Part 18 (1/2)
”All right,” I answered; ”success is all that I require.”
Mrs. Warne then withdrew to make her preparations.
In a day or two I received a letter from Miller. He said that the talk over the inquest was gradually subsiding; that there were some few persons who were not fully satisfied with the manner of conducting the inquiry, but that the general effect had been favorable to Pattmore; that the latter had began to drink a great deal, though not enough to become intoxicated; that he, (Miller,) had been taken into Pattmore's confidence to a considerable extent; and that the latter had expressed an intention of going to Cincinnati to make a visit. In conclusion, he said that Pattmore was doing his utmost to appear cheerful, but that he looked very haggard, and seemed to be in great trouble.
Miss Seaton reported to Mrs. Warne the same day, that she was becoming more intimate with Mrs. Thayer, though the latter manifested no desire to take any one into her confidence. The day previous Mrs. Thayer had gone to the post-office, where she had received a letter, as usual. She had torn it open, as if very anxious to learn the news it contained for her, and had then crumpled it nervously in her hand, after reading it.
Miss Seaton also described a scene which had taken place that morning.
Mrs. Thayer was in her room about eleven o'clock; soon afterward Miss Seaton went to the door and knocked. No answer being given, she went in quietly, intending to surprise Mrs. Thayer. She found the latter deeply absorbed in telling her own fortune with a pack of cards. Miss Seaton laughed pleasantly, and said:
”So you were telling your fortune, were you? Well, how did it come out?”
Mrs. Thayer looked somewhat confused at first, but she gathered up the cards mechanically, and said:
”I don't know how to tell my fortune; do you?”
”Yes, indeed, I used to be a splendid fortune-teller,” replied Miss Seaton. ”Let me try to tell your fortune.”
She then shuffled the cards, dealt them in three piles, and turned up the last card, which happened to be the queen of hearts.
”Now let us see what your fortune _has_ been, what it _is_, and what it _will_ be,” said Miss Seaton. ”You are represented by the queen of hearts; this pile contains your past; that one your present; and the third your future.”
So saying, she turned up the top card of each pile. By an odd coincidence the present and future were both clubs, the past being a diamond.
Miss Seaton said, gravely:
”Your past has been pleasant, but your future is unpromising.”
”Yes, it is always so,” replied Mrs. Thayer, despondently.
Then, as Miss Seaton was about to go on, Mrs. Thayer threw all the cards into a heap, saying:
”No, I don't want to hear any more; I shall have the same luck throughout; clubs always come to me.”
”Have you always had such bad fortune?” asked Miss Seaton.
”Oh! no; only a few years ago, I used to be as happy as a bird; sorrow was unknown to me, and one enjoyment seemed to pa.s.s away only to be succeeded by another. Now I have nothing but trouble all the time.”
”Your lot seems hard,” remarked Miss Seaton, in a sympathizing tone; ”probably you feel worse since your husband has been dead.”
”Dead!” exclaimed Mrs. Thayer, springing up; then, recovering her presence of mind, she sat down, muttering: ”yes, yes, of course, he's dead.”
”What do you mean?” said Miss Seaton. ”Is it long since he died?”
”I do not feel well to-day; and I shall not try to read my fortune again when I am so nervous,” replied Mrs. Thayer, evading Miss Seaton's question.
Seeing that Mrs. Thayer wished to change the subject, Miss Seaton did not press her further. The two ladies remained together until dinner time, and Miss Seaton read a portion of ”Eugene Aram” aloud. Mrs. Thayer became deeply interested in the book, and borrowed it to read.
Next morning I received a telegram from Miller, briefly stating that Pattmore had left Greenville. His destination was Chicago, though he had given out that he was going to Cincinnati.