Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-10-05


Cissy was their only child, and they
thought much Of her.. honestly believing
that there never was such another baby-s4
child-Inaiden. OF course the .nsfsson
was never to be sent to school. and her
governcsses were selected principally with
reference to their power Of appreciating
for merits. h
Nevertheless. she was very charming,
and had two lovers !; / don't mean mere ad-
mirers, bat two men who were sesdy- 10
marry her, IL she would bat choose one oi
them. But she could not make mp her
mind which Of the brace to select.
"If the gipsy would only show me whiSh
I am 10 take, it would save me world oi
trouble" she said TO herself. with asnila,
"but of course that is ali nonssnss. Yet
if she did. vo.it,. Lsould be guided
by it."
Oss1spirant was Pendil Frosmore, q
landed proprietor in the neighborhood !,
very poor for although his r,ll was
fair one. his debts were enormous but
very handsome. and we'll set up. Indeed,
he had been in the Blues; l don't mean
in bad spirits, but man in armor, CON-
manding men in armor, and his wife would
be undoubtedly on par with the county
families.
Charles Wilson was the name Of the
other. lie was a young London solicit
tor, who had just been taken into a good
er, an Indian cclonel's widow. who rcsid-
ed at Littelun. Mrs. Wilson and Mrs
Thorne were good friends, so all was
smooth there. Mrs. Wilson had murmur-
ed, indeed, when she FIRST saw her son s
inclination
Would she lie companion for you,
Charles ? Would she be able to take an
interest in the same things you did -
mo, mother; and that is just what I
want. should hate wife who was as
clever as myself. But how can you fail
to see her merits? She is such very
nice little party!"
"Partie, Charley. partie. How dread
fully bad your French accent is grant
that she would not be bad match for you
from worldly point of view"
Frogmore was the more handsome. Will
son the more pleasant Really. If fate
would settle the matter for her. it would
save Cissy Thorne world of trouble.
So the pretty bone of contention thought.
as she started with her maid Emma for
Litte!un Hurst at nine A. NJ for Mr..
Thorne breakfasted early, and his daugh-
ter presided. Mrs. Thornc being a slug
gard. Not drum was heard. not a pam
dean note, As they stepped briskly along !;
the gingerbread husbands were covered
up from the dust the merry -go-rounds
were still; the clown was darning his
dress the donkeys breakfasted frugally
on each others names the fre-eater was
trying diet Of bacon. bread and garlic.
for change. Business never commenced
in the fair before the afternoon. But Miss
Thorne's visit was not to the fair to the
right. some five hundred yards from the
common, there was clump Of sparse
trees, and sheltered beneath them stood
one of those yellow huts on wheels which
act so vividly upon the imaginations Of
village children. This was the abode OF
the sibyl, and the adventuresses turned
aside toward IT,
Emma went first up the steps, and tap
ped with the bright brass knocker; the
door opened immediately. and a mystic
face. ppeared-youug. handsome as a
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.
"Waik in, my pretty lady" said the
gipsy; .'dou't be afeared l am quite
alone here"
Although the fun Of the fair did not
commence till late in the day. it was evil
dent that custom came betimes to the 81.
byl. for all traces of night disorder had
disappeared from the miniature interior,
which was spick and span. neat and clean;
obviously prepared for visitors. The small
apartment was still further reduced by a
curtain, which ran on brass rings along a
rod. inclcsing portion of the space.
The gypsy examined Cissy's hand, and
began making shots-centers, though,
most bull's-eyes, some.
"You are an only child, and your faith.
er and mother would give you gold to eat,
if you wanted il; you had bad lines.
four or Eve years ago; when q child YOU
were iu great peril from dog" A 10,
more 10 the same effect, couchcd in vague
language, but very correct. Cissy began
to be sorry she had come. "There's tive
gentlemen as is very sweet upon you, my
pretty lady," continued the unpoetic 81
byl; eff you marry one you will be un-
happy all your life, but if you take the
other yOu win be lucky and live to b
eighty. and ride in your carriage and pair
all the time"
The idea Of this very prctracted drive
rather amused Cissy. and thas revived he,
courage. After all the woman might have
made inquiries about her on the chance ol
her coming.
And how am I to know which Of thes.
gentlemen to choose p she asked in ban.
tering tone.
"Ah. that I cannot tel. my lady: bu
you can lock in the magic glass for your,
self. and see Il il shows yoa aught.
s.I4et me see it. then, : said Cissy brave.
lly. theegh the feeling Of creep;aess began
20 return.
The gipsy said that Emna should Iesv,
the caravan bat Ciey would not havs
that, % eonpronisc wss effected !: Ii,
maid Vas blind folded. Then the gins,
drew slides acFoss tie litsle windows o.
either side. producing deep tviliehe-- =
Then the curtaia q the further end slow
y pared, revealing wall a bIaek closh
tightly stretched. u the scatter of wkicl
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