The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-12-14

the other; he was young London
solicitor, who had just been taken into
| a good firm, and was now on visit
to his mother, an Indian Colonies
widow, who resides at Littelum. Mrs.
Wilson and Mrs. Thorne were good
friends, and so all was smooth there.
Mrs.. Wilson had murmured, indeed,
when she first saw her sons inclina-
| ton
"Would she be companion for
you, Charles? Would she be able to
take an interest in the same things
you did p
"No, mother, that is just what l
want. should hate a wife that was
as clever as myself. But can you fail
| to see her merits? She is such avery
nice little partyp
"Partie, Charlie, partie; how dread
fully bad your French accent isl |
grant that she would not be 3 bad
match for you from . money point OF
view.'
Frogmore was the most handsome.
Wilson the more pleasant. Really, if
fate would settle the matter tor her, it
would save CissY Thorne a world of
trouble
So the--pretty bone of contention
thought, as she started with her maid
Emma, from Littleum Hurst at 9,A. N.
for Mr.. Thorne breakfasted early, and
his daughter presided, Mrs. Thorne
being sluggrd. Not drum was
heard, not pandean note was heard
as they stepped briskly along; the
gingerbread husbands were covered
up from the dust; the merry go
rounds were still; the clown was
mending his dress; the donkcys
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 until afternoon. But Miss
Thorne's visit was not in the fair; to
| the right, some five hundred yards
! from the common, there was a clump
of sparse trees, and sheltered beneath
| them stood ono of those old yellow
| huts on wheels, which act go vividly
| upon the Imagination of village chill
dren. This was the abode of the sy-
bill. and the adyehturesses turned aside
Emma went first on the steps and
| tapped with the light brass knocker
the door opened Immediately, and
woman ofthe mystic race appeared
vo1ng, handsome, as Spaniard, tho
her splendid black hair was rather
coarse, if you come to examine it
closely. Emma drew back to let her
mistress enter first.
walk in, my pretty lady" said
the gypsy; don't be aieard, 1 am
quite alone
Although the fun of the fair did not
commence till late in the day, it was
evident that custom came betimes ito
the sybil, for traces of night disorder
ka1 ho iotr
interior, which was spick and span,
neat and clean obviouslyprepared 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 bosom; making shots-centers
through, most; BULLS eyes, some.
"You are an only child, and your
father and mother would give you
gold to eat if you want it; when .
child you were in great peril from .
dog" A lot more to the same effect,
couehed in vague language, but very
correct. Cissy began to be very sor-
ry that she had come. There's two
gentlemen as is very sweet on you,
my pretty lady, continued the unpo-
etical sybil; ''if you marry one you
will be unhappy all your life, but if
you take the other you will be lucky, |
ana live to be eighty, and ride in your
carriage and pair all the time.
The idea of this very protractive
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 to know which one |
of these gentlemen to choose ?" she |
asked in bantering tone.
s.Ah, that / cannot tell, my lady; |
but you can look in the Magic Glass
for yourself, ande9e if it shows you
aught."
.Let me see it them" said Cissy.
bravely, though a feeling Of creepi- |
ness began to return.
The gypsy said that Emma should I
leave the caravan, but Cissy would
not have that, 30 compromise was
effected; the maid was blindfolded.
Then the gypsey drew slides across
the window on either side, producing
deep twilight. Indeed it was more
like ground glass than an ordinary
mirror; ground glass with feeble
light behind it. Presently the glass
/
ing shadows, which gathered so thick
ly as to obscure the whole of it; and
then it gradually cleared, and head
and shoulders grew upon it; it clear
ed little more and reYealed-the un-
doubted face of Charles Wilson. Cissy
stood aghasf in awe, struck with ter
or before the supernatural intfmation,
when suddenly as she gazed, the face
before her became conVulsed with an
expression of terrible agony. She ut
tered little scream and tainted.
Fresh air and cold water soon
broupht her to; she feed the gypsy
and started homeward. 1
you seed him, Miss ?" equlred
Emma.
Eyes, and I'll never marry any one
else, if die an old maid. But, oh!
what can that dreadful expression on
his face foretell? feel that some
dreadful calamity will happen some
day" ~ Aa. ~ f
A not Improbable dread. There
was one consolation; fate and Cissy's
hit it off nicely. Girls are queer things
and she had hardly known that she
preferred Charley Wilson as she did.
In due time he offered and was ac-
cepted and they were married, and
went off for their honeymoon to the
Lake of Como.
One evening Charles Wilson rowed
his bride out in very clumsy boat.
"How serious you are CissumaP
he said, finding her less chatty than
usual. did that bravo-looking beg
gar frighten your Because his frow-
sy head shall be punched if he did" Il
s'Oh, no; oh don't offend him ?" cri-
ed the young wife. IL am sure he
has got what the Italians call the Evil
Eye"
"Has he? Well. never mind; the
Americans have invented a potion
which counteracts the effect"
"Really !"
"Yes, when we return, will get