New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-23
MAY MoRToN's FORTUNE.


Cottonwood Hail. Ky. BNLLE.
MAY MORTON's FORTUNE
There never was fairer spring morning than
that on which company of us girls set out on
our secret mission, never was bluer sky or
balmier air. Mapleville was all verdure and
bloom for the roses had begun to open their
pink buds, and the honey suckle gave its fra
GRANGE to the soft May winds. 1t was almost
June, and the cool shade of the thick naples
was already quite refreshing, for the season
was uncommonly early, and vegetation remark
ably forward and the warm sun beams poured
over valley and hillside, making the blue lakes
dimple and smile, and the bright streamlets
sing and dance onward like merry, gladstone
children.
We were gay company, with hearts bound
ing to the music of all around US, and as We
skipped over the rocky hills, and down into the
green wales, we sent out many a joyous shout,
which came echoing back over the murmuring
brooks, mingled with the melody of their own
ripping waters. We were taking circuitous
route, our path now winding up the craggy hill
side, and now through shadowy glens, and often
we stopped to rest beneath clump Of naples,
and recline upon the messy mounds that looked
so green and tempting in their quiet shade
| We had rambled more than u mile, when we
came to a thick, dense grove of naples, through
whose twisted branches and matted leaves the
sunlight could scarcely struggle, and here, as
if by common consent, we threw off our bonnets
and seated ourselves upon the verdant turf,
wiping the big drops from our flushed faces, and
reveling in the luxury of that softly murmuring
breeze.
But. dear reader, it is time to introduce TO you
my fair companions of that eventful rambler;
and | do it gladly now, for each bright, happy
face is before me- as then it beamed in Joyous
ness and unclouded light. There was little
Grace Buckley-but you are already acquainted
with her, and you know all how she was borne
away from her mountain home to grace South
ern palace. And there was Clara Day; she
was a slight fairy girl with large, soft blue
eyes. almost too light, had it not been for the
heavy tinge Of black which threw kind of
shadow over them; light faxen curls that
danced over her white shoulders and about her
snowy neck every time she moved her little head,
, and a mouth small and full of sweetness. Then
! there was Susy Claire, young city girl, who
had come to spend the summer months with her
4 old grandfather, Elder Mason. She was tall,
2 elegant, wild creature, with grace in every mo-
tion and music in every tone Of her clear voice.
Her eyes were dark as night, and her heavy
braids shade deeper; and there was always a
rogush smile about her full lips, while its light
beamed from her large playful orbs. You could
not help being happy when Susan Claire was
by, for her laughing face was enough to drive
luc SpiIlt VI misery lIuH It's lIIUuc. MA
Norton was with us-the lovely, sweet May
Norton Some used to say that May was proud,
she had such dignity, and so much of queeply
grace about her, but We knew her to be the
, most atfectionate, glad-hearted pure souled girl
among us. l can hardly describe her beauty.
1t consisted more in varied expression than in
d perfection of feature. Her eyes were a soft
gray, large, brilliant, and deeply eloquent, some
8 times subdued and gentle in their gaze, and
!. sometimes kinded with an intensity of light that
>, made you droop beneath their power. The
s dimples would come about her red lips with
every smile and her cheeks were ever changing
= from pearl-like whiteness to a rich, beautiful
j. glow, and she had one of the sweetest of fore
heads, low, but pure as alabaster, and made
r more lovely by contrast, for the hair which sh'
4 always combed smoothly back from its polished
,. surface, and plated about the back of her head
8. was black as the ravens wing. May was ont
to be noticed everywhere, and those who knew
her could not fail to love her dearly.
A wild ivy clambered about the huge trunk
and threw its clinging fingers around the grea
branches overhead, forming a sort of arbor
while all around us the tall, pale flowers of til
wood waved and nodded in the breeze 1t wa
u captivating spot, and for n few moments ou
noisy mirth was quelled, and we gazed aroun
with subdued feelings.
At last Clara Day broke the silence, and tn
smile that beamed through her black lashe
brought a ray of mirth back to every heart.
l. 81 do not wonder the old witch choose sue
u a place for her head quarters, for it is littl
nj nj paradise, though the way to it be somewhatlon
i. and tedious. But are we not very near our en-
in campment? Hark, l heard a rustic in the shrub
o. berry NEAR" and Clara's eyes looked rathe
- timidly towards the green wall of leaves tha
n n hid the deep forest from our view.
sslt was nothing but the birds, or, at most
- - Il gray squirrel gliding through the bush, sal
IL. Susy Claire, as she raised her large, dark, mis-
chievous eyes to Claras face. ave are nc
r. come to the old woman's tent yet. for l hear
- Benny Rogers tell my grandfather that the fol-
- tune-teller lives at the father extremity of th
maple forest, and we have but entered it yc
Dear old gentleman! what would he say did h
know that his crazy child was seeking the misei
able imposter, as he called him. But am SUI
l.. it cannot be wrong to amuse ourselves in tn
- way, for we all know better than to believe tt
n poor creature knows what she pretends to-
~ ''Oh certainly said Grace Buckley, &c v
Ei M DO know better And am sure it cannot har
Nj. us to go and see how the old lady is getting OF
and BESIDES it is such fun to climb the hills al
,., tread the velvet meadows, and pluck the wi
e" flowers; and then this delicious GOODNESS, tn
: little fairy arbor-it alone is worth the wa
4 hither."
T. eyes, said May Morton, those bright dir
!. pies coming to her beautiful mouth, and Il
ioSe-SloW W uSl Cueeh. yeo' ~ 10
here, with the sun beams all shut out and Il
slu. dear little birds fitting all around US; al
then it will be so amusing to see the old woma
AIRY who will gaze with her great wild eyes over o.
heads, and tell us all about the past and t
future. All let us hasten, for want to he
'ck. her tell my fortune And the gay girl start
. to her feet with ringing laugh, which W
;us echoed by every careless heart in the group.
' We followed scarcely perceptible path til
wound along through the thick shrubbery, un
we came near the opposite side of the fores
'yp where, through the opening trees, We could d
- cover the fortune teller's rude tent, pitch
n upon the strip of grass that ran along the 81
of the grove. susy Claire took the lead al
v earlessly approaching the side of the tent, lift
+ % q the soiled cloth that hung loosely about t
es- slight frame, and thrust her bright face
meath it.
is. "Will you admit some visitors, madame
n was answered by a harsh, grating voice, will
,res, ,n simple, "Come in, young girls and we +
avor lowed our brave leader to the sibyrs presen'
nis,, 9dsn know we all shuddered as we came to
New strange old woman's side, and even Susan Cla