Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-04-29
THE HAND OF FATE.
VARY KYLE DALLAS.


four of Us made Up our minds, Que Sat
urday afternoon, To have our fortunes
told.
There was a gypsy camp out on the
common beyond the town, with vans,
tents, cauldrOns and the whole para
phernalia of gypsy lite, and everybody
walked OF rode out TO visit it. We de-
cided to walk, and As it was bright
cool day, enjoyed ourselves much h1t-
ter than IL We bad been cOOped up IN
the stage, or even in carriage.
Ii was October. Some OF the foliage
had changed color little, and there
were red and golden tints amongst the
green's. Now aud then the wind shook
the trees and scattered showers OF
leaves upon the road. Purple asters
and golden rod were still in bloom.
Here and there grew crimson squaT
berries, and bItter-sweet burht like gold
along the stone fences. Each oil Us
gathered great bunch, and We held
them in our hands aS We entered the
path that led into the hollow where
the camp lay. Young and romantic,
We were ready TO be delighted with
eyerything-with the Swarthy gypsy
selling colt to stout farmer; with
old grandmother dandling a duSEy
baby on her knees, and the dirty
black-eyed children squatting about
everyw here.
There were visitors in plenty, and
most of the women were busy telling
fortunes. As We approached, woman
who had been sitting on fallen log
arose, and 3 man who had been talk
ing to her, pulled his hat over his eyes
aud turned away, like the villain IN n
melI drama. the woman wore wide
brimu.e ed straw La, with wreath Of
artificial TO Ters around 1t. Her ha r
was dressed stifily aud primly in we'll
oiled bands" She had a lowered
delaine gown and little red wooden
shawl covered her shoulders. The was
certainly neither young nor beautiful,
as the "gyp>y maid" Of song and drama
must inevitably be; but she smiled
am(ably upon US, and, calling Us "pret-
ty young ladies'" asked if he would
have our fortunes told.
Glare, our spOkeswoman, declared
that To nave been our Intention IL COM
ing, and " g soon proved the truth ofthe
adage, "A fool and his money is soon
parted" 10y dropping each a dollar into
the gyPsy's palm.
"Who Shall begin with, pretty Ia
dies" asked the woman. And will
have your fortunes told private or to-
gether"
Glare answered that we had no secrets
from each other and that this young
lady" indicating Belle with the point
of ler parasOl, would be- the first TO
have glimpse into futurity.'
Belle, blu>hing rosy red, put out her
EttIs h.nd s,uu We all listened while
the gypsy told her that some one with
title, a Lord or Duke, would cross
the sea to TALL in love with her; that
she would live in palace beyond the
ocean and be waited on like a Queen.
There was more, but have fOrgOtteL
il. Belle was delighted, aud Rose was
the next victim.
The Gypsy told her that she would
marry great musician, and We all
laughed, for We knew that Mr.. MarteIll
who taught the piano To the graduating
class, was very much in love with her.
Then Glare seated herself on the old
log and Opened,her hand, palm. toy ward.
IL was large and handsome. Clare
was something like Lady Jane, mot
pretty but massive" The gypsy told
her she would be a soldiers wife.
Oddly enough it really happened not
ytar afterwards, We were all ut the
Wedding. The next day Col. N--rOde
out Of I. town at the head of his regi-
ment. He never came back. Clare
wears her widows veil for him yet,
and his miniature lies over her heart
dav and nish Int forever.
But whore have strayed to? Let me
go tack to the bright autumn day, aud
the gyusy camp, and the four school
girls, halt mUcKing, half believing, very
merry and little frightened. II was
my tuIn, and sat before the dark, hard
eyed woman, with q face like a smiling
ogress carved in black walnut, and lis
tened as she peered at the lines in my
palm.
"You are tall young lady, Miss"
she said, at last; "Out you 60 10 school
vet. You are fond of music, and you
have an elderly gentleman relation
who takes you out good bit TO places
of amusement and the like. don't see
whether It's relation"
This was so true that came nearly
crying out, at is Uncle Henry" but
| 6ethUught myself IN time.
"YOu wear blue q good DEAL" she
went on, land you have blue fan.
At a concert one evening you dropped
it. The gentleman who picked it up IS to
be your husband. The stars say So"
How white you turn, Essle," cried
Glare.
al feel faint" | said. ats true |
dropped blue fan at the opera when
Patti sang TravIalia, and a gentleman
picked il up, but | should not know
him from Adam"
You'll meet him again, however,
. l,a L.
at church he will hand YOU prayer
book with the place marked with =
flower; when you see that you will
know that your fate has come. HIS
first name is Robin. lie has black eyes,
black hair and dinple in his chin
deep enough to put your finger In; and
he wears u muStache."
certainly had enough for my dollar.
We all walked home together rather
seriously, but in day or two the inn
preston passed away, and we almost
forgot how strong it had been.
The rest of October was very pleas
ant. We had prayers in the school
room instead Of gong to church. But
on the first Sunday in November the
sky was blue and the air clear and
We all set forth for church together.
1t so happened that there were four
new scholars, and the seats belonging 10
the school were full; four of Us were
left over TO claim the courtesy of our
neighbors. j was invited 10 enter a
pew occupied by one old lady, aud a.
my prayer book WAS in the school rack
had none and did not like to help my
self without invitation. As | hesitsted
a book was passed TO me frOn the pew
behind me.
s.This is the place." said charming
voice, and as bowed my thanks saw
that the page was marked with press
ed daisy.
Instantly the visit to the gypsy camp
aud the fortune teller's prophecy rush
ed to my memory. 1 could not have
helped looking at the pew behind il
nv life had depended on it. l actually
turned my bead and looked full at the
Gentleman who had given ME the