The Osceola times., 1878-07-27
THE PROPHECY.

"Give me a man who has courage
In my eyes it hides a multitude of sins. ,
You are no enthusiastic on that
subject, Louisa" said Blanch Underwood
as she stood before the mirror in theil
private parlor and adjusted her ruf1les
lin looking for that quality, you'll over
look the want of some other, and find you
have made grievous blunder."
"Can't help it if | do. It's my nature
to worship that quality-in man especi
ally-thoueh / admire it in any one
He may be plain looking, but he is glori
fed forever in my eyes II he displays true
courage" and Louisa Rand passed hel
white fingers lightly over her wavy black
hair and resumed her reclining positio on
on the lounge.
"And you don't think Redmond
Clark has courage Blanch said in.
terrogatively, turning to look at the fair,
flushed face of her companion.
No, OF course DON'T" said the other
with renewed animation. 81 never saw
any of these blonde men show courage
don't believe it's consistent with their
natures. IL Redmond Clarke ever gains
my love he will have to prove himself a
man by some unquestionable daring.
"There is moral as we'll as physic-
al heroism," quietly suggested Blanch.
don't think my cousin Is deficient in
the former.
want to see them combined" said
the imperious beauty. physical dar-
ing is the outgrowth and seal of moral
courage. But we shall have to drop our
discussion. Here comes the gentleman
himself"
They heard tread on the stairs, then
the door swung open and Redmond
Clarke entered.
A careless, free and easy exterior, a
gentlemanly bearing. Undeniably hand.
some, il one admired the style Louise
professed to despise-blonde mustache,
indolent-looking eyes, and very brown
hair.
"Have you heard the news. ladies %
he inquired, as he threw himself, with
easy grace, into the depths of comfort.
able chair, and pushed back his heavy
hair from broad white forehead.
" No. didn't guess they dealt in such
commodity in this quiet place." said
Blanche.
perhaps it isn't local news" sug.
gestsd Louise, idly winding some bris sht
worsteds, while Redmond Clarke noticed
the contrast between the glowing colors
and her snowy fingers.
Yes, it is local news with a ven
geance. A prophecy uttered by seer
sixty years ago regarding this town is on
the eve OF fulfllment."
"Please explain" said both, with
growing interest.
"To-.norrow night this hotel, known
as the Cocsssett House, and a space OF
two miles from it, in all directions in
cluded, is TO sink, and instead of the in
habited village, the morning sun is to
rise over broad expanse of water, which
has covered the doomed inhabitants"
"Pshaw !" said Louise, impatiently.
"We were unfortunate in our selec.
tion of place to rusticate," pursued
Redmond, watching Louise closely, with
out seeming to do so. ave came here
To escape being bored by fashionable So
ciety. II We are swallowed up by the
miniature flood aforesaid, society will
be rid of us, which would be a loss on
both sides"
"Perhaps we had better pack our
trunks and leave on the strength Of this
threatened danger" said Louise, with
quiet ssrcasm.
"Suppose we make short visit to
Ashdale and return-if the place vet
stands-when the dangerous period has
passed." said Blanche.
"There is the dinner bell" and the
conversation ended somewhat abruptly.
The trio descended to the quiet, cool
dining room, and took their seats at the
table.
1T is said that the first part of the
prophecy has been literally fulfilled" a
gentleman was saying as they entered.
I'VE may reasonably expect the rest to
be true"
"What are the circumstances?', said a
middle aged lady. 81 have heard only
the last part OF the story"
81 will tell you. Sixty years ago a
traveller stopped here at q hotel where
this one now stands, and engaged board
and lodging tor a fortnight. But the
first morning he made his appearance
with face white with horror, and in
formed the landlord that he could
not stay as he first intended. He mar.
rated that during the night it had been
uuiolded to him a herTid murder had
been perpetrated within the walls OF the
building q short time past, and that, as
a curse, all the children afterwards born
here should die in infancy. Further,
that q new hotel should he erected on
the lite of the one then standing, in fifty
years, and in sixty years the hotel and
part of the guilt should be engulfed, as a
further lenthening out of the curse."
"The middle>aged lady looked much
impressed.
Can this happened where we now
are."
ayes, the Cocassett House now stands
on the spot where the dire prophecy was
uttered, ard we now wait anxiously for
the final contamination"
"Have they made allowance in their
reckoning for leap YEAR, fippant y in
ouired a youth who sat opposite the
serious gentleman.
You should not Jest under the
shadow of a great calamity" said the
fir-t impressively, regarding the youth
! ful uubeliever severely through his glasses;