The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-08-30

stranger that he had dared to take home fol
several years. saw by her organism thai
She was riota bad woman, and OWNED a
once that She had vowed eternal silence 9,
the unkind words of her husband, and thai
It only needed but sing,. WORD 70 break
the spell that rested upon her. p" Id
! I continued my engineering, making al
manner of domestic inquiries regarding tn,
children, Of whom she appeared very fond
but could not elicit word from her next
alluded to her husband and our old acquain.
tance, and in the course Of my remarks madc
some reflections in playful way upon The
slight blemish in one of his eyes-the only
fault in his really handsome face. | saw a
feeling like chagrin fit across her brow, and
moment after, when praised him, pleas
ed expression effaced the cloud.
"Aha !" said to myself "herc are pride
and affection, at any rate these springs are
not dried up, and think that language may
yet be unscaled." . ...s .-... ......
A day passed, but nothing transpired but
man@uvers. have never tried so hard to
make myself attractive as on this occasion,
and felt that had succeeded when on the
second morning she greeted me with smile,
and extended her hand to me as came from
my chamber. / chatled and ratified on about
the town and its splendors, told of new i'm
provements, changing fashions, crinoine and
lovely bonnets, all of which was listened to
with evident interest Still she wouldn't
speak, confound it | trem'led for my spurs.
Something must be done. .....a..r.. 49,.
Mrs. Somers," said very suddenly.
will you allow me to look at the palm Of
your hand ~ ..E' '..- .... .
She extended her hand very readily, and
gazed upon it as though were wizard
engaged in some trick of necromancy, in
volving the fate of the household Looking
in her face, relinguished her hand and sighed
deeply. She appeared surprised, and seemed
as if expecting me to say something
"You may well be surprised at my con-
duct" said, "but your surprise would be
overwhelming could dare tell you the mo-
tive of I cannot do this without COM
promising others may say, however, that
in your hand discern power that may be
employed for immense good. There are lines
in it that meet and diverge, and come near
together again without meeting. There is
mystery ~ 7 looked at the hand again, rub
bed my forehead as though | were much
pcrplexed, and went ont abruptly. saw
her face depicted in the glass as passed out,
ard it bore the expression of great wonder
"How far is it to the top of Rattlesnake
Hill, Somers ?' asked at dinner time, as
we sat at table
About fifteen miles; why ~ he replied
and asked
Because am going there to night. I
mustbe there at precisely midnight. I am
going there to gather charm from the old
Rattler's cave, through which hope to OBJ
tain treasure that will compensate for all
trouble and danger" H.. .lf .r...rr.-.
"You cannot CO." said he anxiously, ''the
way is one of peril. 1t is full of ravines and
pitfalls, and the serpents are very numerous"
saw that his wife shared in his uneasi
ness. and her looks said don't go p palmer
than words could speak a5.a ...u s ..a
$50 much the better for my purpose" said
], were It not attended with danger. that
which seek would be valueless. shall
go; and more than this, l shall walk" gg7a
Somers and his wife changed looks, which
interpreted to mean. "Well isn't he queer
one 2" and after few moments at table 1
left the house, telling Somers that should
be back by the morning. accordingly
left stoutly for Rattlesnake Hill, accompanied
by his uttered blessing aud his wife's mar
ticrlate benison but when I reached the
first brook, I made my cane into a jointed
fishing rod, and INDUCED till sundown in
the finestsport. The trout never bit with
more avidity and having caught goodly
string. | carried them to farm house not
far away, and had them cooked for my sup
per. Late in the evening returned to my
friend Somer's, and enjoyed a fine. nights
restupon his haymow. At daylight arous
ed the family by knocking at the door. but
Igceted them with simple shake of the
hand. gazing abs!ractly at Mrs. Somcrs. She
looked troubled.
"Somers," !" sa,dI, "please leave me mo-
mont with ynnr yr;fa II ic a ypoffer tbof
vor may sometime know, but not at present.
Have You not heard Of my wonderful devel-
opments as a seer ~
81 lie said he had not, but, without explain
ing, pushed him out and closed the door.
knew that he would listen, however I'd q
7"Mrs. Somers," said 1, 'ny mysterious
movements are fast growing to climax. L
last night plucked dragons tongue from
the mouth Of the rattlesnake's den; laugh
ed with the midnight echoes, and stood face
to face with the darkness, in order to gain
what sought. Your hand, please; thank
you. The lines are brought nearer together
and it needs but one word of yours, in re-
sponse to an incantation that shall utter, to
make my mystic charm complete. You
say Yes, or all is as nausht.' ..
! looked wildly as | spoke. and saw that
she was, as it were, spell l-bound v -a..,
and this is my incarnation, continued,
''you swear that you hate Tim somers.''
''No!'' she almost shrieked. ...r