The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-10
Eoening Story
In Spite of the Fortune Teller.
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

mOnd-Ashley' annual garden fete she
did SO under the supposition that it
would be an easy way of passing the
time at an affair where she knew no.
body and would, in a way, be means
of doing her hostess favor in return
for the recent great kindness done
her.
AS she regarded herself in the mir
ror after an hours application of all
she had learned in the amateur the
atricals which had served to pass SO
many hours of the summers spent in
the hills at Simin, she assured herself
that her dearest friend would never
recognize her. And it would have In
deed been difficult to detect beneath
the burnt amber Complexion, swarthy
brows, gaudy turban and oriental
draperies of the image which con-
fronted her the Anglo-SaXon fairness
and winsoine charm of Betty Peyton.
you're simply perfect, my deari"
Mrs. Esmond-Ashley's voice, was all
admiration. Your booth is down by
the lrhododendrons - and remember
you are supposed to be the real article.
After advertising that unreliable
Hindu woman as my leading card,
1 simply dare not go back on 1t.
incidentally. honestly think you look
more genuine than she doesi"
During the early part of the eve-
ming, custom was very brisk and Betty
had her hands full, literally and fig
uratively, with palms, both masculine
and feminine, demanding to be read.
Then, as the liquid notes o. the Hawai-
ian quartet floated out on the lantern
illumined air, the guests drifted away
TO listen, and Betty was left alone,
resting a dusky hand and. gazing
pensively out into the sweet-scented
night as one who peers into a future
too dim to dectpher.
She was wondering why 1t was that
she and Paul Brighton could not have
met naturally without being thrown at
each others heads since childhood.
Gossip. the length and breadth of In
dia. she told herself bitterly. had
coupled their names together until no
doubt he felt the same aversion to
her that she did to him. And all be-
cause their fathers, closely associated
for years, had made so evident their
wish to see their children wed one
another
1t was when she learned that Paul,
now captain Brighton, was to be
transferred to the same post as her
father, that Betty made up her mind
to run away, and writing to her aunt
in America, whom she had never seen,
opened the opportunity for the invita-
ton to spend the summer at the lat
Sudden breaking in upon her
meditations, q tall figure advanced
thru the shrubbery and, throwing hinlr
self down on the cushions before\her,
silently held out his band. As he did
so, the swaying lantern above her shone
on his lifted face. Thunderstruck, she
nearly uttered a cry, then, with great
effort, checked herself. 1t was Paul.
What was he doing here? Would
he recognize her? No. that was alb
surd. and presumably her aunt would
not disclose her identity, at least until
after the festivities. These thoughts
flashed thru her mind as she bent
above his palm.
Then she had an Inspiration. OF all
the people she. knew, Captain Brigh-
ton, after his years in India, might
have some faith in the occult.
Slowly she began, in hesitating,
broken patois. THE sahib-he sail
from Kurachi? Yes-I see it here.
Also, he must beware YER light lady:
must be careful. Light ladies YER bad
for this sahib-bring bad LUCK. bad
fortune, sickness, death. oh, ev'thing.
Much better think on dark 1adies-ver'
dark" E'
She hoped that in the semi darkness
ne did not observe her sudden pause
as she recalled the fact that her hosts
ess's daughter Joan was OF an exceed
ing darkness, and Mrs. Esmond- Ash
ley might naturally not wish to be con-
sidered as making a bid for attention
to her daughter thru the medium of
fortune teller at her own garden
party.
Thank you" and, rising. went his
way, leaving Betty wondering how
much faith he had in her abilities as a
seeress.
That night Mrs. Esmond-Ashley con-
graduated Betty You were ire
you real.N Why Capt. Paul Brighton,
just arrived from India on mission
in which my husband is concerned,
says he has seen hundreds like you
sitting on the road to Delhi. Incident
ally, he's coming to tea tomorrow, and
between you and me, Deiieve mes
bit gone on Joanf
The following afternoon Betty. in
her own character met quite INFORM
ally the man between whom ana ner-
self she had endeavored to put several
continents. They had shaken hands
quite casually. while he remarked
with calmness that he known her for
many years Then he had turned to
Joan and asked if she played tennis
The next month for Betty was much
like this game which followed IN
which she was quite out OF 1t all,
watching the maneuvers Of Paul and
j. Dan from the sidelines And little by
little she began to regret, first, her
impu1sive departure, then her pro-
phetic utterances, which apparently
ne mad taken SO
doubt he knew she had gone to avoid
his presence at the post and was revei-
ing in his chance to demontrate how
little her repulses troubled him.
Then an odd thing occurred. In
Joan's presence Paul invited her TO
go with him on yachting party and
aItho surprised at herself. Betty heard
herself accepting On the evening OF
the trip she found Paul had drawn
two chairs close together in secluded
corner of the stern deck. For awhile
they say watching the play OF moon
light on the scudding foam OF the
wake. Then, out of clear sky, Paul
turend to her and said, You see,
Betty, took your advice bout dark
ladies,"
So he had known. after, all-proba-
bly, thru her aunt
well, I'm sure you found It good
she managed TO answer lightly But
how did YOU know it was II
VERY easily returned the man.
"once having seen you in a similar
character at an amateur performance