The Senator's Favorite — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Senator's Favorite
John Stuart Mill · en
"What is the address, did you say, Hetty?" inquired Ethel eagerly.
The woman fumbled in her pocketbook and brought out a crumpled bit of
paper that she spread before Ethel's eyes.
"Perhaps I'll go with you to-morrow; I've another engagement for this
afternoon to go walking with Miss Miller," Ethel said carelessly, and
when Hetty saw her going out an hour later in a simple tailor-made
suit and thick veil, she thought her young lady was going to keep her
engagement, and sighed regretfully at Ethel's lack of faith in the
wonderful clairvoyant seeress.
But Ethel knew how to keep her own secrets. She was on her way to the
woman now.
She was not afraid, in spite of what Hetty had told her, for she had
her sister's magnificent great mastiff along for protection--Kay, his
young mistress insisted on calling him, because a beautiful young lady
at the White House had one of that name.
It was a dreary March afternoon with a high wind and sunless sky, and
Ethel had a long walk before her, but she preferred it to riding. She
was an excellent pedestrian.
She reached the lonely old tumble-down brick house, and after knocking
several times was admitted by a frowzy looking woman, who said that she
was a fortune-teller.
"I have a lover, but I fear I have lost his love. I want to know if
I shall ever marry him," faltered Ethel, putting some money in the
outstretched palm.
"I can tell you about him, miss, but you must quiet that dog first. He
is running and barking in the hall like a crazy thing, with his nose on
the floor. What ails him?" uneasily.
Ethel opened the door and after some difficulty induced Kay to enter.
"He will be quiet now," she said, but Kay belied her words. The
beautiful great fellow ran whining about the room, giving every symptom
of excitement and interest. Suddenly he dipped his muzzle into a basket
of trash in one corner and emitted a prolonged and dismal howl as he
trotted back to Ethel.
Turning in surprise she saw in his mouth a long white kid glove, very
tiny, and with golden buttons.
"Oh, heaven! my little sister's glove!" she cried.
CHAPTER VII.
"IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF FATE THAT YOU WILL SIN AND YOU WILL
SUFFER."
"Man's love is like the restless waves,
Ever at rise and fall;
The only love a woman craves
It must be all in all.
Ask me no more if I regret--
You need not care to know,
A woman's heart does not forget----"
The fortune-teller, who was no other than Mrs. Warwick, the laundress,
became terribly agitated at the finding of the glove, and the excited
shriek of Ethel.
"Oh, God! my sister's glove!" shrieked the girl, and the woman cowered
before her, and turned ashy pale.