Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-12-14

would reside with them aud firm a
member "fhis family circle. This was
the acme of her wishes ; and thus mat
tiers stood short time after that event
fii epoch in the lives of parties concern
ed, the wedding day.
The morning toilet completed, Ida
hasiened Ia the breakfast parlor, where
she found her aunt impalenlly waiting
for the dtjswe. I4t
'My love, you look "A lille too sweet,
some more of The milk, thank you, Child
pale this morning, | think, said The
aniiquated dame in her usual broken sen
iences.
Il am quite well, aunt, replied Mrs.
Wingion.
Il am glad To hear that you are, my
child, bei you certainly are-a pirce oi
dry toast Somewhat languid. Where
is ihp scaprgrace Harry
How lorgetul YOU are, aunt. Why,
This j. the first oi September said Ida.
'Ah, shooting then, of course. Mar
ricd men should not indulg ge often in such
amus"menIs. Frequently do we hear of
guns bursting, aud hnle of that
tongue xpnding accidentally reJoin-
ed The aunt.
A follower or the illus,ri,us Arab,
Mahomrt, exclairns, when the shades OF
sorrow are cast upon his path, Otis my
destlnyn Whether this creed he founded
on semblancr of truth, ar the gravity
of n bubble lighter than air, IL shall firm
A 1 IN he,
here stated is the simple fact, whether
fate winged The shaft or not Is innaterial,
that, while Ida was d,opping piece Of
sugar INTO n cup of coffee, her wedding
ring slipped from her taper finger into
the saucer.
'IIeaven preserve us-lleaven pre-
serve us = -Jaculaied the aunt. It's n
fearful circumstance. Direlul- dreful.
" hai is the matter = said Ida, spring
ing from her chair.
The ring, the ring = murmurcd the
aunt, bury my her lace IN her handker
chief.
Here it is replied her niece, replac-
ing the magic hoop upon her finger
Cbild child, IFS an awful sign'
'Of fwhat, aunt 2
Accident or misfortune of some kind
for It's said Ere the sun be set, sorrow
will rise, when from u bride The ring doth
fall" replied the aunt, with n melancho-
ly anticipation of evil.
A nrrry laug h burst from Ida's lips,
and she turned the object of discussion
dcrisivelv round upon The end of her fin
ger, when her aunl's anger was some
what cxcned at this expressed contemp,
Tor the prophecy, and she sharply con-
llnurd, Eou may rdicule any Thing,
chil but recullcot many loud laughs
have changed into bitter tears
'Why do you wish to lrighien me 9
asked Ida, in u tone of rcnonslrancr.
I've no wish to alarm you. But | much
diSapprnve of le,Ity upon orcasions re-
quiIing seriousness, replied the aunt.
Il cannot believe IN such obsolete
things they are so ve,v silly said Ida,
with an III suppressed smile.
so il appears, my dear: but do be-
leve in them added the aunt.
Then tell me the reason for So DOING
said her niece.
'NIy reasons are countless. Circum-
stances admitting OF no doubt have been
related to me by dozens,' reJoined the
old lady. /
Not convinced that hcarsay evidence
was to be deemed conclusive, Ida in
qnircd If her aunt had evp' Witnessed an
Of this To he dreaded fatality. II
Bless me you talk like lawyer /
Cnce heard nj the asSiZes, who would moi II
permit an honest man to say what he
heard =
Indeed = exclaimed Ida with pretend.
ed gravity.
'lrs quite true, my love. The man
was about telling that a nrighbor had
told him of something which had posi-
lively been related To a very particular
acquaintance OF his, when the inconsis.
tent lawyer jumped up and said THAT
no evidence tell us what you saw, sir,
not whsi YOU heard Gpodness me as
il one couldn't be told the truth, said the
aunt, quite indignant at The reminis-
cence.
'We certainly should not give too
much credence 10 what we're told, re-
NlIed Ida circumstances are so pxag-
yeraicd, aud purposrly mIsconstrurd,'
Yes, yes, that is perfectly true bu,
'eople now -a-days disbelieve everything \
I was not = when ] was H girl-warnings,
iigns, omens and dreams were regarded
ruh proper observance. Now it is
hoUshi fashionable Ia laugh AT them II
'hhough, for my part, ] think persons
, no laugh at superstition are ms full of il
~ those who admit lis influence
we are all, more or less, prone to be-
] believe said Ida. But q
II me about dhe rIug. wish to hear a
'f some mishap following the Iuckless
all from the wesrcr of this public sign of
In
Listen, child, and i'll narrate to you
'nr wh'rh know tn be irue, although ]
I'D not s"e the occurrence, rrJoined the
'unt, With annther shake of The wig. I
IL was n rough day in March, and two
ears aii'r'lr union OF avery dear fIend
4 mine. that her husband wns dressed
W. huniing Oh that dangerous, reck-
rss amu.rmrni Being late, he was
asicniug 10 depart, and, IN his hurry 10