Daily Republican., 1883-06-21
THE CURSE OF COVER.
Ky CLYDE AYMDND.

Accursed be 1ower intl, and may Old
Naomi's curse rest nponit it untla gypsy bride
shalt reign over it IA rs honored mistress"
Thus spoke an old bent aud weaihcr-bcaten n
gypsy woman. Silrkirs her bonl hand at the
stately pile uf gra, etone with its massive
chimneys anh its ancient looking t'n "t-
which might have been taken from some ivG
dal work of Europe in the middle ages and
set down amid the oaks and evergreens where
we tind II In one Of the most beautiful spots of
the new world.
This bitter curse of the old gypsy was ut
tered in the face Of Il fair, blue-eyed young
man of haughtiest beariny, who knew him.
elf to he included in it, and who had turn q
to leave her but was now glancing back with
unbcllef ana scOrn in every lineament OF his
handsome face.
That was full fifty years ago, yet,as Clifton
Cover stood looking up at the lonely, desert
cd old hall, the whole scene came vividly to
his mind as he had heard IT ltdescrlbeda thOu-
sand times.
He was Il true fVwer with his straight,
rounded, supple figure his proud bearing, his
flashing, dark blue eyes, and his fair haugh-
ty. smiling face
He was the grandson Of that GeOtrey Cow
or upon whom the gypsy's curse had fallen,
but he was unlike him and all the other men
of that name in that he vas truer, kind heart
ed md nober- nutured than they; and people
who knew him well felt that, in some way. he
would cause the curse of his house to die out
and be forgotten.
The story he had so often heard was that of
a beautiful, hark-eyed Spanish gypsy who
had loved Geotirey Clover so well that she
had abandoned her tribe and her poor old
mother to cross he ocean with him and settle
down in the grand secuson of f0wer hall
where for two years, she believed herself his
honored and lawful wife.
Then he met and loved fairer woman of
his own rank and the gypsey wife was heart
lessy informed that she was no wife at all,
and sent forth alone from Cover Hall so that
another might reign there in her stead.
Then the old gyrsey woman, who had fol.
lowed her daughter to America, ha pro-
nounced her dire curse upon Clover Hall, and
it was known that from that hour the misfOr-
tune OF the family began.
Geofrey Covers fair, aristocratic bride
lived but five years, and their eldest son, the
pride and Oy of his heart, survived her but q
month.
He was left in bitter loneliness with the
younger boy, who was but sickly child, yet
who, contrary 10 all expectations, had grown
up to a splendid manhood and married in his
turn.
This las, bride of Cover Hall, ,Clifton's own
mother. had lived but a few years, her young
husba nd having been accidentally killed soon
a ter their marriages and Ge0ttrey Cover was
once more left at the old hall, lonely and old
and almost frendless with his little grandson
Clifton, to take care OF.
After year or two of this life, he who had so
coldly discarded his young gypsy bride and
laughingly sneered at the gypsy mothers
curse, he who had seen wife and children per-
ish in the gloom of their youth and beauty
and his old ancestral home grown dark and
gloomy under the shadow of the curse, at last
died of broken heart.
Then the little heir was sent away in the
q Il 1snt, fNn Ilnil vun q
left to the owls and rocks that made night
hldeous in The lonesome wood around 1t.
How strangely old Naomi's words have
been fulfilled, :" mused Clifton Cover, looking
upwa rd at the moss grown turrets; the curse
has actually fallen upon every one of our fam M
lily until alone AIN left to bear the fated
name I'll should ever marry and shud-
der raj through his strong, young frame,as he
thought of the two young brides In their early
graves mo. no, must never think of that.
will live my life alone and let the curse end
with me, unless,' and pleasant, amused
smile lit up his handsome face, "unless can
manage to find a gypsy bride" :.
And 20 you will, my brave young sir,'
croaked thin, cracked voice behind him.
Clifton wheeled quickly around, and beheld
an old, bent woman, who looked as if she
might be old Naomi herself, for surely the
weight of 90 years must have bowed that
miserable, aged form.
80 you Will, my falr young gentleman,
she repeated impressvely. And when that
happens the curse of old Naomi will pass for
ever from Cover Hall"
Clifton stared in wonder at the weird, old
prophecies; then he gave low laugh. .ncred
uoils. but not scornful, us feottrey Covers
had been on that fateful morning, fifty years
ago.
MY good woman he answered pleasant
Iy, don't raise hopes in my heart that will
only be doomed to disappointment. Where
shall tind gypsy maiden fitted to presde e
over the splendors Of my ancestral home? ?
And yet" he added, with regrettul glance
up at the lonesome towers. what grand
Old place it might become
1T is written, she answered. sOlemnly. "a
gypsy bride shall be yours, and the curse OF
Clover shall he ended
Again he laughed, but he raised hi, nat
courteously as the lnesr old .nI woman h'bbled