WHEN LILITH ASKED “WHY?”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2366, 5 December 1908, Page 11 (Supplement)

WHEN LILITH ASKED “WHY?”

The palmist had been examining the upturned pink and white band of Lilith and had found in the myriad lines traversing each other at diverse angles signs that pointed to many things. Yet the predictions she made were not, on the whole, unpleasant. True-, the soothsayer had spoken of difficulties, sorrows, illnesses, and other tribulations t-o come in future yeai but the preponderance of evidence of the lines was entirely of happiness, wherefore Lilith was plea ed. ‘‘Mademoiselle wool pices to cloze ze Iran’,” directed the French woman. Liliih did, and the fortune teller scrutinised its plumpness adjacent to the little finger. “Mec-t ces zat- mademoiselle wool bo two lim-’ married.’’ whereat Lilith sat up !u doin' the accusation. “1. will not,” she declared, then pouted prettilv, as she asked: “Why?”

“Pardonez?” queried the palmist. ‘‘Yv’hy am I going to be married twiceT Will 013’ first husband die or beat me?” And she shuddered at the pro pect, though she did not regard its revelation to her as authoritative.

“Ze signs zay noosing,” the woman replied. “Eet ees not given zat we peer so clozely in ze future Eet ees ze kismit,, wka’ you call fate.” And Lilith was politely bowed out of one door to make room for another believer in things mystically marvellous.

“The horrid thing! I don’t believe a word of it,” said Lilith. And she doubled her fist and gazed at the wrinkles made by tbe contraction, for it was thus that the impending disaster had been discovered.

The information was doubly disagreeable to Lilith. In the abstract she abhorred the thought that slie could love two men in her lifetime, and also—what was of infinitely more importance—she was engaged to Harry Maxwell. “The idea of Harry hurting me, or treating me so mean I would have to leave him. It’s osilly,” she told herself. “And he isn’t going to die, he’s so absurdly healthy. That woman is a mean old cheat, and I’ve a good notion to go bac J k and tell her so. She can have the dollar.; that isn’t anything, but she’s got to take back what she said.” But the girl reconsidered and went on to keep an appointment fox* luncheon with her lover.

“What’s the matter, Lilitli?” Maxwell asked when they wore in the restaurant. “You look as gloomy as a poet or a grass widow whose alimony is a year in arrears.”

“Harry, do you believe in bumps on your head or the lines on your palms, or anything like that, indicates what’s in the future?” she asked Jjim instead of replying to his question.

“That’s all rot, Lilith; have you been to one of them?”

“Are you sure you ? re healthy, and—she began tremulously, as if in fear his reply would be disheartening.

“I have had three life-insurance solicitors in the office this morning, and two others have been camping on my trail for three months,”- he said. “I don’t see what—”

‘ ‘Any time they come for a man. that strong it means they have decided he will live forever. They’re looking for premiums, not deaths, dear. Cheer up, won’t you? Don’t-pay any attention to that sort of nonsense,’'' and lie Hied tg }au.gl» uwug Imf wood.

“And, Harry, I know I’m- foolish to ask it, - but—but—you wouldn’t butt me, would yem—l mean -after wci— -wo arc married?”

“I might kiss you into- a delirium or hug you to death, or—” lie replied bivnteringly. . “I wouldn’t mind that,” said she, and there was ghost of a smile flitted across her face.

Then Maxwell spo'ke severely, not in words betraying annoyance, hut with gentle firmness. ' ifilitli, the only possible harm that will come to you from me will be an overdose of happiness and I don’t think that will hurt 3 r ou, little girl. Now, just tell me what has put this nonsense into your pretty head. There’s something hack of it. What is it-,, best girl?” “Oil, Harry, I went to a palmist this morning and she told me that I was to- be married twice and”—and there was a suggestion of tears in her voice.

“And she told you a dollar’s worth of contemptible, gush, the same palaver she hands out to every victim she lures to her place. Lilitli, I’m surprised 3'ou would think seriously of going to such a place and astonished you should believe it.” And there were wrinkles between his eyes, brought there by perplexity, as he wondered how lie could rid 1 her mind of its morbidness.

