Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-08-21

fortune told :" Bat Niolctte shook heI
head and closed the door.
a Cannot steal, and to beg I am
ashamed" said she to herself. After il
is dark tonight III so out and tell for.
tunes"
Then she took two Fat irons to the junk
shop. bought loaf Of bread and pint Of
milk. and fed her four children-shc for
whom nothing had once been dainty
enough, and who had ridden in her own
carriage.
She put the children to bel, and left.
the key with neghbor in case of fire.
dread that haunts those many y-storied
houses like ghost, and then. disguised in
vail, hood and shawl. went forth on
her errand. 1t was crazy dream. She
had not courage to attempt fortune telling.
1t was worse than begging. She wandered
along the streets, leaving the ill-smelling
ones behind her. and coming at last to the
pure, sweet homes of luxury. In the end
she stood before her mothers windows.
There was a light in the basement. and
through the lace curtains she saw q table
spread. and the shadow of figure shl
knew to be her mothers on the curtain
and there, drawing down the shade,
was Martha, who had nursed her when a
child.
Tears filled her eyes. 1t was Para.
disc which che ne ser hoped to regain.
Had not her mother written
"a curse on you. Never darkcn my
doors more, unless you wish to hear me
utter it,
But hero at least she had not the terror
of strangers upon her; she could beg OF
tell fortunes. She would tell fortunes
Mtrtha was superstitious. and always had
dreams of matrimony, and of the coming
back of d lover who had gone to SEA when
she was in her teens. and had never been
heard of since.
She crept up to the window, and tapped
on the pancs. In a moment Martha opened
the door
The hooded figure drew near her.
"Let me tell your fortune z" she said.
Bother" said Martha, I'm past for.
tunes"
What" said Violctte with lover
gone to sea ?"
"Lord save us ~ cried Martha.
"And in one place twenty years." said
violctte.
"You know more than is good" said
Martha. stop a bit Are you one Of
them clairvoyants
"Yes," said Violctte.
Gould yen see where people are, what's
come of them, and that - asked Martha.
"For instance, q gel that's been gone
eight years, could you look for her in
dream like, as I've hoard they can, and
find herr"
"Yes, think could." said violette.
''St here, then.' Martha said. pointing
% a chair in the hail, and hurried into the
lining room.
She came back in moment.
"Comc and speak to Missus," she said.
And Violette, trembling so she could
scarcely stand, entered her mothers pres.
cnce.
No love is like Il mothers. Violette had
known that since she cast it off. She
knew it now, looking on the pale face
where wrinkles had come so hickly--on
the hair, all turned gray pow--on the sad
eyes. that We're SO bright when she last
saw them
She longcd to knecl at her mothers feet
and beg forgiveness, but she dared not yet
had not she sinned too deeply to hope
for pardon She stood silent with her
head bowed down.
"They tell me You are Il clairvoyant,"
said Mrs. Lorrimer. IL have not much
faith in such things, and if the power
prospers its posscssors so little it cannot
be worth much; but still | have some.
thing l should like to ask you. You search
for persons who are far away, do you not
and for lost thinss!'
Violettc bowed.
eff you can find something have lost
will repay you we'll" said Mrs. Lorrimor.
Here, sit down. Perhaps. if you have
this knowledge, you c,n tell me what l
have lost
Volcttc slt down.
at should be darker," she said, will
you lower the light ?''
Martha turned the gas down and stood
behind her lady's chair-and there was
silence, Violette had cast back her vail.
but the freight was not bright enough to
show her features.
Lady" she said, in low voice, "t is
not gold or silver that | see; it is nothing
that can be bought for money. What |
see is girl"
Good heavens cried the old lady.
"a girl Of sixteen, with fair hair and
blue eyes" said Vlolette. That was what
she was when you saw her last. Am |
right"
"ies,' said Mrs. Lorrimer.
"You loved her" said Violette; she
loved you. But she deceived you; she
was wicked-w ick ed-wicked hut there
was an excuse for her. She fell in love;
she was mad for while. You have cast
her off. She is gone. You viii never see
l.