The Snowflake herald., 1920-02-06
The Tea Cup
Analyst
gAO
BY RALPH HAMILTON


mated at forty. the seeres., Of the vF.
iage, she never laid claim to any
extraordinary occult powers. Her
speciality was tea grounds and She
enjoyed telling fortunes through the
bottom of cup.
"of course it may be SHY and all
that" Miss Dayton confessed. but its
pleasure for me and fun for the bright
young spirits who flock about me-
never try to find any misfortune i'm
the tea grounds-but always some
thing bright and hopeful and happy"
Miss Dayton had invited five girls to
ten and rs they reached the end of the
rejection there was a thrill of ex-
citement and anticipation as she an
nounced:
Now then, girls. pass up your tea
cups in the order in which yon sit and
| will try and construe what the tea
leaves say. Oh dear My own cup
predicts a new arrival. 1t is a hand
some young man. Don't dutter So
Only one of you can have him.
(Which is tie lucky girl?" pressed
Ada Rankin.
Not you. dear" announced Miss
Dayton, "for you already have one
ring and | see another one coming"
There was one new girl in the group
who took in all this exhibition Of clair
voyant power with great innocent
eyes. She was Elsie Travis and she
shrunk back timidly as she passed up
h<,. foi ~, 4
Dayton took up the cups in turn, gave
each one a shake and impressively sur
veyed the leaves and specks. over
two of tie cups she shook her head
quite doubtingly. Then she picked up
the one Elsie had drank out Of
Elsie had noticed that in some way
her cup had been put fourth in order
instead Of fifth, whore it belonged
Miss Dayton did not know this.
alma Wharton's cup" she an
nounced mis- akenly. "Ah! here's
fine oracle. Alma. YOU are the forum
ate one. Here is the handsome stran-
ger. The sun is shining when he
comes and / see an auto ride in the
moonlight. sweet love making
blushing. happy bride, fairy castle
like a palace"
Alma laughed gayly. 81 shall tel
my farce MI about it." she eEulted
"and make him Jealous" and then as
Miss Dayton read a fanciful fortune
from the last cup-really Alma-the
party Noke up.
Miss Dayton had introduced "tne
handsome young man because a friend
in another town had advised her thar
one Perry Barton, living there. had
been left some property in Elmwood
through the death of a relative. inelud-
inc the show place of the town. che
Cedars.
The impressionable Elsie was cons. d
erably aroused by the fortune of the
teacup and she began to live ro-
nance, wondering if the prediction of
Miss Dayton would come true.
A week after the tea party Elsie,
stroling through the woods in quest
of flowers, came upon young man
near the hotel at tie lake. He walked
with cane and suggested person
who had recently sustained some limb
injury. 4 queer thrill pervaded Elsie
as she noticed with one swift glance
that he was young and undeniably
handsome, and her foolish little heart
futtered as he halted and lifted his
hat courteously.
"You will pardon me, please, but do
YOU live in the toWn?" and then, as
4 Elsie assented. he added: 81 met with
an auto accident a week ago and have
been rusticating at the hotel. start
ed for Elmwood expecting to get some
mail but l find my sprained foot will
not carry me there. | wonder wheu
YOU go back to the village if you could
not get my mail will give you a
written order-and hire some accom-
modatlng lad TO deliver it to me and
1 will gladly pay him for his trouble.
Il will see that your wish is attend
/ ed to- replied Elsie, and The young
+ man wrote on a card authorizing the
postmaster to deliver to the bearer
/ What mail there might be for Perry
! Barton.
4 Elsie received three letters at the
post office. She had it in mind to
have her little brother Ned take them
to the hotel He was not in ready
I call, SO she herself walked back to the
lake. Mr.. Barton was profuse in his
thanks. He told Elsie the details Of
his accident and she sympathized in
his mishap. He had started for Elm
wood on business, but this was Eost-
poned on account of his accident and
awaiting repairs on his autonobile
But that would be ready for use the
next day, he further told Elsie, ana
would she bear him company then, ana
add to her kindness by showing hiin
the points of interest in the dlstrictf
And one moonlight night little later
as he took her home from a drlVe
around the lake, it suddenly daWned
upon Elsie that at least two points ID
Il