The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-04-02
Fortuue-Telline

You must knock, Kate whispered Ella, al
we reached the door.
1 won't answered stoutly, but as the res
! all drew back, Iadvanced and gave timid rap
The door opened instantly, and we saw, not ex
actly the sybil urimagln had conjured up
buta woman who looked enough like the witcl
Of Endor to have been her twin sister Yor
may laugh, but saw the old lady once, at al
exhibition of wax figures.
Walk in, she said, in voice that sounded
to us very hollow and ghastly indeed. We
looked at each other, and silently obeyed
sSit down. she muttered, waving her hand
toward a row of wooden chairs that stood
against the wall. | could hardly keep from
laughing at her solemn manner, and saw that
Ella, who, by the way, is a sister Of mine, was
in much the same condition. However, have
more command over my risible faculties than
she has, and had the satisfaction of seeing the
old witch frown as her slyery laugh ran through
the room.
Laura Bell looked frightened, and cousin
Mary was absolutely shedding tears .Endor'
pretended not to notice them, and busted her
self in putting together few dirty cards that
| lay scattered over the table.
Then she turned to Laura, and asked her il
she came to have her fortune told She was
answered in the affirmative, and opening side
door, which none of US had noticed, She mo-
toned Laura to follow her. The poor girl look
ed at me implorngly, and starting to my feet,
| asked the old witch if I might 60 with her,
thinking all the time how strange it was that I,
the youngest of the troop, should be endowed
with such superior courage.
Not if you wish your fortune told, she an
swered, soemnly. | Immediately disclaimed
any such intention, told her only came with
the other girls for the sport of the thing, and at
last gained an ungracous assent.
Following our guide, we entered room SO
cheerless and desolate that one might almost be-
lieve every ray of natural light was shut out
forever, and the tallow candle that burned dim
ly upon low shelf, served only to heghten
the mystery of dark corners and cupboards.
felt Laura's hand tremble in mine I look
ed at her, and she was colorless as marble
| Laura l whispered, you do not fear her
prophecies? Come, let us go home-you are
not well, your hand is as cold as ice
Wait Kitty, wait, she answered, earnestly,
my heart burns like fire, if my hands are cold.
Don't leave me- and she grasped my dress
tightly. ! felt strangely and the old witch's
voice rang in my ear like knell
Young lady, she commenced, L am the
voice of fate. Give heed to my words, for |
can read your very heart and soul.-your past
and future
Invountarly uttered an impatient 'pshaw, ,
but Laura looked at me again, imp,oringly,
and l said nothing.
The sybil continued, You have loved once,
and the object of that love is lost Fearfuly
gazed into Laura's eyes, as the image of Will
Stanley, as [ saw him last, rose up before me.
She was pale, very pale.
go on, she whispered hoarsely. The wo-
man raised her voice. But you will love again
you will wed another Never whispered
Laura, and an unnatural glow, for moment
succeeded the palor ofher cheek-it was gone.
and she leaned against me for support.
You will wed another, and you will have
bitter cause to regret that you ever did So
Your life will de long and weary. Isitenough?
questioned the woman, as she glanced at Lau-
ras rapidly changing features.
TOO much,' | answered. almost anorily, as
l drew the half fainting girl from the room.
Ella and Mary had been consulting togeth-
er, and were full of courage when we entered.
Are you ready?' asked the woman, who had
followed US to the door. Yes, yes,' they an
swered, which shall come frst?'
You may come together she replied, for
SO will your fortunes be-
Gaily whispering to each other, they entered
the fatal door, while sat in the dim Novem-
Der twilight, waiting, with Laura's head upon
my shoulder. She was weeping bitterly, and
my own unbeefhad been terribly shaken. Oh,
[ knew how well she had loved poor Will Stan
ley, and how their faith had been plighted
when she was almost child. Her gentle heart
was yet bowed beneath its first, great sorrow,
and the fortune teller's hand had probed the
wound most cruelty, without bringing shadow.
Of hope to soften the pain it inflicted. Will
Stanley left her when she was but sixteen, for
a few months absence. Four years had passed
since then. For three, she had worn mourn
ing in memory Of the lost one~-not SO deep as
that which shrouded her young heart. Could
she love again? Something seemed to whisper
fyes'-lt was strange, this woman's power.
In about halfan hour Mary and Ella return
ed, but the woman did not come with them
Silently they laid some money on the table, and
we all left the cottage together. I saw they
were in no mood to answer questions, and we
walked home slowly and in perfect silence.
The next day, as Laura and cousin Mary
were preparing to go home, laughingly ask
ed Ella what the witch said to her. She re-
fused to tell me, and to my surprise Mary did
the same. They never told me, and never
even smiled when the subject was mentioned.
But Laura s secret was mine, and determin-
ed to watch it closely
Six years have passed since our visit to the
Fortune-teller, and |, the wild, careless girl of
fifteen summers, have been transformed, oh,
% strangely, into sober, thinking woman.-
Reader, would you learn the fulhlment of the
prophecies?
Cousin Mary has long been resting beneath
he church yard mould. Her young heart
'oon found its mate They were lovely in
heir lives, and in death they were not divid-
ID. Her chosen one sleeps beside her, and on
he smooth stone above them are traced these
words: Herbert and Mary Close to the turf,
IN the very edge of the marble, is name, sEl-
a. showing whose hand raised that token to
heir memory
And she is sitting here beside me, that sweet
lster Of mine, with a dimplcd cherub in her