Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-08-28

every day"
GAS to these mediums" said Lieuten
ant Calderwood, thoughtfully, "my
opinion is that they will take Your money
and you will get no information in return
never had any intercourse with them.
for have no beIiefin their ability to tell
you anything you do not know yourself.
A friend of mine; Captain Johns, told me
of a woman, a fortune teller, who made
some remarkable predlctiors-very re-
markable indeed. She sketched out his
whole career for him.
Who was she? Where i she to be
found ?" cried Paul, forget lg TO ask
whether the prophesies proved true or not
they were most ridiculously absurd and
untrue.
" At No. 81 Poplar street," said his un-
Gle, after several minutes hesitation.
"She was to be consulted only at night
But that was several years ago"
"Pll 90 and see her tomorrow night,n
said Paul. He was more nervous and un-
settled than u ual that evening, and sa
looking in the fire for a long time.
"The boy is ruined" sighed his mother
"nothing will ever restore him to common
sense or usefulness"
/ "lt is long day until sunset said her
brother, quoting his favorite proverb.
The next night Paul got on his over
coat just after supper, and his last dollar
IN his pocket. His uncle had not been
home during the afternoon. Paul kissed
his mother good bye.
Where are you going, my son ?n
! "To make our fortune" he said gayly,
! as he ran out
Nc. 81 Poplar street was soon found. It
was a narrow, dark entry, lighted by a
red lamp, when gave ghostly and mur-
derous light Paul went up the winding
stairs, and found at the top a door with a
placard, on which was printed with a
common pen:
"MADAME D'AUBREY, sEEREss.n
Paul tapped. No answer. He tapped
again.
Enter !" said a hoarse voice.
/ He pushed the door open and went in
The room was bare of furniture, except
another red lamp, which shed it's bloody
glare over the gray walls, and black
antique chair, in which sat tall ,gaunt wo-
man. She was robed III loose, falling
habit of black from head to foot. Her
face, of which Paul could see but little
but the chin, was deathly pale. Now and
then he caught glimpse of a pair Of
keen eyes, which he thought were both
fierce and threatening.
{ al came to consult you,n he stammered
/ The black-covered head nodded alt
is unnecessary to explain yourself further
Your Game is Paul Forbes you desire to
know by what means you may obtain
certain treasure
Paul was terrified. The other mediums
| that he had consulted had never told him
actual facts.
When do you hold seance?"
! "Now !" In hoarse grating voice.
a need no trumpery tables, nor cards,
nor machinery. Do you ask whether |
can see into futurity? You have a scar
on your shoulder beneath your clothes, an
unhealed wound below your knee. If
can tell you about these things that
others eyes cannot see, you can afford to
trust me for the truth of whatever else |
may say. Ask what you will and [ will
answer"
"How am [ to obtain the treasure &?
said Paul.
"How should [ know what treasure you
mean? But pause." The figure moved
her hand slowly to her forehead, muttered
for a few moments, then slowly took it
down and looked piercingly at the terri
fed Paul.
"The pot of gold waits for you, enough
TO give you fortune and power Here are
the directions by which you are to obtain
it." She then placed small slip of pa
per in his hand
"On these conditions" she said, in a
hollow whisper, {" that you solve the mys-
terry of this paper alone. You are to re-
celve no assistance in reading it. if you
do all is lost. Begone; you are answer
ed.D
Paul placed his money in her outstretch-
ed hand and went stumbling down the
stairs under the red lamp.
The next morning by daybreak he was
knocking at the door of lis uncle's cham
her.
"What is this p showing him paper
full of figures, lines and diagrams. sDon't
read it to me. Only tell me what sort of
a puzzle it ISL
The Lieutenant raised himself on his
elbow, smothering yawn. 1T seems
to be mathematical puzzle. Paul-the
description of some locality, think. |
won't interpret it to you. 1t would need
good typographical engineer to do that.
Where did you pick it up ?"
Paul muttered out something and dap
peared.
A week after the Lieutenant returned to
his regiment. He noticed Paul busy every
night with his mathe matics and his slate
and pencil The dream-bOoll was laid on
the shelf
Several months after, Mrs Forbes, writ
ing to her brother, said:
have something to tell you OF Paul
Which know will please you. Much to
my SURPRISE he took the first prize in math-
ematics at school last term. Finding prize
taking agreeable, [ presume, he has de-
voted himself to all bis studies with re-
newed assiduh4y. But mathematics ap-
pear to be a passion with the boy. lie
told me that he designed studying topo-
graphical engineering, the very profession
| would have chosen for him. | cannot
tell you how thankful [ am for his sudden
change"
The Lieutenant laughed, but made no
other sign.
lie heard from his sister, but at long in
teryals, as he was stationed on the from
tier; but every letter brought accounts of
PauFs ncessant, steady labor in the one
direction.
Whether the hope of the treasure still
urged him on, or whether be found that
mathematics were his proper work and
that for which his talents and real tastes
best fitted him, we cannot say. But it is
certain that at the end of three years he
was ready to enter the highest class in
practical surveying of the Polytechnic
College.
A year later Lieutenant Calderwood
Was seated In the door of his tent, when
two or three strangers dashed up, and a
stout, bearded, brght-eyed young fellow
jumped off his horse, caught him by the
shoulders, shook him, laughed, and end,
ed by kissing him like a girl.
Paul Forbes! Bless you, boy How