Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-15

|
cred with cat skins
" know your errand, Kester Pateman, -
said Bran, solemnly. have been working
out the hor' scope oil night 1t is a case o.
difficulty"
kester was profoundly impressed by this
prescience, and his poor old hands shook as
he drew out his leathern purse, and said
Bran, it's not money nor corn this time
it's my BARN Katie"
The sage nodded and echoed,
Katie ! | knew it,"
WHAT must | give ? This ?"
And kester took out o gold piece, and laid
it on the seemingly unconscious palm of Bran
Enough, Kester Pateman," lrepled he !;
" enough Tell me what you waut-your
daughter is smtten-"
Yes Bran but there was lone told me
you had charm agen the Evil Eye. Would
it save her F? Will you sell it p asked kester,
trembling all over with anxiety, land stretching
out his feeble hands with the purse to Bran.
BRAN took the purse, but said severely:
do not sell, kester Pateman-talk not
of selling. Describe TO me the chld's symp-
toms, and be at peace"
| The wise man had voice of such pretur-
natural depth that it really seemed as if his
words were also OF superior sagacity Kester
| listened to him with the rrofoundest faith, and
then gave description Of Katie's state-her
! pale cheeks, her stiffness, and her CRYING
Bran shook his head
don't say she'll die Kester, and | can't
say she'll live but there's one chance if you'll
try it."
I'll do anything, 'Bram-why Id die for
that BARN ! You don't know how | love my
Katie What's the chance, Bran !"
The stars will not be hurried, kester Pate
man ; they have not spoken yet. Come and
see"
The sage led the way into a second room,
in the middle of which was table whereon
lay sheet of paper with sundry figures and
scrawls thereon.
Look here" and Bran began to trace q
line with his foreiinger. "This is girls line
of life. Mark it we'll kester Putcman"
Kestcr, dizzy with anxiety, fixed his eyes
on it intenty.
Here is a man of battles it passes him
This part shows them that seek her in matri-
mony them that she must not marry, kester
you mark me !"
kestcr nodded his head
She must not marry any one CT these with
the cross agen 'em. Not this with the spade,
the figure with the sack, nor him with the tai
lor's goose, nor yet this man leading of horse,
nor yet that one with the peaked cap and fe-
rule-the stars have spoken agen 'em ALL"
Kester wiped his forehead aud said he saw
that clearly enough.
Mark me agen, kester," pursued the sage
sinking his voice until it sounded as if it came
up ont of the toes of his boots mark well,
for | can't show you it second time. This
is the sign of a powerful man who has come
over the sea-he'S got sickle and gun.-
The sickle means that he shall reap abundance
O. corn, aud live on the fat O. the land all his
days, and the gun is q token that he's a brave
man ; and his face being to kate's line o life
is sign that he loves her, and that she has q
thought for him. Are Sou hearkeniug Kes-
ter ?"
Yes, Bran, hear Oh +! bat you arc a
knowledgeable man. These following the
first marks with his fingers, are surely Rob
M'Lean, and Jasper I4infoot, and here's Phil
Cressy, and Peter Askew, and Tom Garter,
and Johuny Martin---"
Thcm's their names None o em must
your Katie marry, the stars has otherwise be-
spoke for 'cm. Do you know who this last is,
kester ~
1t maun be Alick, the wild Irish reaper
ulHi t!tdl y dN VIZ CiuilC hOh
Him it is, and 10 other The intcrpre-
tatioa therefore is just !" said 'Bram emphati-
cally, and he rolled mp the sheet of paper
keSter Pateman was greatly in awe of
! 'Bram but he endeavored to protest against
the conclusion.
Brain, couldn't you bring forward an
other :" said he, hesitatingly.
Can alter the stars kester p replied
| the sage in his sternest tone 81 do not
make, or mend, or mar, | Ouly read tor the
blind what is written. You must give your
BARN Katie to Alick, or she'll die"
90 | wll-surey will, Bran :" in great
haste cried poor kester. He's honest ifhcS
poor, and katic'll not have penny. Tell
me, kester, will sell my corn we'll this time!"
You shall, responded BRAIN @ You shall
sell it as others do"
Have you that charm agen the Evil Eye
that one told Inc of Bran ?" kcSter humbly
inquired.
Yes, Kester but it is not to he bought
with silver nor gold. Send me half bushel
of your best ats, and YOU shall have it. Eve
parted with many, but I've only one on hand
now, and it's a good one
Let me have it, Bran. You'll get the
ats tomorrow morn"
Bran went to drawer in the dresser, and,
after rummaging for some minutes amongst
its contents, he brought forth hare's foot
with a string attached to it. lie smoothed it
carefully with his hand, muttering formula
of words to himself as he did So
You must put this in your pillow, kes-
ter, and every morning, the first thing when
you get up, oper the window, and fix on some
particular tree or bush, and look at it steady
while you spell your own name backwards
three times. You must look every day fast
! ing at the same thing, and in time it will with
or away and die. And SO you'll be cured, and
in shifting the tree the rest o your things'll
| be safe"