Plainly the
celebration was on.
"'My dear, dear Patsy,' he said affectionately.
"'Oh, I tell you what let'h do,' said the maiden impulsively; 'let'h go
and have our fortunes told. I am dying to have mine told. Last night I
dreamt for the third time that Aunt Genevieve had died and left me all
her money. Maybe there is something in it. The palm of my left hand has
been itching all day.'
"So to the fortune-teller's we went.
[Illustration: Professor Habib.]
"Professor Habib was a Parsee, with features Irish in their intensity.
As I gazed at him I thought of the far-reaching kinship of man. Here was
a Fire-worshipper out of Persia, who for all the world looked like my
brother Mick; and God knows Mick's no Parsee! Habib wore his native
costume with a little red fez on top.
"'Be seated,' he said courteously; again reminding me of Mick.
"'Which one first?' he asked, pointing to a little inner room curtained
from view. The Judge suggested genially that we all go in together, but
the professor explained that one at a time was his invariable rule.
"'Oh, all right, all right,' said the judge, somewhat miffed; 'far be it
from me to--to----'
"'Ladies first,' said I.
"''Tis well,' said the professor, with a salaam; and the pair
disappeared behind the draperies.
"'I wonder how long they are going to stay,' said the Judge, after we
had waited some fifteen minutes.
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