Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-04
THE GYPSY'S GLASS.


Emma knew better. That exemplary girl took
the same sort OF pride in her mistress hair that
a good groom does in the coats or his masters
tunsteiy. the Young lady took an equal pleasure
in her passive part Of the performance, and so
both were satisfied. When the spoiled beauty
did not know " hat else TO do, she went up to her
room, took of her dress, and had her hair
brushed; it was a lady substitute for smoking
pipe.
pleasure we feel in being stroked the right way
in favor of the last theory. believe that Cissy
was very near purrtng, especially In thundery
swell, Emma, did you go to the fair?" asked
the b %1 EEL. laying 4, down 9 her book.
"And what did you see9"
al saw a horsemanship, where they rode
standing, and jumped through hoops, wonder
"And did you go on one of the round abouts
that is worked by q steam-engine, which plays
"No miss, replied Emma. with emphasis
DO you know, Emma, L should like to, If no
'sLor, miss, they are crowded with such low
"Low lots, as you call them, seem to have all
the fun" said Cissy with half-sigh. "And
what else did you see?''
al went to a-fortnne-teller."
"NO! in a tent?''
"There were little tents about, but it was a
very yellow cart went into; not in the fair ex-
aetly; but in the eiump, before you come to It.
She's wOnderful!''
ais she, thought What did she say? Tell
me" cried the excited Cissy, who was troubled
with warnings after the supernatural.
She told me all sorts OF things which she
could not have known natural; mole on my
back how long have been in service"
Yes, yes, but the future; did she say anything
about that?'
"No!S -'''''
"In a round glass; as true as I'm standing
here saw him plain"
"YOur future hUsband?"
''As is 10 be; yes, miss"
The two girls had been playmates when very
little, and there was much more familiarity be-
tween them than Is customary with mistress and
maid. So Emma had to enter into all the mys-
ferrous details the cabalistie ceremony.
'sWhat funl" cried Cissy. i should like to
60; IciH 90! The fortune-teiler's caravan is
not actually the fair, you say; and there
will not be many people about If we start
early"
" Ior, miss, what will yonr pa and ma say?"
"I don't know; I'll do it first and ask them
afterward, for fear they might object. We win
go Tomorrow morning, directly after breakfast
MIR. Thomas was a steward; DO not mean an
oricial attached to a steam-packet, and in
charge OF china shop fun OF white basins, but
a manager of large estates in the country; a
weIl-tO-dO man, who had small property of his
own, which be farmed in the most intelligent
and neatest style, on the outskirts OF the market
town OF LittleluIn. Mrs. ThOrne was plump,
gOOd-natured and lazy, yet somewhat proud and
sensitive; she fancied the country families were
patTOniZing, and she would not be patrOnized.
CisSy was their only child, and they thought
much of her, honestly believing that there never
was such another baby-child-maiden. OF
course the paragon was never sent to school,
and the gUvernesses were selected principally
with reference to their power OF approaching
her merits.
Nevertheless she was very charming. and had
two lOveTS-l do not mean admirers, but two
men who were ready 10 marry her, If she would
but choose one of them But she could not quite
make up her mind which OF the brace to select.
20 If the gypsy would only show me which /
am TO take, 1t would save me a world of trouble
she said TO herself, with smile; ''but of course
that is all nonsense. Yet if she did, VOW that
would be guided by it."
One aspifant WAS Pendil Frogmore; landed
proprietor in the neighborhood, very poor; for
though his rent-roll was a fair one, his debts
were enormous; but very handsome, and well
set up. Indeed, he had been in the blues.
don't mean bad spirits, but man in armor
commanding men in armor, and his wife would
be undoubtedly county.
Charles Wilson was the name of the other; he
was a young London solicitor, who had just been
taken into good firm, and was now on a visit
TO his mother, an Indian COOnePs widow who
resided at Littelum. Mrs. Wilson and Mrs
ThOrne were good friends, and 50 all was smooth
there. Mrs. Wilson had murmured, indeed,
when she frst saw her sons inclination
Would she be a companion for you, Charles!
would She be able TO take an interest in the
same things you did?''
No. mother. that is just what want L
should la c a wife that was clever myself.
But how can you fail to see her merits? She is
such very Lice little party!'
Z" Partis, Charlie, partie; how dreadfullv bad
your French accent Is. grant that she would
not be bad match for you from worldly point
OF view"
Frogmore was the most handsome. Wilson the
more pleasant. Really, if fate would settle the
matter for her, il would save Cissy Thorne
world OF trouble.
SO the pretty bone of contention thought, as
she started with her maid Emma. for Littlelum
Hurst at nine a. m for Mr.. ThOrne b-eakfasted
early, and his daughter presided, Mrs. Thorne
being a sluggard. Not drum was heard not n
Iandean note as they stepped briskly along; the
gingerbread husbands were covered up from the
dust; the merry grounds were still; the clown
was mending his dress; the dOnkeys breakfasted
frUgally on each others names; the fire-eater
was trying diet Of bacon, bread, and garlic for
fair till afternoon. But Miss Thorne's visit was
not to the fair; TO the right, some five hundred
yards from the common there was a elump of
sparse trees, and sheltered beneath them stood
one of those old huts on wheels which act 80
wildly upon the imaginations Of village child
rem. This was the abode of the sibyl, and the
adyentreSses turned aside toward il.
Emma went first on the steps and tapped with
the bright brass knoeker; the door opened i'm
mediately, and a woman OF the mystic race ap-
Peared-young, handsome, a. a Spaniard
though her splendid black hair was rather
coarse. II you come to examne'it closely Emma
drew back 10 let her mistress enter first
walk, In my pretty lady," said the gypsy:
"dontbe afeared, am quite alone here y
Although the fun OF the fair did not commence
till late in the day, Ii was evident that custom
came betimes to the sibyi for traces of night
disorder had disappeared from the miniature In
clean; obviously prepared for visitors. The
small apartment was still further reduced by
curtain, which ran ON brass rings along a rod,
enclosing portion Of the space.
The gypsy examined Cissy's hand, and began
making shOts-centers through, most; bulls
eyes. some.
" You are an only child. and your father and
mother would give you gold to eat, IL you wanted
il; when child you were in great peril from
dog" A lot more to the same effect. eouchedin
vague language, but very correct. Cissy began
10 be very sorry that she had come. sThere's
two gentlemen as Is very sweet upon you, my
pretty lady" continued the unpoetic sibyi;
''n you marry one you will be unhappy al
your life, but IL Won take the other
you VIII be lucky. and live 90 be eighty,
ard ride IN your carriage and pair all the time
The idea of this very protractiye drive rather
amn,ed Cissy, and that revived her courage.
After all, the woman might have made In
quIries about her on the chance OF her coming
And how am 70 know which Of these gem
tlemen 90 ehoose?" she asked in a banteriug
tone.
'sAh, that cannot tell, my lady; but Won can
look I'm the Magic Glass for yourself and see III
il shows you ought"