The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-12-29
WHAT CAME OF THE EARTHQUAKE.

"Tve found an old pack of cards now
granny, tell my fortune" And Cicely
Lee seated herself on the cushion at hel
grandmother's feet.
The pretty little old lady shuffled the
cards with practiced hand, looking evel
and anon toward the door.
"If the deacon should come in," she
murmured; "deacon is dreadfully severe
on cards. and d-Hark !"
"Grandpa's gone out for walk, dar.
ling" said Ciceley, her sweet face ear
nest; "please hurry! And she COM
posed herself to listen, adding, with a
little quavering laugh, Tell me whom
l shall marry"
You'll marry John Saunders" was
the reply.
Cicely shook her head; q shadow
crossed her face.
But I say you will, deary," repeated
the little old lady in decided tones.
"No. granny, it's impossible now,"
half whispered the girl, for John and
have quarreled."
Lovers 'quarrels, child; makes no diff
ference whatever" responded the old
lady, sharply, still shuffling the cards.
IL tell you l feel it in my bones"
"Then don't you see it in the cards :"
Don't l? Of course 1 do. There
you stand, with light girl between
you-very light; she faces you, and he
faces you. He's John Saunders, and
you're going to marry him. Let me see
diamonds are months there's eleven
IN all; less than year. told you so,
deary. Massy sakes! is that the dea-
con = And under the breadth of her
generous linen apron went the cards.
No, granny, it's the grocer's boy" re-
piled Cicely, looking through the glass
half of the old-fashloned door.
"Deacon's so set !'-and out came the
cards again.
" | used to be master-hand at tellin'
fortins when was a young woman and
worldly. Folks said I'd make mint O
money if charged for it, as the forth
tellers do, and 1 'aint 40 doubt of it.
Why, l told Sally Bowles that was
married Il Henderson; dead now, my dear
when farmer Lee give great huskiu',
that her beau'd never come back from the
fishing-ground, and no more ne didn't.
l told Kezzy Blackmer-she that's a
Jones now-that she wouldn't keep her
man over next Christmas went to
II, II
corpse he madew
"Oh! !" cried Cicely. with Il little
shiver, did You see all that in the
cards 7"
"Well, yes, thought I did; but
kinder guess felt it more in my bones.
Twas awful weather too, that year, at
the fishing ground; and poor Joe
Blackmer had consumption he never
was good for much. Where'd you find
them cards, child I"
"In the old blue sea- chest up stairs"
Cicely replied, absently.
"fwouldn't do for the deacon to see
'em," said the pretty little old lady for,
as Cicely declared, she was picture,
with her white curls. bright eyes, and
rosy cheeks. "He's awfully down on
cards; but, somehow, they seem kinder
natural to me-" she continued, shufili ng
them again, land I've had many "a 90 I'd
game fore l married your granther. l Ie
don't know one card from another, DO Jr
soul, and s'pose ITS best he don't. l !
haven't had a pack in my hands TO =
thirty years or up'ard. You see, useG
to go home once in twelmonth, and
your aunt S'manthy, as good a woman
as ever made pie-crust, she o0uh have
her little game o cards, and so l always
humored her; but, bless you, it wouldn't
do to let the deacon know it. S'man- j
thy's been dead thirty years this month
she was beautiful at whist. Here, child, /
put 'em out O the way quick I'm sure
hear the deacon now"
Cicely took the cards, and ran up into |,
her own little room with them. Placing \
them securely away, she proce eded to tie
her hair with a long pink ribbon, knot
ting it tastefully on the top Of her
head.
He can't help loving me-" she re-
peattd to herself, with a saucy little
nod, as she arranged her curls, gazing l
INTO pair of sunny, smiling eyes; bat
while she looked shadow dimmed their
brightness the pretty face grew sad as
she murmured, in half whisper, "Oh f
lear, if it wasn't for my dreadful tongueT
She sat down to think over that last n
interview. II
{" l needn't have been SO hateaul," she
nurmured, her lips trembling q. little as
aithful memory reproduced the scene.
81 told him that l had nescr loved
lin; what an awful falsehoodI This is
he second quarrel, too. know how it
will be-he won't give in, and I'd die
Irst. What ask John Saanders's par
lon ? Never !"
So, with glowing cheeks and shining
yes, Cicely sat and stitched in the sum
aine, her pretty face as resOlute as If no
isadsome John Saunders had ever call
a forth its dimpling srniles, or ts ased it