Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/100

 "Shall I ever marry?" the tone was one of genuine interest now.

"There is a line of marriage but it is slightly curved upward."

"And that indicates?"

"Some obstacle in the way."

"My broken life line again, Miss Celeste!"

"No," she said. "There is some other reason."

"An all-round disappointing hand, I infer," he laughed. "But come. I'll read your hand."

He took the frail little member in his own and with difficulty resisted the impulse to raise it to his lips.

"A lucky hand," he begins, "broad and plump at the base as every woman's should be; thumb not too large, which also is eminently correct. Life line long, clear and unbroken; head line indicates that your life will be guided by good judgment. Heart line"—here Reuben's step was heard ascending the stairs and shortly he appeared in the doorway with Hernando's supper.

Celeste had quickly withdrawn her hand