Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-03-04
THE HAND or FATE.
MARY KYLE pAlLAs.

lOHI VI us liiiHlt VIZ WI 'tfi'' 'S"e''
day afternoon TO have our fortunes
told.
There was Il gypsy camp out on the
common beyond the town, with vans,
tents, cauldrons and the whole para
phcrnalla OF gypsy life, and every.
body walked or rode out TO visit il.
We decided to walk, and as 1t was n
bright, cool day. enjoyed ourselves
much better than IL we had been
eooped up In the stage, or even in a
carriage.
1t was October. Some OF the foliage
had changed color n little, aud there
were red and golden tints amongst the
green's Now and tlien the wind
shook the trees and scattered showers
of leaves upon the road. Purple astcrs
and golden rod were still In bloom.
Here and there grew crimson squaw
berries, and bitter-sweet burnt Ike
gold along the stone fences. Each OF
us gathered great bunch, and we
held them in our hands as we entered
the path thatIed into the hollow where
the camp lay. Young and romantic,
we were ready TO be delighted with
rverything--wit the swarthy gypsy
selling colt 10 stout farmer; with
old grand mother dandling n dusky
baby on her knees, and the dirty
black eyed children squatting about
everywhere.
There were visitors in plenty, and
most Of the women were busy telling
fortunes. AS we approached, a woman
who had been sitting or n fallen log,
arose, and a man who had been talk
ing to her pulled his hat over his eyes
and turned away like the villain in
a melodrama. The woman wore Il
wide-brimmcd straw hat, with II
wreath of artificial flowers around 1t.
Her hair was dressed stiliiy and
primly in welI-oiled "bandsn She
had Powered ,delainc gown and %
little redwoodcn shawl covered her
shoulders She was certainly neither
young nor beautiful, as the gypsy
maidp of song and drama must inevi-
tably be;but she smiled amiably upon
Ms, and calling us pretty young la
dies asked if we would have our for
tunes told.
Clare. our spokeswoman, declared
that to have been our intention IN
coming, and we soon proved the truth
Of the adage, ~ fool and his money
is soon parted by dropping each II
dollar into the gypsy's palm.
"Who shall begin with, pretty la
llcs2n asked the woman. And will
you have your fortunes told private or
together"'
Glare answered that we had no Sc
crets from each other and that this
young lady" indicating Belle with
The point Of her parasol, would he the
hrst 70 have glimpse into iuturity.p
Belle, blushing rosy red, put out her
little hand, and we all listened while
the gypsy told her that some one with
title, u lord or duke, would cross
the sea to fall in love with her that
che would live in palace beyond the
ocean and bc waited on like II queen.
There was more, but have forgotten
it, Belle was delighted, and Rose was
the next victim.
The gypsy told her that she would
marry great musician, and we all
laughed, for we knew thnt Mr., Mar
tell, who taught the piano to the grad
nating class, was very much in love
with her.
Then Glare seated herself on the old
log and opened her hand, palm up
ward. 1t was lnrge and handsome.
Glare was something like Lady Jane,
mot pretty, but massive" The gypsy
sold her that she would be u soldiers
wife.
Oddly enough it really happened
aot year afterwards. We were all
at the wedding. The next day Col.
w. rode out of the town at the head
of his regiment, He ncvercame back.
Glare wears her widows veil for lin.
yet, and his miniature lies over he,
heart day and night forever.
Rut w hNrn huN., | GirnNnl inn \ ~
me go back TO the bright autumn day
and the gypsy camp, aud the iou
school girls, half moclling, half believ
ing, very merry and "a littlefrightened
Ii was my turn, and | sat before til,
dark, hard-eyed with face like
smiling ogress carved hi black walnut
and listened as she peered at tho line,
n my palm,
you ares tall young lady, Miss,
she SAIL at last; "but YOU SO to schoo
yet. YOU are fond of music, and yo,
have an elderly gentleman relation
who takes you out II good bit to place
OF amusement and the like. l don
see whether it's u relation
This WAS SO true that | came nearly
crying out, ut is Uncle Henry bu
hethought myself IN time.
"Nou wear blue u good dead, sh,
went on, land you have u blue fan
AZ II concert one evening YOU droppcI
It. The gentleman who picked II al
Is to he your husband, The stars sa,
30.
How white you turn, Essie,n erie,
Glare.
~ feel faint,n said. ats true
dropped n hlae fan al the opera whei
Patti sang rrayiata, and n gontlemai
picked it up, but | should not knoy
him from Adamn
You'll meet him again, however
Miss, said the gypsy, "Some sun
day ut church he will hand you
praycr-hook with the place marke,
with a ilower ; when you see that yo
will know Your fate has come. iii
lirst namo Is Robin. He has hmc
eyes, black hair and dimple Ia hi
chin deep enough 10 put your linge
IN; and lac wears moustachc.n
! certainly had enough for my dollar
+ We all walked home together rathe
seriously, but IN Q day OF two the i'm
preston passed. away, and we almos
nrgot how strong IL had been.
Fhe rest of October WAS Very nnpleas
ant. We had prayer in the school
soom instead oflgolng to church, Bu
an the first Sunday in Novcmbor th
sky WAS blue aud the air clear, and W
all set forth for the church together.
IL SO happened that there were lou
new scholars and the seats b.lonyiu