The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-10-28

two looked upon it and wept, WIN
strange sympathy.
Al length the woman looked up. sYou
| are young and beautiful. Forget the past
and learn to love another. 1have known
much OF the world, and thousands, tens
Of thousands, forgot the first love, and are
happy in another"
Fanny looked at her with amazement.
81! What, be false TO Henryl false
to myself? and you counsel itp
| ,Alasi poor girl, so thorough had be-
wildered minds, that each had forgotten
that their Intercourse had been that
only of few hours.
The woman took her leave, first put
ting the cards in Fanny's hands, that
she might read her Own fate.
And now weeks, months passed away,
and every day Fanny might be seen,
with the cards between her fingers, her
lids dropping, and eyes fixed upon their
characters. Her face was/calm and &C.
rious, faint smile only stealing to her
lips, as at each operation she observed
the deuce of spades was never beside
her lover. II knew he wasn't false"
she would murmur, and then cut and
shuttle the cards again. II at any time
the obnoxious card bore a jvxtaposition,
whisper, mo, no, Henry isn't false, but
he fears for me; he fears may forget
him in his long absence. No. Henry,
neverl neVerp and she would burst into
tears.
The village maiGens learned to sympa.
thlze with the poor girl, an3 brought her
fruits and flowers, and tried to vile her
from her melancholy. They would in
part succeed, for Fanny was exceeding
ly gentle, and won by The voice OF gen.
tleness. Tnen they would ask to nave
their own fortunes told, and, strange to
say, belief IN her predictions gained
ground, and the maidens learned to rely
upon what she told them. Fanny would
say they must be sincere and earnest in
what they wished OF she could predict
nothing by the cards. All would be
confused and only mislead both.
The lunacy OF the poor girl had its
uses. Her companions began to assimI-
late to her own earnestness; to dread
falsehood and TO forbear trifing in affairs
of the heart. Often when two or three
were gathered about her Fanny would
tell the fortunes Of one, and then bid
them wait while she cut for herself.
AS piece after piece came before her eye
she would read the details in low
voice: ''Yes; a long removal by water;
tears and kisses obsLructed; yet love, a
a great deal ot love and disappointment
with it. Fanny and Henry close to the
house, and sickness and death between;
always the same; no nope, alasl only jn
our Iaith;" and the tears would tfickie
over her pale cheeks while her COM
panions stood weeping around her.
At length, one bright morning in June,
wnen the rose was tilliDg the air with
gladness, "a carriage stopped at the door,
and Henry, pale anu emaciated, tot
tered TO the house. He had been Ship
wrecked, had been i'll in a fole eign port,
and now he had come home TO die with
Fanny. She felt it must be so, and she
nestled to his bosom, more than content,
for she felt she Too must be a victim. Ii
Was pitiiul TO Sc. the lovers, each with
the hand of death upon them, yet 50
cheerful in the belief. Henry, Indeed,
wept bitter tears over the wreck OF
thought in the poor girl, but then he
learned to feel 1T mgre mercitul thus to
have been, Tor these fantasies had
wrought their own relief. Fanny
brought her cards, and taught her lover
how TO read their tate; and IL may be-
that harmless creduiisy crept even up
ON his own mind, for illness is sure TO
BRING down the arrogance OF mere rea.
son, while the affections and sentiments.
the true soul, remain unimpalred.
"Here is a. marriage ring beside us
Fanny; be my wife, dearest, said her
lover, as they reeiined beside the win.
dow, Fanny with her head upon the
SHOULDER OF her lover, who held the cards
in his thin fingers.
Fanny pressed her lips to his hand,
and murmured, "Dear, dear Henry.".
The priest was summoned, ana they
were made one, not in VOWS merely, but
in soul. They sat and looked into each
fether's eyes.
"Put by the cards, dearest" said
Fanny; ~ have had long, sad, and vet
sweet dream. But now. 1 am thine,
Henry, thInel" sac had knelt at mis-
Ieet, subdued by the sweet reverence
and tenderness of her woman's heart,
and as she ceased to speak her head ieli
upon his lap. Henry raised der head to
his bosom. Fanny had ceased TO dream.
1t Is many ears since the lovers we're
laid side by side in the little church
yard, but the maidens OF the village yet
scatter their graves with flowers, ana
the story of their truth and constancy
has wrought as leayen upon the com
munity, making tue vows oil love holl-
ness among them.
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