half believe you ar,
skeptical. wonder II can cJnvinc,
you Of the wonderful truths that II,
hidden there" She drew out KIM
/ of hearts as she spoke. "You are II
, love-" she said. Her eyes met hi
for one moment, then a wave of colo
swept up to her brow. He leaned for
ward eagerly.
"Yes," he said, shat Is true" An,
his voice was husky.
She was Idly turning the cards owe
= In her hands one after another. "Yo,
love woman strongly, tenderly, -
!. man may love, and yet you will no
tell her 80. can read pride here, an,
this 1t Is that Keeps you from It,"
She paused, but he begged her to g
on. "Tell me of her! Is she fair o
+ dark2"
Q Her face was half In shadow. "Sh
i has fair hair" she said.
4 "Like n wealth Of gold," he broke In
q "And her eyesw
a "They are brown" she replied, s