The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-01-30
CHAPTER II.
THE sYBIL's cIKoLE.

The next day, H0nora informed nef
grandmother, Madame Auderly, of God
frey,s presence in the neighborhood, and
the old lady sent her only brother, Colo
mel Shannon, to fetch him to Piedmont.
Godfrey accepted the invitation. On his
arrival, he found that General Sterne, the
Governor elect of Virginia, and his son,
had just taken up their quarters, for sew
eral days, with Madame Auderly; and
the old lady, in his honor, at once sent off
cards of invitation to some of the neigh
bors to visit her that evening.
When tea was over the company adj
! iourned to the drawing room, where, soon
after, the guests invited for the evening
joined them.
First came Father O'Louherty, the par
ish priest of st. Andrews Church, at
Grassland.
| The next arrivals were Mr.. and Mrs.
Willoughby, and Mr.. Heine.
Immediately after them came DIR. and
Mrs. Henry Hawe-the doctor, a man of
great fashion and elegance, the lady, a
delicate, pensive woman, with a sort of
sad, moonlight face, beaming softly out
between her feecy locks of jet.
And, last of all, to the astonishment of
everybody, came old Hugh Have, who
had been invited as matter of courtesy,
and was not in the least degree expected
to make his appearance.
He came not alone. On his arm he
brought a young girl, uninvited. but
whom, with grave courtesy, he presented
to his hostess as Agnes Darke, the daugh-
ter of deceased friend, and now his
ward, who had arrived only that morn
ing, and whom, presuming on Madame
Auderly's well known kindness, he had
ventured to present to her.
Madame Auderly, reader of faces,
was certainly attracted towards her and,
after little talk, that confirmed her first
favorable impression, she took the hand of
the orphan girl and conducted her to the
group formed by the Misses Auderly, Mr..
Sterne, Mr.. Heine, Mr.. Dulanie, and Ho-
nora Paule.
Under the auspices of Miss Rose Au-
derly, they were just about to form what
she called a Sybil's Circle, for which pur-
pose, Messrs. Heine and Sterne were dis
patched to bring forward ronnd table.
Miss Rose went to cabinet to seek the
"Sybil's Leaves" which she presently
produced. ALI then seated themselves
around the table.
| A dead silence reigned. Rose shuf1ed
the cards, turned them with their faces
down, and then, addressing the right
hand neighbor, Mr.. Sterne, in lew voice,
she demanded
"What would you with the Sybil ?''
II would know the future partner of
my life,'' was the formal answer.
"Draw i''
| The young man hesitated for while,
smiled, and, rejecting all those cards that
were nearest himself, put his hand under
| the pack and withdreW the lowest one.
"Read !'' he said, extending to card to
the Sybil.
"Hear !" she exclaimed.
IA widow. beautiful as light,
Twill be your lot to we'd
With Q rich jointnre. which shall pour
Its blessings on your head.
There was general clapping of hands,
and shouts of laughter.
1t was now Miss Jessie's turn to test
| her fate. Being a young lady, she would
not put the question in the usual form,
but merely inquired what should be her
future fate. The answer drawn was
".To dandle fools and chronicle small beer.'"
a reply thatnearly extinguished Miss Jes-
sic for the evening.
II declare, if here is not Mr.. Hugh
Have !' exclaimed the lively Lily, as the
old miser sauntered deliberately to the
table, and stood looking with indolent Gu
riosity upon the game of the young peo-
lpie "Come, Mr. Hawei declare, you
shall have your fortune told 20
"Well, well-the commands of young
ladies are not to be disobeyed,s replied
the old man, gallantly, as he extended his
hand and drew card, which he passed to
the Sybil.
| Amid profound silence, and in sol
emn voice, she read
:" Thy fate looms full of horrorl From false
Near at hand. perdition threatens thee =
! 4 fearful sign stands In thy house of life -
An enemy-a fend turks close behind
The radiance Of thy planet.-Oh, be warned!n
"Pshaw what serious moekeryin ex-
claimed the old man, scornfully, as he
turned away, and gave place to his neph-
ew, who had all the while been posted
behind him peeping over hisshoulder.
aWill you permit me to test nv for
tune 2" inquired the " fascinatingn DR.,
HAVE.
| "And what would YOU with the Sybil ?,'
was the response.
at would know the future.''
"Drawl" said the Sybl, in tone ol
assumed sternness.
/ Smiling bis graceful but most siniste,
smile, the doctor drew card, ard passed
lit to the reader.
| Hear :" said the latter, lifting the tab
I let of fate, and reading
"a. knoe Ges thou fearest the solemn night
VITA her piercing stars. and her deep winds
There's tone in her voice thou fAin would
For ii asks what the secret soul hath dsnel
And though there's weight on thine +
i Back to thy home and pFsy ,'''
Look I declare how pale the doctor
| has grown - exclaimed che lippant Jessie
One would really think, to look at him
that deep remorse for some unknown
crime preyed on him.
"Nonsenssi Jugglery Z" said the lat
ter. turning away to conceal his agitation
!, The eyes of Honora Panie followed hin
with the deepest interest-shere was up
J on his brow that she had never seen be
fore.
4 The next in turn was Agnes. Turnin;
to her, Rose said
g What seek you in the magic circle