th have the mumps."

"And why not?" demanded Miss Dowson with great warmth. "Why not?"

"I'm only reading what I see in your hand," said the other. "At fifteen
I see her knocked down by a boat-swing; a boy from opposite brings her
home."

"Passing at the time," murmured Miss Dowson.

"His head is done up with sticking-plaster. I see her apprenticed to a
dressmaker. I see her----"

The voice went on monotonously, and Flora, gasping with astonishment,
listened to a long recital of the remaining interesting points in her
career.

"That brings us to the present," said the soothsayer, dropping her hand.
"Now for the future."

She took the girl's other hand and poured some of the liquid into it.
Miss Dowson shrank back.

"If it's anything dreadful," she said, quickly, "I don't want to hear it.
It--it ain't natural."

"I can warn you of dangers to keep clear of," said the other, detaining
her hand. "I can let you peep into the future and see what to do and
what to avoid. Ah!"

She bent over the girl's hand again and uttered little ejaculations of
surprise and perplexity.

"I see you moving in gay scenes surrounded by happy faces," she said,
slowly. "You are much sought after. Handsome presents and fine clothes
are showered upon you. You will cross the sea. I see a dark young man
and a fair young man. They will both influence your life. The fair
young man works in his father's shop. He will have great riches."

"What about the other?" inquired Miss Dowson, after a somewhat lengthy
pause.

The fortune-teller shook her head. "He is his own worst enemy," she
said, "and he will drag down those he loves with him. You are going to
marry one of them, but I can't see clear--I can't see which."

"Look again," said the trembling Flora.

"I can't see," was the reply, "therefore it isn't meant for me to see.
It's for you to choose. I can see them now as plain as I can see you.
You are all three standing where two roads meet. The fair young man is
beckoning to you and pointing to a big house and a motor-car and a
yacht."

"And the other?" said the surprised Miss Dowson.

"He's in knickerbockers," said the other, doubtfully. "What does that
mean? Ah, I see! They've got the broad arrow on them, and he is
pointing to a jail. It's all gone--I can see no more."

She dropped the girl's hand and, drawing her hand across her eyes, sank
back into her chair. Miss Dowson, with trembling fingers, dropped th