The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-11
BECKY'S FORTUNE.

BEChAFS FORII Ne
AZ Rackv sat on the doorstep of the
doctors cottage knitting in the twilight,
all the work done for the evening-the
milk S rained and put by in the shining
pans, the cups and saucers all pohshed
and standing in rows on edge IN the
pantry, ali the flies scared out, all and
the shutters closed in the we'll busted
roonl-she fell a-thinking of Bob Barker,
and wonderin whether he meant any
thing by grinning at her SO when he
stopped to say word about the weather
at the back gate.
"I'd like to know" said Becky to
herself Bob is a good young fellow.
and I m most tired OF livin' out {; even II
I wasn't, doctor does want man on
the place, and Mrs. Cope don't think
would mind heyin' married help,
"Heigh, oh ! / reckon married life
has its trials, too. There's some turns
out very bad but you don't want to go
and sot down an old maid after all, and
/ kind O. expect whichever way you Go,
you'll be sorry SO you might as well
have somebody to find the marketln as
not. Bobis handsome, too, in his Sun
day better most and he's light, and
I'm dark, and I've heard that's lucky.
I" FL
s. Want to have your fortune told,
pretty lady?" said voice at her ear at
this moment.
Becky was a good Methodist and be-
he7ed heartily in a peripatetlc Satan.
Whensthis inquiry came SO pat upon her
day-dream, she jumped mp and uttered
a little scream, feeling quite sure that
it was the old gentleman in proper per
son that stood at her elbow but as she
recovered breath, she saw nothing more
dreadful than a slight, young gypsy
woman, In a red flannel sacque and
short brown calico dress, with a hand
kerchief over her head, baby strapped
to her back, and some odd tr1ties-shoe-
strings, buttons, a comb or two, and
few boxes of matches, ranged as II Tor
sale in a dingy little chip basket, which
Ehe carried in her hand.
'' Let the poor gypsy tell the lady's
fortune" said the soft voice again.
"She knows what she was thinking OF
as she sat there, and she can tell her II
her wishlI come true"
When a gir1, simple or gentle, looks
into vacancy and simpers to herself, 1t
would be hard if a shrewd bystander
could not guess her thoughts. But this
apt hit struck Becky as miraculous.
She said Law, now r and blushed
again.
"The pretty lady knows that can
An English girl doubtless would have
discIaimed the title lady" and re-
marked that she "was but servant )"
but Yankee help, what is left Of it, con-
siders itself entitled to the term as well
as its mistress. And as for the ''pret-
ty," Becky had her mirror and her van
ity as we'll as you and I. She merely
responded, e I hain't said nothin'," and
sat down on the porch again. But she
looked at the sibyl with longing eyes,
and 1onged to question her.
If it had been a common fortune
teller, like Mrs. Bobbs. in the village,
why, of course, it would not have been
a temptation, because no one believed
old Mrs. Bobbs knew much, after all,
even if she did tell Maggie Larkin that
she'd marry a man that came from for
eign parts. And every one knew that
came true, for Maggie was Mrs.
Schwackhammer, the German black
smith s wife, that day. But areal gypsy
a gypsy with black eyes and hair, and a
brown skin, and little dusky baby on
her back-Rhy, that was some one worth
while, and Becky felt it too good an OPP
portunity to let slip; but what should
she do? She had spent all her wages,
and gypsies did not read the stars for
love, as she knew very well
&c I dunno about fortins, she said,
gaining time to think. Don't believe
in EN-
"Wait till you've heard yours" said
the woman.
'' Besides said Becky, ''I han't no
small change"
The gypsy looked grave. Then smiled
again. and said
.s But the pretty lady has a dress too
shabby for her, but well enough for the
poor gypsy"
.sOh. I might find one," said Becky.
"P'raps I might. If Mrs. Cope was
home she'd lend two shillin' to me, she
would. She sots store on me, Mrs.
Cope does-but she and the doctor has
gone away in the gig to see their darter
that has a new baby, land I'm all alone
and shall be all night, SO you see
"Oh, yes !! Z" said the gypsy, with a
sudden flash in her eyes, "b but as for
money no matter. have taken spoon,
a silver spoon, you know, that the lady
gave her cook. 1 wouldn't touch one
that wasn't honestly come by.
"Of course not" said Becky,
wouldn't sit here talkin' with you if ]
thought you would but Mrs. Cope
amt one to give away spoons.
"Nor to have much silVerj" said the
gypsy: ;, ..,s p..tu
WAys Sne got uOZeu Yea 9au
dozen dessert and six table and two
plate; and two knives and sugar tongs.
There now"
eyes, 1 know" said the gypsy. g
can see 'em shining in-in-somethine
dark and deep"
"The old sideboard in the sittin'-
room.' said Becky. Sc 'That's So"
Well" said the woman, sits better
to be gypsy, and not care for things
Like those. They are all trouble. But
see how we run away from our talk.
and the lght-haired young man, arid