“You know, Harry, if it is going to he true I’d—l’d rather you were my second. - I wouldn’t want to- live if you died and I would die if you treated me badly and 1 —” tlic despair in her heart found expression in a pathetic gesture of helplessness as she waved her hands from her -as though pushing the horrible ogre away. “We’ll talk no more of that. I’m not going to die. I’m not going to beat 3-0 u and there will ho no second husband for 3’ou, sweetheart. You are going to he Mrs. Harry Maxwell all .vour life and there is no escape from it,” lie declared. “I don’t want to escape lrom it,. Harry’. That’s wliv I’m worried,” she said softly, and there was lovelightshining in her troubled -eyes. It was not a particularly enjoyable luncheon and usually this hour snatched in the midst of a busy’ da3 T was wonderfully sweet and tender to both of them. Now the shadow of the future hung heavily and, though Maxwell was irritated at the triviality of its origin, he could not help realising its serious aspect to the impressionable girl and pitying her because of it.

The poet who involved the neartruism that “there is nothing new under the sun” overlooked the angles of the feminine mind. If the palmist had told Maxwell that lie was to he hanged some gloomy Friday, and would be buried in a 13 dollar colfin, with “23’-’ nails to keep him in lie would have laughed and dismissed it from his mind in the course of a good cigar’s aromatic smoke clouds. But Lilith was haunted bv* the words of the seeress, though she repeated over and over again that she did not believe a word of it. Site did, and, moreover, to prove it,, let her mind become so troubled with her fear that when Maxwell called a few days later ho was told she was ill and a note she had left was given him.

“Harry, dearest,” it began, “1 can’t help it, but I still think of what the woman said. Suppose it came true? Don’t you see how miserably unhappy I should be if anything happened to you? I love you, sweetheart—you know how much, and 1 want you, hut I want you first, last, and always. To think that you are to bo one of two. t it’s horrible. Do you know, Harry, I beliove I could throttle tlio other man when lie conics,” but Maxwell read no more.

“How is she?” he asked her mother

“Exhausted from nervousness. The doctor says she will break down completely unless Her mind is relieved. I know, Harry, it seems foolish to us, but it is dreadfully serious to Lilith, and I don’t know what to do,” she concluded.

“I do,” said Maxwell. “Mrs. Arkwright,, I want you to tell Lilith I will call for her to-morrow at four o’clock, and will expect her to be ready to go out with me. No, I’m not going to marry her out of hand, but I’ll cure her of this malady or there will be one less palmist in this town. Don’t give her my message too gently. I don’t mean to be cross with her, but let her understand she is not being asked to do it, but told to,” and Maxwell left.

He knew the palmist Lilith bad seen, also their ways, and he had some little money and an hour to spare.

Lilith was dressed for outdoors when he called the following day and though she looked wan and weak from the torture she had endured made no protest when he asked her to go down town.

“"Where are we going?” she asked“l want to see that palmist with you,,” he replied. “If this thing is coming to spoil both our lives I want to know it, and particularly how she can foresee it. Don’t shake your head, dear'; I quite, realise yon don’t like to go there again, but it’s only fair to me, and there will be no scene.”

The prophetross listened as Maxwell outlined the situation and confessed recognition of Lilith as a previous caller.

“I want to know how you can tell?” Siiid, “It' H is su A we will

do something to counteract it. Now make another examination,” he said, and took a seat near by. There was no deviation from the original reading until Lilith was asked to close her hand for the indications of matrimonial ventures.

“Eet ees of ze truly,” said madam, said the woman. “Ah, zc crease w’icli of before I zay rnak’ ze twoi time married;,,. I was not right. Eot ees hero,” and she pointed to. the lines formerly so fateful. ‘ ‘licet oes not zat, I should zay, but zat Mademoiselle will marry onse, and weel be two time happy,” and she looked at Lilith.

“Ti'uly!” cried the girl. “Truly?”

“Eet ees of ze truly,” said madam, as she eyed an envelope . Maxwell slipped under the table cover when she undid her previously wrought mischief.

“It isn’t true, mother, it isn’t true.” Lilith cried, as she burst into the living room, with Maxwell close beside her.

“I’m glad, -my dear,” she replied, v “It’s just Harry, first and all the time, mother),, I’m so happy,” and she turned to her lover, who stood beside her.

‘ ‘Sweetheart!” she cried, and put up her lips. “Lilith 1”

“You said you would hug me to death, Harry?” she inquired. “Yes, best girl,” he answered. “Well?” said Lilith.