Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-11-19
MISSED.

Snow was on the sidewalks, ice in the
cutters, Jack Frost's sketchings on the
windows, clouds in the sky, and dismal
howls through the air from quarters not
prescribed by Probabilities.
Come" l said, catching wildly hold
of Miss Walton as she sat demurely
planning a new dress" don't unfold
that. want you to go out with me- "
"Go out! Where P"
Let's go up and interview that for
ture-teller you heard was such prodigy
We couldn't have better day to look
into the other world, 1.-THE half-light o
this one is favorable"
Il ought to sew" she responded,
"but do you know I feel just like a
spree myself"
She hesitated a minute, then rolled up
her dress and its trimmings impulsively,
put them in the closet, and drew there
from waterproof and pair of rubbers.
Behold my answer!"
We both laughed, and soon after
found ourselves on the street, en- route
for the land of the future. A sud
den obstacle in the track struck us both
at once-we did not know Mrs. Nugent's
number. We turned into the nearest
drug store, and conned the directory
Several Nugents inscribed themselves
as butchers, bakers, and candlestick
makers, but not Nugent could we find
willing to be labeled Fortune-teler.
This is it, I'll venture" said
MRS. Florence Nugent, dress-makel
Blank street."
1--WE might try that anyway" sale
Miss Walton, Mrs. Benson said it wa.
up at the top of Blank street."
AS we stepped out of the drug store
my foot slipped, and l came very nea
falling fiat. Miss Walton laughed a
she bolstered me up.
"Take care! it would be dreadful t,
fall and break IA leg or an arm on tn
way to the fortune-teller's wouldn't it
People would say it served us right fo
being so idiotic. ! wonder if she ca
tell us anything of any consequence
Mrs. Benson said she hit her case prett
we'll, told just how many children sh
had, and that she was coming into
happy period. She wouldn't tell Mis-
Cunningham's fortune at all, gave n
reason. Two or three days after tha
she had that dreadful fall and spraine
her knee, and hasn't walked since
Wasn't that coincidence She migt
make hit about Fred-dear boy"
As the conductor pulled the strap fc
us, he gave us a look; | was clairvoyal
enough to know what he was thinking
Two women neither very young ne
very pretty, with nothing better to
at home this bad day than to come OF
to go to fortune-teller's! All the foo
are not dead yet" A policeman passe
as we rang the bell. OF course he kne
who lived there.
SIS this the Mrs. Nugent who tel
! fortunes?" Miss Walton asked, as I'll
girl opened the door.
"Yes'm. Walk upstairs"
We were ushered into very sma
parlor already at this early hour of Il
day occupied with four persons of il
tentions similar to our OWn-four foo
ahead of us.
The day being cold we drew near Il
stove. The other attendant women we
already close to it, and we were broug
into immediate conversational relatio
with them. The solitary man prese
was sitting at the window. We h,
feared that certain questionable sty
of shop girl and housemaid, with who
subsequent encounter might prove ell
barrassing, would be the prevailil
type. But SO far, not so. One YOU
woman present was placed in my mil
as perhaps the head lady in fancy stol
attractive to gentlemen and so on-b
> the other persons were of a differe
d brand. One was middle-aged, matro
ly person in black, of heavy, phle
J. matte build; possibly the relict of sol
!. estimable grocer merchant. The thi
was delicate, refined lady in subdu
G tints, carrying about her a faint aror
: of " culture" AS for the masculine
d preventative - he was gentle, mild
voice and manner, trifle pronounc
in dress. His department was SO enti
ly unassailable that we had difficulty