The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-25

Out you KNOW tnat ALREADY. OtOp-iei ue iooh
again."
This time she hesitated, and slight shade
of fear or apprehension caused by the Doctors
manner, stole over her face.
You need not fear. shall tell you nothing
[ see there"
"Nor any one?
Certainly not"
He looked long and closely into her little
hand and a shade of deep seriousness gathered
about his forehead, and directly he took the
hand between both of his, and looked into her
face with the kindest, saddest interest, / ever
saw in the face of man.
"Doctorl" exclaimed her sister, springing
to their side, "you believe more in it than you
are willing to confess to yourself"
"Be still do not. l promised to tell you
nothing saw there, my child. Will you let
me speak one word ,"
Not one--not syllable, Doctor"
at is nothing | read there-it is only one
word of counsel"
"No-Doctor-nol will not have it."
"Think a moment, young LADY," and he
looked in her face with the same serious gaze,
while her eye was fixed on his.
"Have you decided?"
"You may tell it to me alone"
"You would certainly excuse me, my dear
madam, if "-and he hestated while he waited
for the consent of Mrs. Cummings. There was
an expression of deep anxiety in her face as she
gave it. We had all, even to the cool and in
credulous Mr.. Cummings, become deeply inter
ested in the scene.
What the Doctor said to her, none of US
knew at the time, but Nina told US two days
afterward. 1t was this:
"Beware how you take the step you are now
meditating, my dear girl. Your own frmness
of character and your resolute will, if you pur
sue the right and reject the wrong, will carry
you safe through the darkness that is now around
you. Be true to yourself. / know not what it
is. Your own heart will tell you if am right"
There was something in the troubled look and
flashing eye Of the girl, as she turned away from
the Doctor towards us, and in the anxious care
that showed itself in the face of the mother as
she watched this conference, that made me sus-
pect that there was something in the history of
Nina which did not know or understand, and
about which her family felt no little soictude.
The Doctor resumed his seat, and Immediately
turned the conversation into different channel,
and for the time, at least, we seemed to forget
what had taken place. In the morning, after
breakfast, he left US.
Two days afterward we were all surprised by
another visit from the Doctor. He was on his
way down to see the same patient whom he
had visited the evening he had passed with u.s..
1t was just after breakfast when he called, and
as We all rose to receive him, he said
off 1 may judge from your faces, am not
an unwelcome visitor. But l could not pass
you without stopping, for felt no little anxiety
about the effect of our conversation the other
night"
GU are most heartily welcome, I assure
you, Doctor, IS you will always be-" said Mr..
Cummings, "and especially now, as l have a
good opportunity to test the accuracy of your
skill in palmistry; or rather, perhaps, to de-
termine whether there is really any truth in
it,
lou know | make no pretence to the latter,
| sir. Bet you cannot be more solicitous than
am to learn all that can be known about it. But
what is your test?'
Nina has told US this morning the commu-
nication you made to her. VIII you look again
in her hand, and tell me if there is really any
thing there to warrant such caution as you
gave her?"
We al gathered round him as he took Nina s
hand, which he looked at but an instant before
he said, as if speaking to himself:
Gould have been 80 much mistaken?
must have been, Or there is some unaccountable
change here. VIII you allow me, Miss Nina,
to say this morning what saw in your hand
at that time"
"Ies"
Remember, l believe nothing-~you must
believe nothing. You will observe these lines
in this part of the hand. The night before last,
there was great confusion in these lines, which
suddenly merged and terminated in this point.
In the language of the gypsy, this would denote
trouble and care which had been gathering
about you for some time, and was now centred in
the present. A little farther OF, they appeared
again, separated into two, one following uni
form till it gradually vanished, the other
-ldividing into several, which again became con-
kUsed, aud contorted, and lost. These were in
The future, and denoted two paths, one leading
: sn through sunshine ard peace, and the other
trough trouble and sorrow, and perhaps
. Trough sin and shame"
"And which was her path, Doctor?" asked
kr mother.
g, II 1t would depsnd upon her own choice. l
I dlld not tell. Bat have the utmost conf
: Dice in a resolute will to choose its own path,
. az had seen In her face and actions all the
8 fitness necessary to decide for herself, and
5 tHefore gave her the advice did,"
= lAnd you say there is change since thenp''
e Dr else was mistaken then. / see now
. bplhe one clear line traversing the future, de-
s noAg calm, and peaceful, and tranquil lfe y
3 Nut alone, Doctor ssid Nina, with sad
a smil
e "erhaps so, my dear girl, though they are
nevas olitary who walk in company with their
l. own hearts. Trust in God, and always do
r, right
l. * my father if have not done So"
n MrCumings put his arm around her, and
drew lr to his side, and kissed her.
g 9TH my caution had meaning in it?" asked
the DIOR.
!" Thelwas most strange coincidence in the
case. br two years. Nina had been receiving
S, the attAions of man, who, in the opinion o.
or her parns, was 10 way suited to her, by educa
y tion orhtien, or habits of life. There is nc
lie doubt b she loved him, as the young love
r. formings their own minds bold ideal, anc
D. clothingswith all the splendid drapery tha
n fancy c4es, and then attaching all these
I'd charms tome individual, without stopping t.
%. Enquire il his real worth II is the misfortune
of early Nth, and not rarely the folly of ma
'e- turer yea To the firm and decided mind o
IS, Nina, the opposition of her parents made nj
diff9-ence1She thought she was consulting
so her own hpiness, while they were selfish an(
&C. cruel in Siding between her and her love TO
him. Thehad always, however, treated hin
to 9th kiudnS and respect, though they mad
IA. no concea!sp t of their opposition to his suit
It's Bat the euing before the Doctors first visit
ay an al!ercati look place between him and Mr.
ire Cummings, INF oh be used insulting words, ant
ed was forbiddahe house, and he departed, say
nd ing:
re. "In fewgs your family, sir, will humble
ter one less."'
The next lining, letter was placed ir
aid Nina's hand, a messenger from the village
ou the contents Of hitch she did not communicate
But all day Ii there was a look of unaccus
lie toned indecist and care in her countenance
,ur She moved III the house as if in a dream
Be- and not till toS ii evening die she manage t.
fhrouu II off atAnnaar horaalf again. INT