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

auBnC KNOW, as feuglOus as your
self, But the wheel of fortune hal
ground me into the dust. / hay'
had my paternal Inheritance, my
confidence betrayed, my children
cruelty murdered by their father.
have been myselfthe subject ofbru
tai personal violence from one who
Ipromised at the altar to love, cher.
ish and protect me. My faith in
man has been destroyed--my faith
in God uprooted. l now earn Q
precarious, and your father thinks
an unhalIowed livelihood, by for
tune telling. When fate, or desti-
ny, or fortune, or whatever you
please to call it. has sifted you about
as it has me, then you too may
doubt the existence of One supreme
| ly wise and infinitely good-One
who can shield the unfortunate and
will protect the creatures He has
made.'
Gertrude Atherton shuddered,-
"Whatever my misfortunes may be
in life, mother Agnes" she said, 81
hope that / never shall be driven to
Atheism. Let me at least exercise
a sweet and trustful hope in Him
who has said, Ask, and We shall re.
ceive; seek, and We shall find
knock, and it shall be opened unto
you She who casts away her faith
in God-in Christ, the ever present
Saviour-casts away the prop which
will sustain her in adversely, and
scorns high heavens most precious
consolation. Heaven save me from
being driven to such a dreadful ex-
tremity,"
The old woman laughed, but less
scornfully than before. "Well, il
you will not be converted" she said,
"to my creed, you might at least
have your fortune told-it shall not
cost you a dime whereas mostpeo-
pie willingly pay me a quarter of a
dollar. What is given ought to be
thankfully received"
Gertrude shook her head. II do
not care to hear it, mother Agnes"
she said; 81 fear your crOakings,
like the ravens will bode me no
good. Ny father would disapprove
of it,"
"But others listen to me eagerly"
continued the old soothsayer "Are
you wiser or better than young law
yer Arthur? l have just told his"
At the mention of that name she
started and blushed deeply. The
old woman saw the vantage ground
gained, and eagerly improved it.
"He crossed my palm with silver,
and afterwards, when l told him of
a sweet faced bride yet to be won,
he laughed with great delight, and
declared that he had not paid too
highly for the information gained.
l told MIN great deal, but there is
a page l did otread in the mortal's
destiny. I have sought you out for
an auditor! Shall l read it to
you?"
81 thought" said Gertrude, still
blushing, "that it was n,y fortune
you wanted to tell, not Mr., Arthur's.
He is nothing to me. Why should
l be anxious or care to hear his for
tune?"
"Why should you, indeed ?" said
the old woman with o mocking air
II know of but one reason why you
should; as thatis an interesting one
though, l will make bold to men
ton it. 1t has been revealed to me
that your fortunes may on some fu-
ture day intermingle, intertwine and
cross each other strangely. You
were, in short, both born under the
same star. The same card of des-
tiny turns up for both"
"You jest" said the maiden, has
tily. "You prate about things you
ID not understand. Surely you did
not tell Mr.. Arthur this2 If you
did, L am very angry with you"
II told him all that. l chose to
tell him." said the provoking old
soothsayer, "all that it was meet for
him to know. But / have that to
tell yoW which l did not reveal to
him. Will you listen, or are you
too puritanical to give me your
hand ?"
Gertrude, when the old woman
first began to speak, had half way
extended her open palm, but when
the sentence closed she drew it back,
and shut it as quickly as if live
coal had been dropped into it.
"No," she said resolutely, "My
rather=-my wise, good, reasonable
father, does not approve Of you or
your trade. will not listen to you.
Stand aside and let me pass. l wo'd
not listen to your jargon for a
world"
Stop" said the old woman, step
cling before her more directly than
before. "What l have to say touch
rs your future peace. Hear and
heed my revelations and advice or
rou will rue in dust and ashes, and |
ears of blood. VIII you stop and
isten?"
mo, will not" said she, still
forward. II would not
listen, although you wore the garb
If an angel of light, for my father
lisapproves of you and your prac-
ice, 1t is in vain to tempt me fur