The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-10-28
SELECTED STORY.
TIE GYPSY'S GLASS.

"a
was false. because there was so much of ii;
other Christians were certain 1t must have
been dyed, seeing that 1t Lad the peculiar
BRIGHT. golden tint which is so often due to
art but Emma knew better. That exem-
plary girl took the same sort of pride in her
mistresss hair that good groom does in the |
coats OF his masters horses, and was never |
tired of brushing 1t. Fortunately, the YOUNG |
lady took an equal pleasure in her passive
part Of the performance, and SO po.a :, VIZ n,
satisfied. When the spoiled beauty uiu hoI
know what else TO do she went up 10 her
room. took of her dress, ana mad her mar
brushed; 1t was ladyl'ke substitute for
smoking pipe. VI
the pleasure We feel in being stroked the right
way. in favor OF the last theory. l believe
that Cissy was very near puring, especially
in thundery weather, when her hair cracked
like an experiment.
swell, Emma, did you so 10 the fair ?" ask
ed the brushee, laying down her book.
"Yes, miss, l did,"
Sand what did you see?"
81 saw Craftsmanship, where they rode
standing, and jumped through hoops, won
derfulw
sand did you go on one of the roundabouts
that is worked by steam-engine, which plays
an organ?"
mo, MISS" replied Emma, with emphasis
$40 you know, Emma, should like TO- II
no one saw"
''Lor, miss, they are crowded with such
low lot, they are"
all the fun" said Cssy. with a hali-sigh.
"And what else did you see?'
II went to a--fortune teller"
s'No! in tent?"
"There were little tents about, but it was
very yellow cart | went into; not in the fair
exactly, but in the cump, before you come to
it. She is wonderiuw
SIS she, though! What did she say Tell
me-" cried the excited Cissy, who was troub
led with yearnings 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 any
thing about that?"
"She did more, miss, she showed it to me-
Mop
SIN round glass; as true as Pm standing
here | saw him plain"
'"Your future husbands?
GAS is to be; yes, miss"
These two girls had been playmates when
very little, and there was much more familiar
ity between them than is customary with
mistress and maid. So Emma had to enter
into ali the mysterious details of the cabalistit
ceremony.
"What tunw cried Cissy 81 should like t,
go; l 'oiU go! The tortune-teller's caravan
is not actually the fair, you say; and Their
will not be many people about if We start ear
ly.'
"Lor, miss! what will your pa and m
81 y~
Il don't know; I'll do it first and ask Their
afterward, for fear they might object W
will go tomorrow morning, directly afte
breakfast, mind"
u,1,a Do
an official attached TO steam packet, and il
charge of china shop full of white basins
but manager of large estates in the country
a well-to-do man, who had small property
of his own, which he farmed in the most in
telligent and neatest style, on the outskirts O
the market-town of Littelum Mrs. Thornt
was plump. good-natured and lazy, yet some
whatproud and sensitive; she fancied The
country families were patronizng, and she
would not be patronized.
Cssy was their only child and they though
much Of her, honestly believing that Their
never was such by-child-maiden. OF
course the paragon was never sent to school
and the gOyernesses were selected prncpal
with reference to their power of appreciatn
her merits.
Nevertheless she was very charming an
had two lovers-I do not mean admirers, bu
two men who were ready to marry her,
could not quite make up her mind which O
the brace TO select.
IF the gypsy would only show me which
am to take, it would save me world O
trouble" she said to herself with smile
"but of course that is all nonsense. Yet
she did, | vow that L would he guided by it,
One aspirant was Pendi Frogmore; land
ded proprietor in the neighborhood, yer,
poor; for though his rent-roll was fair one
his debts were enormous; but very handsome
and well set up. Indeed, he had been in tn,
blues. don't mean bad spirits, but a mar
in armor, commanding men in armor, and hi
wife would be undoubtedly county,
Charles Wilson was the name of the other
he was young London solicitor, who ha
just been taken into good firm, and wa
now on visit to his neither, an Indian Co
oners widow who resided at Litlelum. Mr.
Wilson and Mrs. Thorne were good friends
and so all was smooth there. Mrs. Wilson
had murmured indeed, when she first say
her sons inclination
"Would she be a companion for you
Charles would she be able to take an inteles
in the same things you did?"
mo, mother, that is just what I want
should hate wife that was as clever as my
self. But how can you fail to see her merits
She is such very nice little party!"
"Partte, Charlie, partie how dreadfully bat
your French accent is! l grant that she
would no. be bad match for you from /;
worldly point ofview."
Frogmore was the most handsome, Wilson
the more pleasant Really, if fate would set
tie the matter for Der, it would save Ciss,
Thorne world of trouble.
So the pretty bone of contention thought. as
she started with her maid Emma for Littelum
Hurst at nine A. NJ. for Mr.. Thorne breakfasteJ
early, and his daughter presided, Mrs. Thorne
being sluggard. Not a drum was heard, not
pandean note as they stepped briskly
along; the gingerbread husbands were Gov
cred up from the dust; the merry go-rounds
We're still; the clown was mending his dress
the don5ies breakfasted frugally on each
others names; the fire-eater was irving a
diet OF bacon, bread and g allc for change.
business never commenced in the fair till
afternoon. But Miss Thornes visit was not
to the far; to the right, some five hundred
yards from the common, there was clump Of
sparse trees, and sheltered beneath them stood
one of those old yellow huts on wheels which
act SO wildly upon the imaginations of vii
lage children. This was the abode of the sibyl,
ana the adVenturesses turned aside toward it,
Emma went first on the steps and tapped
with the bright brass knocker; the door open.
eo Immediately, and woman OF the mystic
race appearec-young, handsome as a Span-
lard, though her splendid black hair was
raIner coarse. II you come to examine If
cioseiy. hu1nd ureW pack to let her mistress
enter first. 0''
walk in, my pretty lady," said the gypsy !;
don't be afeared AN quite alone here.'
Although the fun of the fair did not COM
menoe till late in the day, il was evident that
custom came betimes to the sibyl, for traces
OF night disorder had disappeared from tie
miniature interior, which was spick and span
neat and clean; obviously prepared for visit
ors. The small apartment was still further
reduced by curtain, which ran on brass
rings along rod, enclosing a portion of the
space.
The gypsy examined Cissy's hand, and he
gan making shots-centers through. most.
Dull's-eyes, some '--''''
fou are an only child, and your father
and mother would give you gold to eat, if YOU
wanted it; when child you were, in great
peril from dog" A lot more to the same
effect, couched in vague language; but verv
correct. CisSy began to be very sorry that
she had come, "There's two gentlemen as is
very sweet upon you, my pretty lady," con-
tlnued the unpoetic sibyl; "ii you marry one
you will be unhappy all your life, but if YOU
take the other you will be lucky, and live to
De eighty, and ride in your carriage and pair
all the tme' pun
Inc idea OF this very protracted drive rath
er amused Cisssy, and that revived her cour-
age. After all, the woman might have made
inquiries about her ON the chance of her
coming.
"And how am l to know which of these
gentlemen to choose" she asked in a banter
ing tone.
"Ah, that cannot tell, my lady; but YOU
can look in the Magic Glass for yourself. and
see if it shows you aught."
Let me see it, them" said Cissy, brayely,
Though q fpplin0 Of orppninacc hanop 10 ~