The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-06-04
How I Had My Fortune Told.


odorous hedges all alive with snowy haw-
thorn-buds, coming, ever and anon, into
little Villages, and then passing through
copse and woodland, when, emerging out
of le"fy coppice, the sounds of merry
fife, and the laughter Of number of Young
peasant boys and little maidens, met nv
ears; and presently was on the skirt of a
pretty village green, with its "pound," and
"stocks," and velvet sward, and little may
pole, built in front Of rampant "Red Lion,' y
swinging before an old-fashoned, rambling
old tavern-some hundred yards across, the
pond, all alive With ducks and Cabling
geese; and tho scene was rs perfect pas
toral-as lovely, and as thoroughly English
AS anything I over came by chance across
in the course Of my life.
All at once, while was leaning on my
stout stick, and glancing at my dusty shoes,
and then across the green call pied with
daisies" to the merry throng at the may
pole, and listened to the laughter of the
young ones, and the sllrill but rejoicing
''morris" of the flute, n voice by my side
startled mo with its deep, rich, contralto
tones, saying, "Cross but the gipsy's hand
with piece Of silver, my pretty gentleman,
and have your fortune told I"
turned, and looked upon face whose
fascination took away my breath. have
ever been sensible to facial beauty, and had
seen many pretty face in my rambcs, both
"British" and "foreign"- home growth and
co'onial''-but not so attractive, so startling
rs this
The hue was of dusky olive, in which
the rich blood mantlcd as in rapid pulses.
The eyes were large and lambent, deep and
dark and flashing like wells of light out of
brown, fatholnless depths. The lips we're
tull, ruddy, and Of moist, verncil hue,
which is not to be discovered in painting,
unless Morland may have hit their warmth
oftone.
Tho hair was black and glossy, stealing
in long, sinuous curls beneath white Golf.
covered by broad -leafed "bucke" hat, and,
with the red cloak and the russet bodice,
there stood before me the loveiest ideal of
"gpsy OF eighteen the eye of reality ever
rested upon.
"Let me tell your fortune, my pretty
gentleman :"
but now came procession of at least
score Of gipsies-mals and female, old and
young sturdy manhood, rich, mature ma
tronhood, infancy, in its donkey panuicrs,
and old age, in it's light car-all going, as
lguessed, to neighboring fair; and their
lips wero full Of fur.ive mirtb, as the cipsy
halted, and held me still by the witchcry of
her glorious eye.
On they passed along the winding road.
and we were still together. For time
gazed dreamily after them, and then FULTON
her. The eyes had ceased to be bold-thev
dropped before mine.
your fortune, my pretty gentleman I"
still echoed in my ears.
was handsome fellow enouch-so nv
sister said. I was strapping youth-five
feet ten in my stockings-could pull, and
fence, and wrestle, and had carried s'double
fisst"-so she might not have been so much
mistaken in her "prctty gentleman" after
all.
One man-a strong-built carl, six-foot-
er, at least, having in bis arms splendid
game-cock, going to make main, doubt
ed not-turned upon me with something
evil in.his glance, in which read a passion
that, in the unknown nature of the gipsy, I
had never dreamed Of before. lie spoke to
her ina voice half of command, half of en-
treaty.
"Prance it, Judith, after the Ro,ns and
Juwas,"he said, in Romany dialect. "Thc
l5usnee blood is cold, and his ely smaller
than his hand, and less to hold"
did not understand his jargon, save that
it WAS something deprecatory. The gipsy
moved not : her smile, her exquisite face,
was yet bent full upon mine. Jealous -
jealous of mo! don't know to this hour
whatstsrred my blood, but never felt such
a thrill Of exultation as l felt at that mo.
ment.
Itook out piece Of silver, and, giving
tito her, held out my hand.
Speak it, Judith" said. "Rcad me
my future, for it is very dark to me, and l
would:know it,"
She followed the lines of life and death.
doom apd fate. Her look grew grave, aud
shel'pge.ed, over her task with certain
ttogbIsd aspectwhicb interested me.
!9a1ge!" she 'murmuted; "for I see
rS5esf mixsdsin this .tapgle of destiny.
There is, trouble---these ia periI-tbere, "a