Ward, whom no one including Annaтs brother
thought was pretty, was laughing at her.
"Mr. Hale does not want an actor in the
family," Miss Ward said, and Anna
regretted the generous impulse that had
sent her all the way across town on such a
gloomy day.
"Wilkes Booth is back in Washington," Miss
Ward finished, and Anna was at least able
to say that she knew this, he had called
on them only yesterday. She left the Wards
with the barest of good-byes.
Louis Wiechman passed her on the street,
stopping for a courteous greeting,
although they had just seen each other at
breakfast. It was now about ten a.m.
Wiechman was on his way to church. Among
the many secrets he knew was Annaтs. "I
saw John Wilkes Booth in the barbershop
this morning," he told her. "With a crowd
watching his every move."
Anna raised her head. "Mr. Booth is a
famous thespian. Naturally people admire
him."
She flattered herself that she knew JW a
little better than these idolaters did.
The last time her brother had brought
Booth home, heтd followed Anna out to the
kitchen. Sheтd had her back to the door,
washing the plates. Suddenly she could
feel that he was there. How could she have
known that? The back of her neck grew hot,
and when she turned, sure enough, there he
was, leaning against the doorjamb,
studying his nails.
"Do you believe our fates are already
written?" Booth asked her. He stepped into
the kitchen. "I had my palm read once by a
gypsy. She said I would come to a bad end.
She said it was the worst palm she had
ever seen." He held his hand out for her
to take. "She said she wished she hadnтt
even seen it," he whispered, and then he
drew back quickly as her mother entered,
before she could bend over the hand
