A Wasted Love

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1227, 19 January 1905, Page 4

A Wasted Love

CHAPTER XXIY.

In the morning Madgo rose and dressed 1 before anyono was asiir, and as she giiaed 1 round she realised that if Monk Toweis looked imposing by night, it was wonderful in the sunlight, i A knock came to the door, and opening it, she found 'Marion outside, ; Tho girl looked surprised at seeing her mistress already dressed. "Miss Tresyliau's love, ma'am," she said, and will you breakfast with her'?" Madge coloured. ■ ■' Miss Tresyliaj sometimes has breakfast in her tfwn room, ma'am," explained Marion, " She is dressed, Shall I show you the way?" " Please, for I fori as if I should bo lost in this great place," Mirjon smiled' willi dejfure respect, and Jfadge, after opening " the door of Eoyce's room, and culling 10 him, ''l am going to bronkinso with Irene I" followed the girl. ■> They went a lialo way down the corridor, anl Mariou opened a door and announced Madg^ Irene camo to meet lier. " Aro you very tired ?" she said jof'Jy. '• Tired 1" said Madge. " Why should I bo? Btcuupo of the journey yesterday'/ That does not tire me. You should have travelled as I have dune, On the shaft of a caravan—" She stopped and flushed. Irene looked at her with kecu interest. " As I lay awako lust night 1 was thinking of you and your life. I almost envy you." " Envy me," said Madgo with expand* ing eyes.- " Yes, continued Irene, it must bo so delightful tu live so near (o nature ;• to be always free." "But we wen not free," Madgo said gravely. "Wo had work to do." "Work! What work did you do?" asked Irene with a smile, " I made baskets," said Madge simply. " And I looked after some of the children ; and sometimes wlion we were at faits I told forinnee. A gypsy is never idle," " You told foitunes 1 ('an . you tell mine, Madge?" Yes," replied Madge gravely. " But not really ?" said Irene, the smile still on bur face. " Roally ?" said Madgo. l " I don't know. Some people lliiuk it is all guess work and nonsense; but it is no!. There aro rules and signs—" She stopped, for Irene's maid had entered with tha bccakf sst tray, and the iwo giils remained silent while she placed it on the table Madgo noticing the service of exquisite china and oriental silver. " You need not wait, Lucy," said Irene. "An? there is really something in fortune telling?" she said when tho maid had withdrawn. "I don't know. I suppose so," said Madge. Irene poured out tho coffee from the massive silver oafetiore, and hdped Madge tokiiiie omelette. IP always thought that it was nonsense, . and—forgive me!—deception," " Perhaps it is," said Madge. " But we —I mean we gypsies—go by rule. We believe in it," alio added 'as simply as belore.< Irene looked at the fire dreamily, I won(er if it is wicked to want to know one's future!" she said. ' " Wicked ?" repeated Madge. I don't know, Almost every one wants to know, All sorts of people camo to ask me to tell their fortune," Irene held out her hand. "Tell mo mine," she said laughing. Madge drew bock. "'Oh, no, no," she said. Then she laughed. " But you do not believe in it ? It is'only fun ?" " Ijjyont promise to believo in it," said Irene! '• Yes it is ouly fun. Try those rissoles, dear; the cook makes them very Well," And she put ouj|bn Madge's plate. Then she held out her hand again. " I suppose I must oross it with silver, musn't I ?'' sho said laughing. Madge the suggestion aside, " No. that is not necessary," she said, " We tell fortunes by the lines," She to'okjlrene's hand. "What'a beautilul baildl" she said half involuntarily,, " It is no smaller than yours," retorted ■ Irene. " But how white it is I Let mo see." She knit her brows and studied tho 4 lines on the palm intently. " Well?" said Irene smiling. " What do you say ? Is it very bad or very good "It is bad at first," she said. '■ This line," she ttaced it with her forefinger," is broken and runs aslant, That meanß jour bappineßs receives a check. But it joins again presently higher up, and that means that after a while you will be happy again," Irene laughed softly, " Show mo the lines, - ' Bhe siiicli Madge traced tbpm. ' " And do you meau to say that they are ;different t9 the lines on other person's .hands." , ' said Madgo. • "No two bands - are fllllte. Look at these lines," and she , ■ followed them out. " This means that you are rich. Aro you?"' "I think so. "Yes, Isupposo I am rich," said Irene. "Well, that is right anyway," said Madge. '• And this long one maans that you will live to be old." ''Oh,come," said Irene, laughing," you can't tell that, Madge I" "I oflly judge by the lines," said Madge There it is, you see; a long, straight' thread." " Well, I see," said Irene; "but I don't .Jtnow whether to be glad or sorry.'' And she stifled a sigh, "Yon should be glad," said Madgo, " for, see, the line of happiness, though it is broken just hore, joins higher up; - and that means that you will be happy presently—if you are not;now-and will remain happy" Irene laughed, J' It seems very easy," she said. "I think I should make a decent gypsy if I had a lesson or two, Let me see your hand, Madge," \ Madge held it out, smilingly, " Yon set 1 , as I said, it isn't so white as yours?" "No," said Irene, " but it is not red,

. . BY CHARLES GARVICE,

but the most delioious brown; and if I were ft man I should bo tired of white hands. We women are nil alike; we dress alllie, talk alike, smile alike! No winder the men weary of us and liavo to be forced to stop in a bull or drawing* room, rushed oIT tho very first moment they cm to ihrir o'vn' dens' hs they c;il it. Yes, wo are all cast in one mold, and have 10 lie \vi-aris3ui<ily monotonous!" "You menu ludws," said Madge, simply- ■ / To be conliiwcd.