Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-01-22


conversation The'topic' ofs.,capitsl pun,
ishment" having. been started Godfrey
turned to Honora. and said:
I take an especial personal interest 10
having capital punishment abolished
Miss Paul. do you believe in astrology T.
Honor q started. fixed her eyes intent.
ly uponishe questioner. land then With
drawing them. answered---s ~ hs1sL..sr
Sir. Why did you ask me if believe
in asttology 2 :
Because, Miss Paule, I was about to
relate for your amusement prediction
that was made concerning myself. by q
professor Of that black art"
"a prediction exclaimed Mrs. Viii.
loughby, drawing near, with eager inter.
est.
Yes. madam replied Mr.. Dulanie,
smiling. 'sprediction which. if believed, /,
would certainly dispose me to favor the
Establishment Of the death penalty. Three
years since, while i was soiousning for q
short time in the city of Richmond. on
my way to the University. | chanced to
hear Of the Egyptian Dervis. Achbad.
who was at that time creating quite q
sensation in the city. His wonderful re.
lputation was the theme Of every tongue.
| '1dleness and curiosity combined to
lead me 70 his rooms. He, required
night to cast my horoscope. He demand
ded, and gave him. tho day and hour
of my birth. and then took leave, With
the promiseto return in the morning.
The next day L went-'.aH i ~
We'll z questioned Honora. earn
estly: earr - sstg s.8. s.t.rss
My horoscope was zoRRoR,scope in
deed It predicted for me-a short and
stormy life, and sharp and sudden
DEATH 51 81.
Good Heaven-I But the details g
1t prophesied four remarkable events.
The 6rst.of which has already come to
pass a
And that was-?'
The loss Of my patrinonial estate +
singular coincidencel' interrupted Mr..
Willoughby, as he aIose and joined his
wife and brother in law at the other end
OF The room.
L thought so when the prophecy was
fulfilled. replied Godfrey.
And the other three events 2 softly
inquired Honora. saes.si
The other three events. if they follow
as predicted. must happen within the
next two years. or before 1reach my
twenty. fifth anniversary. The frat OF
| these is, be the unexpected inheritance
of vast wealth.
Upon hearing this, bright smile play
ed around the lips of Honora, and ban,
ished the clouds from her brow. She
waited few minutes for him 10 proceed
h,,k c. -, I, III 1.
| said
We'll. Mr.. Dulanie, go on what was
the third predicted event?'
DO you command me to inform you?
No, sir; l beg you, Of your courtesy,
to do so.'
Very WELL he said. dropping bis
voice to low undertone, 1: was TO be
my marriage With the woman should
worship
A deep vivid blush supplanted the
bright smile that quivered over Honora's
variable face. There was q pause. bro.
ken at length BY herevoice. as she gently
inquired lrt
Aud the fourth 2 r..-.ay .4z
The answer came reluctantly - and in
tones so low as 10 meet only her ear.
The fourth and last prediction was,
that before my taOeaty nth birth day /
should perish on tie ScGfold.'
A low cry broke from the lips Of Homo
ra as her hands .aeW up and covered her
face. After a minute or two she drop
ped them. and looking him steadily in the
face, said with quiet frmness--
You doubtless wonder at my emo>
tion. Now hear me. On the autumn
following the summer in which that pre-.
diction was made to you. I was in Balti>
more. with my grandmother. and with
Mrs. Willoughby. who was then Miss
Heine. Curiosity. took Us to the rooms
Of the Egyptian. who was then practicing
in that city. And after some such prep,
arations as he had used in your case. he
cast my horoscope and read my future.
1t was this, that before my twentieth
birthday. / should be bride, but never
a wife, for that the fatal form OF the
scaffold arose between the nuptial bene-
diction and the bridal chamber. Such
were the words of the prophecy She
spoke with solemnity that seemed to
oyershadow every other feeling.
CHAPTER II.
THE sYBIL's cIRcLE.
The next day Honora informed her
grandmother. Madame Auderly, OF God
frey's presence in the neighborhood. and
the old lady sent her only brother. Col
Shannon. 70 fetch him to Piedmont. God
frey accepted the invitation. On bis ar.
rival. he found that General Sterne. the
Governor elect Of Va. and his son, had
Just taken up their quarters. for several
days with. Madame Auderly; and the old
lady. IN his honor. at once sent of card,
Of ipyita.ion to some Of the neighbors C
visit her that evening =