The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-23
Telling a Fortune Us. Finding One,
A Cincinnati Astrologist Wins Hire
Son an $4,000 Wife.
The WTIeS She. W0nnd ArOHAd a WI
ling Wia07V.
From the Cincinnati Enqpirer

lily ndHl6u Ildges' lllo lIdynSS are w Ille
thrifty inhabitants of Miami Bottoms
what the Rothschilds are to the inhabi.
tants of Lurope. They own lands down
there almost by the township, and it is
on the income realized from the rental Of
these lands that they live. This property
has repeatedly been handed down to the
Hayes heirs during the past century, and
during these changes in ownership it has
constantly increased in value. Promi-
nent among the Hayes heirs few years
ago was one Moses Hayes, very thrifty
and industrious young man, whom every
body respected. Arriving at an age o.
maturity, and coming into the possession
of perhaps $4,000 or 100000, he cast
about him for wife, and quickly settled
upon highly respectable and highly de-
veloped young woman, whom all clever
people now call "Mary Ann" Mr.. Hayes
wanted something material to assist hin
in taking care of his fortune, and as Mary
Ann possessed about two hundred and
fifty pounds avoirdupois, she was mate
rial enough, and therefore answered Mr.
Hayess ambition. The couple lived in
uninterrupted bliss for a period of years
during which three sons were born tc
them, and then Mary Ann mourned fol
her husband for the same reason thai
Rachel mourned for her children. Death
had taken off the head of the family, and
for a few weeks Mary Ann was discon'
solate. Then she bethought herself tC
bury her disCOnsolation in another hus
hand. She was blushing widow, and
withal was comely. She came to Cincin'
natl, and, to settle the question as tc
whether a second matrimony was in store
for her, she resorted to madame Rossi's
now Baltimore fortune-teller. The
Madame knew everything, and knew that
Mary Ann Hayes possessed money as
well. The astrologist knew that Mrs
Hayes came from Cleves, and that, by
her husbands death, she had fallen heir
to very comfortable estate. She could
therefore tell the husband-hunter's for
tune. Oh, yes, she could even show hel
the picture of her future spouse, and
more, she could divine, in the lines Of
Mary AIMS hand, that the husband
would be forthcoming in less than fort
night. He would happen along at Mary
AIMS very door, and in the lines of the
hand she read that Mary Ann was to
greet him with outstretched arms.
Mrs. Hayes went home highly elated
Her days of widowhood were nearly
ended. The picture Of her future liege
lord she had pressed to her heart, and
his dear form she was certainly to see
within two weeks. She daily kept her
house in preparation that she might make
the recep, ion welcome one. Within the
stated time the husband did happen
along. Even before he reached the door.
step Mary Ann had seen him through
the window. His form and face were all
his picture had represented him to be-
and ere his hand could touch the door it
was flung wide open and he had fallen
into welcoming arms. Mary Ann had
greeted him according to the programme
and then, according to programme, she
learned his name. 1t was Joseph Sykes
Joseph fingered in the house, or in the
vicinity Of Mary AIMS residence until
the next morning, when both came up
to Cincinnati, got out license and were
pronounced man and wife. Joseph was
in a great hurry to get to st. Louis, where
he said he had been engaged in earning
$l2 per day. He must get back to his val
liable work, and so, with a few necessa-
ries hurried together, he and Mary Ann
started. In St. Louis they put up at q
frst-class hotel, and remained only a few
days, when Joseph was suddenly re.
minded that his presence was demanded
in Cincinnati, and so back the couple
posted The $12 dollar day hadn't pan
ned out we'll, and after their arrival in
this city, and after Madame Rossi had
presented bill to Mary Ann for all the
wedding expenses, including the price Of
the license and cost of the tour to St.
Louis, she began to dimly distrust that
SIP day; and then, when the astound-
ing intelligence burst upon her that Jo-
seph Sykes was none other than the af-
fectionate and obedient son of Madame
Rossi, whose photograph the old Mad
anne had given her, she understood all
The intelligence was enough to annihi-
late the nerve of most any woman, but
it never occasioned a futter with Mary
Ann. Her Joseph was handsome, and
possessed a fine physique, and what did
she want further than this? And when
Joseph asked for division of the sum
total of the rents as they came pouringin,
Mary Ann generously forked over, and
then Joseph lit out The neighbors
laughed a good deal at Mrs. Sykes for her
credulity and her confidence in the for
tune-teller, but she swallowed her con-
fusion, and prayed that Joseph would re-
turn. He had fingered long enough to
learn that Mrs. Sykes did not possess the
property in fee simple, that her three
healthy boys were in the way of his am.
bition, and then, without word of part
ing, he went. Soon after his departure
one of the boys, s,while cunning, accident
ally shot himself, from the effects of
which he died, and the same, coming to
the ears of Sykes, raised his hopes. The
time was near the next payment of rents,
and so back adventurer Joseph came,
WARY ALI again IeColNcu ulu Will Opeu
arms. She set out the best the house af-
forded. She even killed the fatted calf,
and with the incoming rents was making
JOSEPH happy. With his purse well
stuffed, however, the gay larker started
off again. The two remaining sons were
still healthy and well, and the chances
were against him. ldary Ann was again
in saCkcloth and ashes. About this time
however, the second son was thrown from
a carriage, through the influence of run
away horse, and his neck broken. Then
the thermometer Of Joseph's hopes went
up to blood heat, ard back his dashing
person came. Mary meekly received
him again But there was one son left,
and so, with his pockets reimbursed, Jo-
seph shook the dust of cleves from his
feet, and for a season was seen no more.
Then Mary Ann became excited; nay,
she was enraged. She even invoked the
shades of her ancestors to witness her
solemn oath that with the derelict Sykes
she hat done. She even went so far as
m dnplarn thot if aha avar bo1 o,,obt 70