The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-04-18

outline OF former beauty, shuff1es across
the uncarpeted floor for her spectacles,
and then shuffles her cards.
= And nowsle looks in the pallid face of
her visitor; muttering audibly but not dis.
tinctly, and holding forth the cards, Keep
ing still that dusky eye fastened on The
eye Of lie girl. As the latter cuts the
cards, the hag mun,bles.-
81 Sc, see; not married; moo My
eighteen; first name Matty, second nnlne
begins with c. Home not in the city.
father very cross-farmcr mother dead
got no sisters-no brothers-penty Of
money coming a
"Why, how did you know all thatr
cries the girl, with startling syebals, and
the cards fell from her hands.
"My art, young woman; are not all
the mysteries Of the future, the realities
Of the past, known to me hy the secrets
Of my artl". ..a...-r-.-
But she did not add, IL have been told
this 10y one who seeks Your run;" and
she continues her vile TRADES, promising
fortune, faith and fidelity, love and mat.
rimony.
"And now, young woman" she adds,
holding out her skinny hand 2rLSr fee,
40 prove that have told yodtruth-
He you love, and he QUILL marry
Whether fortune come or tarry'
Stands outsidc,and will meet you once more
Or The threshold of this door.
Bless you, your a9cc is AS red as rose
wont lie get pretty wife ! guess
so"
With a heart bounding, yet sinking the
tcwiIdercd girl lifts the door latch. pas-
sing quite uncCnsciou>ly, and seemingly
at his ease, walks the accomplished yoang
rO0e, the object OF her thoughts for many
a wakeful night. Catching her face with
an innocent surprise lie springs towards
Ecr, and on the threshold their hands
meet. a pair of dusty, gIit;cring eyes
shine out in the dark entry beyond, and
the worker in ini4uity chuck!cS tiendish-
ly.
That night is bitter one. The poor
girl, thinking hcr>clfhound 10y fate, and
guiltilY loving one whom her grey-haired
father abhors, consents to the importantly
Of her lover. Passion conquers virtue,
and the next day the old man bows his
head in shame. His money drawer is ri.
fled, his soul is rubbci-his daughter, the
most priceless gem OF his love, has descr.
ted him in his clleerless decline.
Why repeat the oft told story Of suffer
ing AMI repentanccl Why add that the
willy adventures had already wife that
his cruelty bro a loving heart; THAI the
girl, q shadow Of her furmcrself. returned
with the hectic Of consumption blazing on
her wasted cheeks Returned 10 sec
poor old man borne out in his coffin to .
grave OF her own making; returned to
lingcr through n few lays Of wretchedncss
then 10 die a victim to the Letestab!c wiles
Of u hoary fortune-tcllcr.
o. young girls, beware Of these signs:
they are written over tombs--the tcn.bs
Of blasted POPULATIONS. Su,!y not your
souls 10y contact with the impure pander-
ers Of every vile passion. In these days,
when wOmaniy modcSty is outraged and
broken down by women, when it is not
accounted virtue TO tie true, Just, forgiv-
ing and self denying, shun all examples
that outrage morality and decency {;
frown them down by your practice, and
there will soon be nothing to 10 for those
pests Of our cities, fortane tcliers, but to
grow honest or 10 he shut bctween strong
walls from decent society," Boston Oi;oe
Branch. .....