The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-06-08
A Prophecy that was Fulfilled.

her door, which, hastily opening, she
saw cavalier, who craved hospitali-
ty.
Putting his horse in shed close at
hand, she bade him enter, and by the
light of smoky lamp observed that
her guest was a young gentleman. His
person bespoke youth his dress was
that of a man of rank. .....
The old woman asked the youth if he
would have something TO eat.
A stomach of sixteen years is like a
heart of the same age, eager and easily
pleased. The young man assented,
and bit of cheese and half a loaf of
bread were brought from the cupboard,
all the provisions the old woman had.
81 have not much" she said to him.
"This is all have to offer a chance
visitor after paying taxes and the ex-
else on salt, without taking into account
the neighboring country people, who
call me sorceress and disciple of the
devil, in order that they may steal with
an easy conscience the products of my
small garden
"By my soul !" said the stranger, "If
were King of France, | would sup
press these imposts and thus benefit the
people.
"God hear you," responded the old
woman.
AT these words the young man ap.
preached the table to partake of his
frugal supper, but at the same instant
another rap at the door arrested his at
tention.
The old woman opened it, and saw
another cavalier drenched with rain,
who also asked shelter, which was
granted him, and who, having entered,
she saw that he,too, was young man
and a noble.
"What you here, Henry?" said the
newcomer
Eyes, Henry" said the other
Each called the other Henry, and
the old woman learned from their con-
versation that they belonged to a num-
erous party of huntsmen led by King
Charles IX, and which the storm had
dispersed,
"Old woman said the second COM
er, "hast thou not something more to
give?'
"Nothing," replied she.
"Then, said he, "we will divide
this
The first Henry made a wry face,
but obsesving the resolute eye and
sinewy presence of the other said, in a
voice of chagrin, "Divide it, then" and
there was behind the words this thought,
which he did not venture to express
"Divide, but deal fairly
They seated themselves opposite each
other and already one had cut the
bread with his dagger when third
knock was heard at the door, The rem
counter was singular this was another
young man, another nobleman, another
Henry. The old woman looked on in
grim surprise. The first wished to con
ceal the bread and cheese, the second
placed it on the table and laid his sword
beside it the third Henry smiled.
'You do not wish, then said he, "to
share your supper with me. l am very
tired and equally hungry"
"Thc supper, by rights belongs to
the first comer,' said the first Henry
"The supper, said the second,
''belongs to the one who can best defend
| it."
The third Henry colored with anger
! and said fiercely
, "Perhaps it belongs to the one who
q conquers it.
1 These words were hardly spoken
when the first Henry drew his poignard
e the other two their swords. AS they
were about to come to blows, fourtl
e knock was heard and fourth young
e man. fourth nobleman-a fourtl
S Henry was introduced. AT the sigh
l. of :he drawn swords, he drew his own
e placed himself on the side of the mos
feeble and attacked with force. Th,
old woman in dismay concealed herself
for the clashing swords seemed deter
< mined to strike whatever came withi
IL their reach. Soon the lamp fell, wen
e ont, and each struck in the dark. Th
d noise Of the swords lasted some time
gradually subsided, and finally cease
ID altogether.
he Then the old woman ventured I
lie leave her hiding place, reit the laml
4 and saw the four young men stretche
'e on the floor, each wounded. She e'
/; amined them fatigue rather than los
ne of blood, had suspended animositie
IS and raising themselves, one after q
ne other, ashamed of having fought ov,
so triting a matter, they laughed, an
the first Henry said
Come, let us renew good feeling h
or partaking of this supper together"
We But when they looked 10 the suppC
ne it was found on the floor trampled u
IS. der foot and mixed with blood, whic
ii, simple as it was, they regretted.
nd Glancing to the other side of the ca
Ell IN, they found the marks of their vi
es lence, and the old woman, seated
Est one corner fixed her reddish cOlored ey
-er upon them.
ny "Why do you look at us thus fiixedlN
III said the first Henry, whom this CLAN
.er troubled.
.ol 81 see your destinies written on yo
~ foreheads," she replied,
ne The second Henry rudely command
Gu her to reveal to them what she sa
; ;eS while the other only laughed, She {
III swered
9u ni "As you are all four united in Il
w WI cabin, so you will all four be united
Us the same destiny as you have ira
ra- pied under foot and mix with bloodt
IKE power you will share as you have
'a'- vastated and impoverished this cal
so you will devastate and impover
France; as you have all four be
n.y. wounded in the dark, so you will
NJ NJ four perish by treason and viol
ucA death
'ou The four young noblemen laugl
orn derisively at this prediction, as Il
fna flung her some gold and prepared
in" leave the cabin, but the sequel testil
orn S to her prophetic power, These f
,on mobiles were the heroes of the leal
ho two as its chiefs and two as its ,