"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.