Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-14
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A PROPHECY THAT WAS FULFILLED.
An old woman who passed in the country

An old woman who passed IN the country
for sorceress, once dWelt in humble cab
in in the forest of ST. German. One even
ing, while the rain fell in torrents, she
heard q knocking at her door, which, hasti-
ly opening, she saw a cavalier, who craved
hospitality.
Putting his horse in shed close at hand,
she bade him enter, and by the light of a
smoky lamp observed that her guest was
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 heart
of the same age, eager and easily pleased.
The young man assented, and a bit of cheese
and half loaf of bread were brought from
the cupboard, all the provisions the old wo-
man had.
"I have not much," she said to him.
"This is all l have to offer a chance visitor
after paying taxes and the excise on salt,
without taking into account the neighbor-
ing country people, who called me sorce,
ress 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 l
were King of France, 1 would suppress
these impOsts and thus benefit the people"
"God hear you," responded the old Wo-
man.
At these words the young man approach
ed table to partake of his frugal supper,
but at the same instant another rap ut the
door arrested his attention.
The old women opened it, and saw an
other cavalier drenched with rain, who al
so asked shelter, which was granted him,
and who, having entered she saw that he,
too, was a young man end 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 conversation
that they belonged to numerous party OF
huntsmen led by King Charles TX, and
which the storm had dispersed.
"Old woman" said the second conner,
"hast thou not something more to give"
"Nothing," replied she.
"Then said he, 1--WE will divide this"
The first Henry made wry face, but
observing the resolute eye and sineWy pres
ence of the other said, in 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 rencounter was
singular; this was another young man,
another nobleman, another Henry. The
old woman looked on in grim surprise.
The first wished to conceal the bread and
cheese, the second replaced it on the table
and laid his sword besideit the third
Henry smiled.
"You do not wish, then," said he, Ito
share your supper with me. | am very
tired and equally hungry"
''The 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 fercely:
"Perhaps it belongs to the one who con-
quers it,"
These words were hardly spoken when
the first Henry drew his poignard, the
other two their swords. As they were
about to come to blows, fourth knock was
heard and fourth young mana fourth
nobleman-a fourth Henry, was introduced.
At the sight of drawn swords, he drew his
own, placed himself on the side of the
most feeble and attacked with force. The
old woman in dismay concealed herself, for
the clashing swords seemed determined to
strike whatever came within their reacn.
Soon the lamp fell, went out, and each
struck in the dark. The noise of the
swords lasted some time, gradually sub
sided, and finally ceased altoge gether.,
Then the old woman ventured to leave
her hiding place, relit the lamp, and saw
the four young men stretched on the floor,
each wounded. She examined them; ia
tigue rather than loss Of blood, had slls-
pended animosities, and raising them
selves, one after another, ashamed of hav-
ing fought over so tritling a matter, they
laughed, and the first Henry said:
"Come, let us renew good feeling by par
taking of this supper together" .,
But when they looked for the supper, IL
was found on the floor, trampled under foot
and mixed with blood, which, simple as 1t
was, they regretted.
CHANGING to the other side of the cabin,
they found everything bore the marks OF
their violence, and the old woman seated In
the corner, fixed her reddish-colored eyes
upon them. :, 49,,
'"Why do you look at us thus fixedly ?"
said the first Henry, whom this glance
troubled.
81 see your destinies written on your fore
heads" she replied.
The second Henry rudely commanded her
to reveal to them what she saw, while the
Others Only laughed. She answered: