by Eva Conrad
Reading the Leaves
Myron Musselwhite and his wife, Lady Persephone Musselwhite (for he always insisted that everyone call his wife by the name Lady Persephone, which was the full name given for her on their marriage certificate and entered in the record, no more and no less) spent a couple of years in the circus business together. However, they wanted to start a family, and folks in Gatestown were willing to help them. They came back and set up housekeeping in a tent in behind the Baptist church and supported themselves by doing odd jobs.
Lady Persephone had many talents. Beyond her work as a performer she also had skills in palmistry, reading cards and general fortune-telling; and she did make a handsome sum at times just from that work.
Alice Markley was, in general, against engaging in such pursuits, given her religious convictions. However, she was also, in general, against judging others and looking down on those who aren’t of one’s class or belief. In fact, she realized that she wasn’t of her own class, being the oddest specimen of womanhood in Gatestown. Lady Persephone was the latest novelty, and the distraction she provided to the townspeople was a bit of a relief to Alice. At the same time, Alice knew that Lady Persephone was a complete outcast, and Alice felt that Myron’s family had been terribly cold to the couple.
In consideration of all of this, Alice Markley invited Lady Persephone to tea in her humble kitchen behind the blacksmith shop. Lady Persephone dressed up in her full circus regalia for the occasion, the best attire she had, and arrived at the shop where Alice greeted her kindly and removed her leather apron, leaving her in simple shirtsleeves and trousers.
Alice bathed her face and hands at the washbasin, leaving a pool of blackened water, and the two sat down at the table.
“Miss Markley, I must admit that I feel Myron’s family will never accept us. He is a fine husband, and I feel terrible that I have ruined his family relationship.”
“Give it time, do. He is as lucky as you are and in the course of events his family may come to see that,” said Alice as she looked into the eyes of her absurdly-clad companion.
The tendrils of Lady Persephone’s ostrich plumes waved wildly as a draft blew through the room. “He is a sweet and considerate man,” she remarked. “He never does anything to harm me.”
Alice understood what she meant.
“I do not believe he ever will. He is as strong as an ox! And a good worker. In fact, I had such hopes that he could work here in the shop. I need help. I cannot keep up with my orders, and I have seen his little carvings. I even have a few. I have it in my mind that he ought to try his hand at this work.”
Lady Persephone brightened and stood straight. She had been dreadfully concerned that she and her new husband would be unable to support themselves decently with her fortune telling and his farm work.
“I had asked his family about it, you see, Lady Persephone, but they told me he was too stupid. I know that is untrue,” whispered Alice.
“There is just enough room for you and Myron,” said Alice, “so that you could move out of that tent. I could build on so that there is more space, which I had intended to do. Harvey, my uncle, went to seek his fortune in the west, you see, after… You see, my parents made a misjudgment regarding a tutor, and Uncle Harvey, he too the matter into his own hands. And in the end, he had to leave town for a while, and because of it all my parents agreed that I could become a blacksmith like I wanted, and he left this shop to me and went to seek his fortune in the west. He has a shop in Texas. This shop was his gift to me, to do with as I choose.”
“You are a most unusual lady, Miss Markley,” said Lady Persephone, smiling. She knew the story of the schoolmaster’s assault, and how his brothers had vowed to come after Harvey; and also, how Harvey had convinced Alice’s parents to let her do the work she chose, using their reckless failure to protect Alice as leverage.
“Hopefully, I am,” said Alice as she gazed into the bottom of her teacup.
Lady Persephone picked up the near-empty cup from its saucer, swirled it three times, then drained it onto the saucer. Alice did not realize what her companion was about to do.
“You are a most fortunate woman, Miss Markley. Though you are sad for your uncle being gone, he will come back, by and by. Don’t worry after him so. A child. He will bring a child and a wife back here with him. You are going to meet a man soon. A truly good man. He is in great distress, you see,” said Lady Persephone, moved so that her eyes filled with tears. “You will help this man. I am not to tell you too much. You will be married. It is great fortune, you see. You will know who this is when cold water drops on your nose three times.”
Alice stood up. “But—but—I don’t wanna get married,” squealed Alice without decorum. Lady Persephone laughed. “Yes, yes you do. You just don’t want to give up the good things you have.”
Alice sat back down, placed her head in her hands and cried like a child. “Now, now! Calm yourself down, Miss Markley. I think you have a visitor,” said Lady Persephone patting Alice on the shoulder. Alice nodded, squeezed Lady Persephone’s hand, and dabbed her own face dry with a dirty rag, then went to see who was there.
By the time she returned to the table Lady Persephone had departed. Alice looked outside. There was Lady Persephone in her gaudy glory, and she turned to smile and wave at her new friend, Alice Markley.
