The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-03-19
miscellaneous.
the FORT ufE TELLER.

! SJF'y NAosA ROV lh LlC COIu(
; Of her tent, smoking her afternoo
pipe. Old Moll wis q fortune te,le
-artfnl and sly, d quick reader Q
human nature, and very shrewd !
herguesses so succ(ssiul had she bee,
at times that manyIof the Young an,
o'euo'ous believed her to be o veri
'ao'e ch,and tllSngh this inspired
them with fear, yeth threw aroun,
sne gXPAX fartaln fascination whicl
~ Old M5'fss Ms aasss wa W., .'-...,, ~,
dark, and wrinkled and thin. He
eyes black and piercing were over
shadowed by heavy gray brows, and
her forehead was narrow and low
Her mouth might once have been
pretty, but now it was discolored
with tobacco, and where there should
have been rows of white teeth there
were only one or two unsightly
taks. MolPs nose was thin and
hooked-an evil.looking member
but we'll in keeping with tho leer.
ing, sinister expression of I.er rest.
less eyes. Her coarse, hair was usu-
ally concealed under a gaudy red
hood, but at times, when trade was
dull, she threw aside this piece of f.
merry, and then the struggling, matted
masses hung down her back, and
clung to her face, making her fright
ful to behold. Her hands were not
skelstonish, not bony but large and
brown, and slnewy aud masculine
dreadful hands for woman.
Old Moll, however, was not alto
gether bad. Witty and keen, with
an imagination equal to any occasion,
possessing a fund OF wild, tanciiul
stories, strange and exciting accounts,
she was favorite IN the camp and her
company was much sought TO enliyen
the long lazy hours OF the gypsies'
lives.
As Moll sat smoking her old black
pipe, with greasy pots, dirty kettles,
and broken dishes piled around her
tnruwn -uack,, auu ,uJre sppear.5 80.
her vision so lovely it touched her
heart, hard ~ 1t was.
1t was a young g,rl, with q face
heaven like-so full OF sunshine, 30
fair, 80 beautiful. She was iancifully
attired, but with perfect taste, and
around her head and over her braids
Of black hair foated soft silvery
vail, which, as 1t gllstened and shono
in the sunlight, appeared like a halo
of glory resting upon the radiant
maiden. She was irresistible, fasci-
mating, though evidently unconsci.
GUS OF the fact; every mevsmont was
full OF grace as impulslvsly she halt
danced towards the swarthy witch,
followed by one OF the band, who
had conducted her thjther.
ooh a real bright, happy fate give
me, Auutlc,' she cried, without a
shadow OF fear, as sho dropped =
silver coin into the old hags lap
"Let me live in a land full OF music
and sunshine and flowers, aud give me
4 lite full of love, tree from care, FREQ
from sorrow, free from strife; and
the enthusiastio creature laaghisgly
outstretchsd her hand. and the dark,
horny palm OF the gypsy closed over
it.
Old Moll was in her best OF moods;
uglineas seemed to have gone out OF
her as she gazsd At the pure young
creature. For once she exerted her.
self to please another, without other
thought. Old Moll waxed eloquent
she seemed to be lifted above her
usaal self, and her glowing descrlp.
ton of the young girls future, which
her vivid Imagination enabled her to
portray, was not only wonderful in
itself, but really touching aud tear.
starting, something SO pure, beauti-
full, unexpected from > source 80
dark black, nurky cloud shedding
soft white snow flakes.
II halt beliere you exclaimed the
Young girl, flushed and excited;
aGood.bys, Anntis, goodbye; ! hope
II hope it soillcome true;" and then
passing through the opening the
bright form was hid from sight.
j Old Moll forgot to chuckle to
herself as usual forgot to ring the
silver coin npon the stones as chs
was wont to do; and her pipe neg.
lectsd, the ashes grew cold and white
Long she sat there, until the COLDER
had Of day grow twilight gray; and
then. the Sin scared woman thrus
, aside tho canvas, aud looking up t.
the sky watched the stars as one b.
they burnt themselves into the blue
She threw off her hood, and tose