The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-10-19

a world of trouble" she said to her
self, with smile; "but Of course tha
is all nonsense. Yet if she did, I vow
that | would be guided by it,"
One aspirant was Pendil Frogmorc
landed proprietor in tho neighbor
hood, very poor; for though his rent
loll was u fair one, his debts were
enol NOUS; but very handsome ant
well set up Indeed, he had been II
the Blues: I don't mean in bad spirits
put man in armor, commanding men
in armor: and his wife would be un
doubtediy comfy. o.
Charles Wilson was the name of tho
the other; he was a young London So
Iicitor, who had just been taken into q
good firm and was now ON visit to
his mother. an Indian colonel's widow
who resided at Littclun. Mrs. Wilson
and Mrs. Thorne were good friends,
SO all was smooth there. Mrs. Wilson
had mnrmured, indeed, when she first
Saw her sons inclination-
"Would she be companion for you,
Charles? would sho be able to take ain
interest in the same things you did ?"
"No, mother; and that is just what
| want. I should hato wife who
was rs clever as myself. But how can
you fail to see her merits? sho is
such avery nice little party !"H~ '''
y 'Partle, Chatley, partie how dread.
fully d:your French accent isl Il
grant chat she would not be a bad
match for you in q worldly point OF
vicw."'
Frogmore was the more handsome.
Wilson the more pleasant. Really, if
fate would settle the matter for ber, it
would save Cissy Thorue a world OF
trouble. - =. '.,:.... ..-
So the pretty bono of contention
thought, as she started with her maid
Emma for Lttleun Hurst at nine d.
M. for, Mr.. Thorne brcakfastcd early,
and bis daughter presided Mrs. Thorne
being sluygard. Not drum was
heard, not a pandcan note, as they
stepped hriskly along; tho, ginger
bread husbands were covered np from
the dust !; the merry -go-rouhds were
still the clown was darning his dress;
the donkeys breakfasted .trugally on
each others names the fire-catcr was
trying diet Of bacon, bread, and
garlic for change. Business never
commenced@in tho fair before the after
noon But Miss, Thornc's visit was
not to the fair Ito the right, somc FIVE
hundred yards from the common,
there was a clumr OF sparse trees,
and sheltered beneath thom stood one
Of those yellow huts on wheels which
act so vivid y upon tho in1aginatlons
Of village children. This was the
abode Of the sibyl, and the adventur-
csscs turned aside towards it. } .. >..
Emma went first up the steps, and
tapped with the bright brass knocker !;
the door opened Immediately, and a
woman Of the mystic race appeared
young, handsome as Spaniard, though
her splendid black hair. was rather
coarse, if you came TO examine it too
closely. Emma drew back, to let her
mistress enter first.
"Walk in, my pretty lady," said the
gypsy "don't be afearcd 1 am quite
alone here" j.. ..'
Although the fun Of the fair did moi
commence till late in the day, it was
evident that custom came bctimes To
the sibyl, for all traces Of night disor-
der had disappeared from the minia-
,ure interior, which was spiclt and,
span, neat and clean +: :oLviously%pre-
pared for visitors. The small apart
was still further reduced by Il curtain
which ran on brass rings along rod,
enclosing q. portion of the space.
. The gypsy examined Cissy's hand;
and began making shots--centres
though. most bu!l.cycs, some.
"Iou arc. an only child. and your
father and mother would give you
gold TO eat, if you wanted it; you had
Il bad illness four or fivo years ago;
when child you wcro in great peril
fro,a a dog" A lot more to The same
effect. couchcd in vague language, but
very correct. Cissy began to be sorry
tl,atshc had come. There's two gen
tlrmcn as is very sweet upon you, my
pretty lady," continued the uupoetic
sibyl.; "if you marry one you will be
a|I your'lile, but if you take
the other you will be. lucky, and live
to. be eighty, aud ride in your carriage
and pair all the time"
The idea of this very protracted
drive rather amused Cissy, and that
revived her courage. After all, the
woman might have. made inquiries
about her on the chance Of her com.
ing.
"And how am I to know which Of
these gentlemen to choose ?" she asked
in bantcring tone.
"Ah; that cannot tell, my lady !;
but you can look in the Magic Glass
for yourself, and see if it shows you
aught." .-.
'.Lct me sec it,: then" said Cissy
bravcly, though the feeling Of crcepi-
ness began TO rcturn. .-. -. ..
The gypsy said that Emma should
leave the caravan but Gissy would
not have that, so u compromise was
effected; the maid was blindtodcd.
Then the gypsy drew slides across the
Iittlo windows on either sidc, prOluc-
ing a decptwiticht Then the curtain
AT the further end slowly parted, re-
vcaling a wall of black cloth, tightly
stretched, in the centre Of which was
fixed circular mirror, about two feet
=, ;o,,, o+or- onJ 4I,;o rrroJuo tx, ha