Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-12-26

Ipursues its prey In the dense viii
lderness. There is a chasm wide
and dark as Erebus yawning beneath
your feet. ] would have saved you
from falling into it. / sought you
out for that very purpose, but you
have sconed my revelations. Go
on now-go on, and may the fate
front 1chich I l1ould hare saCed yoU
come upon yoU. A darker destiny
/ cannot wish you. When you are
fallen, remember the old soothsay-
er's malediction p So saying, tire
old woman replaced her pipe, drew
her tattcred hood down so as to
shade her smoke colored visage,
and wrapping the fragment of a
small red cloak which sic wore
close about her, swept from the
yard.
Gertrude, who had paused by the
railing until the conclusion of the
eld's words, felt weak, and for a mo-
ment sick, but shetuncd and sought
her chamber Here she threw her
self down into q chair and mentally
congratulated herself upon having
shown great frmness and decision
of character, and that too when
strongly tempted to do wrong. But
in spite Of all her efforts the old
crone's maledictiOn rung in her
ears, She could not shut it out.
THAT old woman" she said,
mentally, "has an eye like the spirit
Of evil, and her words haunt me
/ like prophecy. But what does she
know Of the future? She does, she
can know nothing. 1t is not right
to encourage such people, and yet |
had rather, outcast as she is, have
won her blessing than her curse
But it is too late to repent now If
she does know aught of evil await
ing my footsteps, | must cen abide
my fate, My father says that we
are made to struggle and endure. A
portion of unmixed good never fell
yet to the lot of mortal"
Thus reasoned Gertrude Atherton
as she smoothed her hair and bath
ed her face previous to going below.
While she was completing the last
operation, the door bell rung. She
stopped, arrested by the tones of a
familiar voice in the hall. 1t was
Edward Arthur's. She heard the
servant ushering him into the par
lor, and heard Mr.. Arthur inquir-
ing for her. Her heart beat vio-
lently. Her interview with old Ag
mes made her almost afraid to meet
him. But after having re arranged
her neck ribbon, and re. smoothed
her hair, she hastened down. To
make long story short, when the
door of the clergyman closed that
night upon Arthur's retreating form
Gertrude was his affianced bride.
We hasten over the wedding. But
one thing occurred to disturb the
serenity of the young brides mind.
That was the visage of old Agnes,
looking out from behind a tomb
stone in the church yard as the mar
riage procession swept forward to
the altar. She trembled at the sight
of her and clung closer to Arthur's
arm. He looked down to see what
had agitated her.
at is nothing, and nobody but
that Granny old being, mother Ag,
mes, the fortune teller" said he,
smiling at Gertrude. care you
afraid of her, my love? BY the
way, | believe she can foretell future
events, for a month or two ago she
pictured to me in strong and vivid
colors this very scene. But she is
an ugly looking being, crouched
down there behind the tomb stone.
She has an eye like an Indians and
1 do not blame you for trembling
in her presence. l hope that she
will not be there on our return"
The train swept on and paused /
before the altar. The clergyman
was there in his surpliee, prayer
book in hand The bride bowed |
her vGilcd and flower crowned head, |
and the bridegroom looked up with
an exultant air as the few brief
words were said, which linked them
together for veal or woe-linked !
until death should come with skele-
ton fingers to unclasp the chain. In
the confusion attendant upon these
solemn rites, Gertrude forgot the
fortune teller, but as she passed
the tombstone, a hollow
voice murmured in her ear, RE
get 90 on-yow are IN the
I foresaac."
She shuddered more violently |
than before, and Arthur uttered
something like an imprecation' on
the old hag who bid herself in that
manner behind gravestones to
frighten people in passing. But the
old woman and her lnalediction
were forgotten by both before they
reached the parsonage on their re-
turn.
Two years went by on rapid wings.
The worthy village clergyman died,
and Gertrude soon afterwards fol
owed her mother to the grave
Being an only child, she was now
eft dependent on her husband alone
ior comfort and support The IA
1, -, o,., I