Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1912 — Letitia Penn Visits the Seer [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Letitia Penn Visits the Seer

By BETTY BIDDLE

In the deep comfy chairs before the bright fire, Peggy and Constance sat waiting for Letitia. That young lady was adding fresn water and bits of charcoal to the Chinese lilies in the bowls of old Canton ware set around her little sitting room. 1 The delicate fragrance of the flowers pervaded the room, subtly recalling the orange groves of the south. Peggy had just returned from a visit to Washington, where she had gone to attend a diplomatic ball. Leaning against the peacock strewn cretonne cushions she told of the “glorious time" she had in the capital. "Oh! girls, I danced with the Belgian attache the most, and he is a heavenly waltzer; and his uniform, oh. it’s perfect! But the foreigners are the best dancers any way, and they certainly known how to talk to a woman. They are not so rough and plain as our men, and they don’t take you for granted like the Americans.

“All of the diplomatic corps was represented, and some o? the younger representatives, and one of them, a westerner, invited us to the capitol. And when we went it was lovely. All of the men sat at desks, just like a school, and Mr. Cannon sat up front, anti whenever he wanted to talk or things weren’t going as he liked he hit the desk with a darling little croquet mallet. I think they call it a gavel, and they all hushed. It was just lovely to see congress in session. Then we were introduced to our own senators and several others, then went to the Willard for tea “It was great fun at ttye hotel. One can ‘ell at a glance just from what section of the country the women come by theirejothes. and it is amusing to see them eye each other. There were as many different styles of dress as there were tongues on the Tow’er of Babel.” A pink satin pillow deftly thrown cut short any further tales of Peggy’s Washington visit. ” “Oh! Peggy, keep the rest of that for another time. Are we going or are we riot?" said Letitia. “Going? of course we are.” said Constance. "Why. I overheard Mrs. Snow and Mrs. Bell and they

say he is perfectly wonderful. He told* Mrs. Bell where her diamond pin wag that she lost at the Castle dinner.” “Yes, and he told the Rittenhouses they would have bad luck, and they did. The cook's baby died, and she had to go home, and that night they were having a big dinner party and that Lord de Trampe was one of the guests. He never visits or goes anywhere unless there is a bully cook. They say he only came to Philadelphia to taste some of her cooking.” “Oh, pooh! If that’s all he comes for he can stay away,” said Peggy. “But let’s go. I've never been to a fortune teller, have you, Letitia?” “No. I haven’t. I’m just dying to go. Walt a minute and we’ll sneak out.” , A few minutes later three brighteyed, rosy-cheeked girls were gayly chatting and laughing while they walkfed briskly to the address of “Astra,” the Wonderful, Greatest Seer of the Age. . 1 Courage flying as they neared the house. “You ring the bell, Constance." “No, you do it, Peggy. You are the oldest.” “Oh, Constance! Only six months older than you.” “I don’t care, it’s something, isn’t it? Letitia, you touch the bell.” “Yes, I will. I am no coward even if I am a year younger than either of you.” Boldly she rang t and nearly fell when the door was immediately opened by a small boy in royal purple livery glistening with silver buttons, each button carved with the letter Across his cap in brilliants “Astra." In his white-gloved hands * silver salvor.

“You wish to see the Master? Come In, I will ask if he can be seen. You have an appointment? No?” The girls followed him Into a small darkened room hung in purple tapestry. The ceiling,, draped with the same tapestry, seemed like the top of a tent and came to a point in the center, topped with a gilt tassel of immense proportions. Several highbacked chairs of carved ebony, with, purple seats, were arranged around the room, and on the high, elaborately wrought mantlepiece crouched an immense golden Buddha. In the fireplace a sea coal fire crackled and threw violet flames on the floor of dark wood, strewn with rugs in black fur. At intervals on the wall lights were placed behind brass shades studded with amethysts. The girls sat huddled together on one chair. Letitia on the seat, and Peggy and Constance on the arms, they waited but a few minutes when the page returned and said: “Master regrets, but he can see but one lady, that Is you,” pointing to Letitia. “Oh!" gurgled the girls. “Letitia, hurry in and find out about him.” W Timidly Miss Penn rose and followed the tiny purple clad figure; he thrust aside the heavy velvet curtains for Letitia to pass him, and turning she lightly blew a kiss to the two bewildered half-frightened girls who clutched each other in the big chair. “Suppose she doesn’t come back again, what will we do?” cried Peggy. “Oh, do you think we’d better run out and get a policeman? You stay, and I’ll go,” said Constance. “No, no! you stay. I’ll go. and I’ll come right back,” whimpered Peggy. “Oh-bh-ooh! What’s that?” “Nothing, you goose; it’s a trolley car. Here we are in our own neighborhood,; lots of people walking, and hear the cars now!” said Constance. “Well, thank God for trolley cars,” said Peggy. “I have always hated them, but somehow they do sound home-like, don’t they? I suppose we are foolish!” On the other side of the curtain Letitia was sitting on a velvet stool before a black velvet table waiting for the seer. Around her glittered a heaven of planets, and weird signs of the Zodiac .in silver on the black velvet walls. From the high ceiling twinkled hundreds of tiny stars with the crescent moon at one end. Heavy black velvet carpeted the floor, and from antique silver braziers around the room came an intoxicating perfume of the East. A strain of music, like from silver pipes, and as if he had floated in, stood the tallest man Letitia had ever seen. Dark he was as the night. Black velvet robe over cloth of silver, covered him, and on his head a silver gauze turban, from the center of which gleamed an immense Opal darting fire. He salaamed three times, then, seating himself opposite Letitia, asked for her hands. “Young you are and beautiful, my daughter, also wise, too wise for a woman. Great force of will, good sense and a warm, loving heart, you will marry—once. Will you gaze into I the crystal?” Letitia nodded. The seer drew a silken cloth from an object on the table, and the twinkling stars grew dim, subtly the eastern perfume stirred her senses; she heard again the silver pipes and she saw red and green fire® dart from the opal on the turban of the seer—it seemed to be the only thing in the room —so bright and fas-

cinating. She swayed, then a cool touch revived her and a calm voice said: “Gaze, little lady; gaze into what it is given few 7 to see, and seeing, to behold aright!” Letitia looked down and down, It seemed to her, into the depths of a clear crystal ball on the table. Long she gazed and saw strange people and cities, and herself. Then she saw two men, one with dark eyes and tawny hair, a sweet, boyish face, and then the crystal clouded. “Trouble,” whispered Astra. “Gaze once more, my daughter.” She obeyed, and in the ball she saw once more the all-compelling gray eyes she knew so well. “You will travel far and long, but you will return,” said the seer, and faded away. The tiny page ushered her out, and at the door, waiting for her, were Peggy and Constance, all smiles; but Letitia walked home between them as In a dream. In her ears soft, silver music sounded, through her senses the heavy perfume of the East, and in her eyes the flashing red fires of an immense opal.

“Young You Are, and Beautiful, My Daughter.”