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Show B (Copyright, 190C, by Dally Story Pub. Co.) I Mrs. J. Arthur Smytho wn.3 easily tho loader of Huntingdon's Four Hundred. Hun-dred. Sho had established her right to tho tltlo on a hundred battlefields, and whllo certain captious and dissatisfied dis-satisfied persons still persisted In referring re-ferring to tho origin of hor appear-nnco appear-nnco In tho social whirl, all such captious cap-tious critics found thomsclvcs most embarrassingly placed and invariably becamo exceeding sorry that they had spoken. In vain was It that thoso enemies of Mrs. Smytho or thoso opposed to hor sway, recalled that, after all sho was jiy. only tho wlfo of old Jako Smith, and that tho foundation of Jake's fortune was laid In tho tavern down on tho cross-roads. In vain was It that her opponents pointed out that tho origin of tho fair Mrs. Smytho hcrsolf was clouded In rumor and surmise. For after all question and rumor and sur-mlso sur-mlso had dono their worst, tho great fact remained that old Jako had made his millions and had left them to his charming widow. Also was it truo and evident that whatever her origin Mrs. Smytho was a woman of most conspicuous talent and charm and hor oxecutlvo ability was such that all tho other daughters of Evo In tho town of Huntingdon had reason to fear and respect re-spect her. In vain wns It to Inquire how tho good honest old na,mo of Jako Smith had dovelopcd Into J. Arthur Smytho. Thoso who had Inquired had found out even unto tho fullness of their several desire and nover inquired in-quired again. Her parties wero charming. So do-M do-M lighttul was her tact and so great her Hi resources that ovcrybody was glad to HB go. They always wero entertained HH perfectly, and moreover, they always HH heard tho very latest bit of gossip and BH wcro Initiated into tho very latest so- HH . clal fad. Honco It was that on a cor-HH cor-HH tain evening Richard Sherry found HH himself bowing over hor fair hand In HV tho Smytho drawing room. HH "Why, Mr. Sherry, this Is a compll- Hi mcnt, indeed," exclaimed tho hostess. HJ "To bcgullo a recluBO and a woman BH hater from his lair Is a foat indeed. HB Tho party is assuredly a success." Hfl Tho man smiled gravely. IHB "One Is always suro to bo bright- HH ened up and havo ono's wits sharp- HH ened hero, Mrs. Smytho," ho said. HB "What Is It to bo to-night theosophy, HH 4 a now artist, a musical prodigy, vaudo- HJ vlllo or n literary lion." HB "A poor guess," sho responded, HK brightly. "What would you say to HK palmistry?" K "Palmistry," ho repeated'. "Ah, I HB soo. Dark-eyed gypsy girl and all K "Still wrong," sho replied. "I've IH found such a darling. Do you romem- HB bor tho Raymonds who used to llvo HB hero and moved south or somowhoro HH fivo years ago? Yes, I thought you EHj know them. Well, Dr. Rnymond lost HJ his fortune and died and Mrs. Ray- IB mond and her daughter aro back hero IBB again trying to support thomsolvos. MB Tho girl has dovolopcd a perfect gen-Bj gen-Bj i lus for palmistry and docs qulto a bit Bj along that lino. I have cngagod her to IB co mo horo to-night and read palms." IB Ho did not answer. His oyes wero IB far away and tho hostess, thinking ho IB was bored with tho conversation, 1 1 mm Alone with his thoughts. I ' H changed tho subject and passed him BC along to tho bovy of pretty girls al- I B wayB to be found nt her right hand. HE Ho soon mado his oscapo, howovor, I HH and passed Into tho conservatory, SB whoro ho could strugglo alono with his BB thoughts. BB Roraembor Ploronco Raymoudl HH What clao, Indood, had ho boon doing BH for tho past flvo yours, slnco ho had Bf thrown himself at her feet and naked BBm hor to bo his wife. It had boon tho BBm. ono groat passion of his llfo and ho IBM bad always felt suro that sho returned his love, but sho had felt it her duty to remnln with her father In his mis-fortuno mis-fortuno nnd had resolutely refused to permit an engagement or oven an understanding, un-derstanding, remarking that it would bo unfair to spoil his llfo by holding out a hopo which probably nover would bo fulfilled nnd would further keep her mind in a stnto of distraction. distrac-tion. Sherry had taken It hard and abandoned socloty for business and books. Tho shock ho received nt Mrs. Smytho's disclosure that Florenco wns to bo thcro and In such n role was severe se-vere and brought back a flood of memories. mem-ories. His revcrlo was cut short by Mrs. Gazed upon the woman of hie dreams. Smythc, who discovered him in tho conservatory. "Come, come, this will nover do," she crlod, tapping him with her fan. "When tho hermit comes to Romo ho must do as the Romans do. Como and havo your hand rend." Unresisting ho followed hor to tho library, where the ontortnlncr wns reading tho palms of all comers. "I havo found a splendid subject," said Mrs. Smytho, triumphantly. "Hero is tho enigma of tho town. Wo want to know why so fascinating a man should bo a rccluso and a woman-hater. woman-hater. Wo want also to know his fate his lovo affairs, past and present." Shorry gazed upon tho woman of his dreams, and sho looked up straight Into In-to his oyes, gravo and unresponsive. Sho was not n guest and know her placo. He also knew his. But ho was startled at her, unchangeable beauty. Tho years seomcd not to havo told at all upon her. Indeed in tho short gypsy skirt and with her hair down her back sho seemed younger than ho had over seen her. And jtt thoro was an Indefinable something In hor eyes which mndo hor seem nioro mature and womnnly something as (hough a great sorrow had chastened her. Ho placed his hands in hers. She followed tho lines Intently, looked at tho lingers and general shapo of the hands. "You will llvo to a very old ago," sho said. "I do not seu much sickness, sick-ness, punt or future. Your head Is exceptionally ex-ceptionally strong. No mental trou-bio trou-bio will overcome you, You uro Intellectual, In-tellectual, fairly artistic and a money mitkor." "And his heart?" put In Mrs Smythe. "His heart Is well undor control, but ho Is capable of n great and nbldltig iovo for a woman." "Is his passion passed or to como?" relontlossly pursued Mrs. Smytho. "I pee a Strang lino about tho age of 30," said tho girl slowly and very low. "It seems to bo cut and barred. It looks llko some obstacle." "And tho futuro?" insisted Mrs Smytho. tho gin iookcu long and earnestly. She wns breathing a trlllo faster and tho color had como into lior fuco. "I cannot boo tho future," sho said, and then dropped his hand with a gesture ges-ture of exhaustion, "I am very tired Mrs. Smytho, and really must bog to bo excused from any nioro work tonight." to-night." Tho crowd drifts back Into the drawing room and tho palmist slips Into tho conservatory. Shorry follows her unobservod. After a tlmo they reappear re-appear in tho drawing room, where Mrs. Smytho Is receiving the congratulations congratu-lations of her lust dopartlng guests. "Mrs. Smytho," suld Shorry, "I will llnHli. thu reading of my own palm. Tli 3 barrlor has been romoved and tho cno great passion of my llfo for the ouo woman In tho world Is to bo realized. re-alized. Mrs. Smythc, permit mo to nrosont tho futuro Mrs. Sherry, and to thank you for tho happiest ovenlng In my life." And Mrs. Smytho catching the dl-vino dl-vino light in both their eyes remarks tactfully: "I think I may call this party my greatest social triumph." It certainly was much talked about |