Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-01-22


visit her that evening.
When tea was over, the company ad-
journed to the drawing-room, where, soon
after, the guests invited for the evening
joined them.
First came Father OLouherty, the
parish priest of st. Andrews Church, at
Grassland.
The next arrivals were Mr.. and Mrs.
Willoughby, and Mr.. Heine
Immediately after them came DR.. and
Mrs. Henry Hawc--the doctor, man of
great fashion and elegance, the lady, a
delicate, pensive woman, with sort of
sad, moonlight face, beaming softly out
between her feecy locks of jet.
And, last of all, to the astonshment 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
broughta young girl, unlimited, but whom,
with grave courtesy, he presented to his
hostess as Agnes Darke, the daughter of a
deceased friend, and now his ward, who
had arrived only that morning, and whom,
presuming on Madame Auderly's we'll
known kindness, he had ventured to
present to her.
Madame Auderly, a reader of faces, was
certainly attracted towards her; and, after
little talk, that confirmed hor first favor
able impressions she took the hand of the
orphan girl, and conducted her to 1.-THE
group formed by the Misses Auderly, Mr..
Sterne, Mr.. Heine, Mr.. Dulanie, and
Honora Paule.
Under the auspices of Miss Rose
Auderly, they were just about to form
what she called Sybils Circle, for which
purpose, Messrs. Hcine and Sterne were
dispatched to bring forward a round table.
Miss Rose went to cabinet to seek the
"Sybil's leaves" which she presently pro-
duced. All then seated themselves around
the table.
A dead silence reigned. Rose shufled
the cards, turned them with their faces
down, and then, addressing her right hand
neighbor, Mr.. Sterne, in low voice, she
demanded
"What would you'd you with the Sybil?"
"T would know the future partner of
my life, was the formal answer.
"Draw y
The young man hesitated for a while,
smiled, and, rejecting all those cards that
were nearest himself, put his hand under
! the pack, and withdrew the lowest one.
"Read p he said, extending the card to
the Sybil.
"Hear ~ she exclaimed:
"A widow, beautiful as light,
Twill be your lot to we'd
With rich jointure, which shall pour
It's 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 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"
reply that nearly extinguished Miss
Jessie for the evening.
IL declare, if here is not Mr.. Hugh
HaweW exclaimed the lively Lily, as the
old miser sauntered deliberately to the
table, and stood looking with indolent
curiosity upon the game of the young
people. "Come, Mr. Have! declare,
you shall have your fortune told /"
"Well, well--the commands of young
ladies are not to be disobeyed, " replied the
old man, gallantly, as he extended his hand
and drew a card, which he passed to the
Sybil.
Amid profound silence, and in a solemn
voice, she read
"Thy fate looms full ofhouor! From false friends
Near at hand, perdition threatens thee =
A fearful sign stands in thy house of life -
An enemy--a iend turks close behind
The radiance of thy planet.-Oh, be warned ="
"Pshaw! what serious mockcryr' ex-
claimed the old man, scornfully, as he
turned away, and gave place to his nephew,
who had all the while been posted behind
him, peeping over his shoulder.
"Will you permit me to test my fortune?
inquired the fascinating" DR.. Have.
"And what would YOU with the Sybil?'
was the response.
81 would know the future"
Draw said the Sybil, in tone of as
sumed sternness.